biology

Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside a-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase

Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside a-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside a-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase rather than just read about it. In short: In enzymology, a glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.40) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction UDP-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine + glycoprotein-alpha-L-fucosyl-(1,2)-D-galactose ⇌ {\displaystyle \rightleftharpoons } UDP + glycoprotein-N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosaminyl-(1,3)-[alpha-L-fucosyl- (1,2)]-D-galactose Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are UDP-N-acetyl…

Key takeaways

Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside a-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside a-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside a-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

In enzymology, a glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.40) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

UDP-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine + glycoprotein-alpha-L-fucosyl-(1,2)-D-galactose ⇌ {\displaystyle \rightleftharpoons } UDP + glycoprotein-N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosaminyl-(1,3)-[alpha-L-fucosyl- (1,2)]-D-galactose Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are UDP-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine and glycoprotein-alpha-L-fucosyl-(1,2)-D-galactose, whereas its 3 products are UDP, [[glycoprotein-N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosaminyl-(1,3)-[alpha-L-fucosyl-]], and [[(1,2)]-D-galactose]]. This enzyme belongs to the family of transferases, specifically those glycosyltransferases hexosyltransferases. The systematic name of this enzyme class is UDP-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine:glycoprotein-alpha-L-fucosyl-(1,2)-D-ga lactose 3-N-acetyl-D-galactosaminyltransferase. Other names in common use include A-transferase, histo-blood group A glycosyltransferase, (Fucalpha1→2Galalpha1→3-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase), UDP-GalNAc:Fucalpha1→2Galalpha1→3-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase, alpha-3-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase, blood-group substance alpha-acetyltransferase, blood-group substance A-dependent acetylgalactosaminyltransferase, fucosylgalactose acetylgalactosaminyltransferase, histo-blood group A acetylgalactosaminyltransferase, histo-blood group A transferase, UDP-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine:alpha-L-fucosyl-1,2-D-galactose, and 3-N-acetyl-D-galactosaminyltransferase. This enzyme participates in 3 metabolic pathways: the lactoseries and neolactoseries of glycosphingolipid biosynthesis, as well as the biosynthesis of glycan structures.

Structural studies As of late 2007, 19 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes PDB: 1LZ0, PDB: 1LZI, PDB: 1R7T, PDB: 1R7V, PDB: 1R7Y, PDB: 1R81, PDB: 1WSZ, PDB: 1WT0, PDB: 1WT1, PDB: 1WT2, PDB: 1WT3, PDB: 1XZ6, PDB: 1ZHJ, PDB: 1ZI1, PDB: 1ZI3, PDB: 1ZI4, PDB: 1ZI5, PDB: 1ZJO, and PDB: 2A8W.

References

Kobata A, Grollman EF, Ginsburg V (1968). "An enzymic basis for blood type A in humans". Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 124 (1): 609–12. doi:10.1016/0003-9861(68)90373-1. PMID 5661629. Takeya A, Hosomi O, Ishiura M (March 1990). "Complete purification and characterization of alpha-3-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase encoded by the human blood group A gene". J. Biochem. 107 (3). Tokyo: 360–8. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.jbchem.a123051. PMID 2341371. Yates AD, Feeney J, Donald AS, Watkins WM (1984). "Characterisation of a blood-group A-active tetrasaccharide synthesised by a blood-group B gene-specified glycosyltransferase". Carbohydr. Res. 130 (1): 251–60. doi:10.1016/0008-6215(84)85283-0. PMID 6434182.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside a-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside a-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside a-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside a-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside a-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase

In research: Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside a-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside a-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside a-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics EC 2.4.1, EC 2.4 stubs, Enzymes of known structure, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside a-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

Ask Teacher Smith questions about this articleOpens your AI tutor with a question about “Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside a-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase” →

Affiliate

Preply — study more efficiently by working with a personal tutor. 50% off.

How to study Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside a-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside a-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside a-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside a-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase in simple terms?

In enzymology, a glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.40) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction UDP-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine + glycoprotein-alpha-L-fucosyl-(1,2)-D-galactose ⇌ {\displaystyle \rightleftharpoons } UDP + glycoprotein-N-acetyl-al…

Why does Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside a-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside a-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Glycoprotein-fucosylgalactoside a-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase.