Molecular characterization of eukaryotic polysialyltransferase-1

Experimental studies on polysialyl transferase-1, a vital enzyme of eukaryotic polysialic acid (PSA) synthesis, reveal that PSA synthesis in cell lines expressing neural cell adhesion molecule is induced by this enzyme. A single enzymatic activity is responsible for the polycondensation of alpha 2,8-linked sialic acids in mammals. Experimental data help understand the importance of PSA in neuro- and tumor biology.