abstract |
The present invention provides a nucleotide sequence encoding Sia alpha 2,3Gal beta 1,4GlcNAc alpha 2,8-sialyltransferase and an enzymatically active fragment thereof. The present invention also provides a nucleotide sequence encoding an extracellularly releasable protein capable of catalyzing Sia alpha 2,3Gal beta 1,4GlcNAc alpha 2,8-sialyltransfer which comprises an enzymatically active fragment of the Sia alpha 2,3Gal beta 1,4GlcNAc alpha 2,8-sialyltransferase together with a nucleotide sequence encoding at least one signal peptide. The present invention also provides recombinant vectors comprising nucleotide sequences encoding Sia alpha 2,3Gal beta 1,4GlcNAc alpha 2,8-sialyltransferase. Processes for preparing extracellularly releasable polypeptide fragments of Sia alpha 2,3Gal beta 1,4GlcNAc alpha 2,8-sialyltransferase are provided as well. |