In article <436jhk$776 at is.bbsrc.ac.uk>, Armin.Sepp at bbsrc.ac.uk says...
>>Dear Colleagues,
>I have noticed that one can use commercially available AMC-labelled
oligosaccharides as substrates
>for glycosidase assays.
>My question is whether there is any experience around with using
similarly labeelled
>oligosaccharides as substrates for glycosyltransferases. If yes then how
far the label should
>be from the reaction centre and what might be the optimal method for
following the reaction, e.g.
>TLC or HPLC.I am mostly thinking about assaying the activity of alpha-
galactosyl transferase.
>>Thanks,
>Armin Sepp, PhD
>Armin.Sepp at bbsrc.ac.uk>>I understand what you want to do, and it would certainly be nice if it
were possible. Unfortunately, glycosyltransferases are usually quite
specific in their requirement for nucleotide sugars as glycosyl donors.
This is mainly due to the need for a high-energy glycosidic bond to drive
the reaction, but the binding requirements of the enzymes are also pretty
specific for the type of nucleotide. If anyone ever DOES come up with
some sort of fluorescent or chromogenic nucleotide-sugar analogue, it
could be worth a lot of money to glyco-biochemists.
GLC
USDA/ARS
