Glycoprotein Alpha Galactosyltransferase 1 (GGTA1)

Alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase is a Golgi membrane-bound enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of the carbohydrate chains of glycoproteins and glycolipids. Enzyme levels are developmentally regulated and differentiation dependent. The enzyme is present in most mammals but cannot be detected in man, apes, or Old World monkeys. The carbohydrate structure produced by the enzyme is immunogenic in man, and most normal, healthy individuals have a significant titer of a natural antibody against the enzyme. Aberrant expression of the enzyme in man has been implicated in autoimmune disorders and in the occurrence of certain germ cell tumors. GGTA1 gave rise to an mRNA that, after reverse transcription, was incorporated into chromosome 12 as GGTA1P.