Human Galactosylgalactosylxylosylprotein 3-Beta-Glucuronosyltransferase 1 (B3GAT1) Protein

Background

Beta-1,3-Glucuronyltransferase 1 (B3GAT1) is an enzyme encoded by the B3GAT1 gene, which plays a critical role in glycosylation processes. It belongs to the family of glycosyltransferases, a group of enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and other complex carbohydrates. Specifically, B3GAT1 is involved in the synthesis of the carbohydrate moiety known as the HNK-1 epitope, a unique glycan structure that is found on several proteins in the nervous system and involved in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. The enzyme adds a glucuronic acid moiety to the core glycan structure, which is a crucial step in the formation of these specialized carbohydrate chains. B3GAT1 is particularly important in the central nervous system (CNS), where the HNK-1 epitope is associated with neurodevelopmental processes such as cell adhesion, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal migration. The enzyme is also expressed in other tissues, including lymphoid tissues, indicating a broader role in immune regulation and cell signaling.