FEATURES

FAMILY

DESCRIPTION

Also known as SIA8A_HUMAN, ST8SIA1, SIAT8, SIAT8A. Catalyzes the addition of sialic acid in alpha 2, 8-linkage to the sialic acid moiety of the ganglioside GM3 to form ganglioside GD3; gangliosides are a subfamily of complex glycosphinglolipds that contain one or more residues of sialic acid (PubMed:7937974, PubMed:8058740, PubMed:8195250, PubMed:8631981, PubMed:8706663, PubMed:18348864, PubMed:22885356). Can catalyze the addition of a second alpha-2, 8-sialic acid to GD3 to form GT3 (PubMed:8631981). Can use GM1b, GD1a and GT1b as acceptor substrates to synthesize GD1c, GT1a and GQ1b respectively (PubMed:8706663). Can synthesize unusual tetra- and pentasialylated lactosylceramide derivatives identified as GQ3 (II3Neu5Ac4-Gg2Cer) and GP3 (II3Neu5Ac5-Gg2Cer) in breast cancer cells (PubMed:22885356).

EXTERNAL LINKS

ST8SIA1

Alpha-N-acetylneuraminide alpha-2, 8-sialyltransferase

ST8SIA1

Molecular Synopsis