Disease relevance of GCNT3

• In the present study, we evaluated the role of C2GnT-M in colorectal cancer [1].
• C2GnT-M is downregulated in colorectal cancer and its re-expression causes growth inhibition of colon cancer cells [1].

High impact information on GCNT3

• Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the C2GnT-M transcripts are heavily expressed in colon, small intestine, trachea, and stomach, where mucin is produced [2].
• These results demonstrate that C2GnT-M is frequently downregulated in colorectal cancer and suppresses colon cancer cell growth [1].
• Interestingly, C2GnT-M inhibited cell adhesion to collagen IV and fibronectin, and decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin, indicating that the changes in cancer behavior may be partly mediated by integrin-signaling pathways [1].
• The growth of C2GnT-M-transfected HCT116 and SW480 cells was dramatically suppressed, and the cell death induced by C2GnT-M was demonstrated by an increase in the annexin V-positive cells [1].
• HCT116 cells stably transfected with C2GnT-M inhibited expression of the core 1 structure, Galbeta1,3GalNAcalpha1-Ser/Thr, on the cell surface [1].

Biological context of GCNT3

• Moreover, C2GnT-M expression suppressed cell adhesion, motility, and invasion as well as colony formation ability [1].
• Localized at the nonconserved region of the viral genome, the BHV-4 C2GnT-M gene is the only known viral C2GnT-M gene [3].
• Using semiquantitative RT-PCR, the mRNA levels for C2GnT2 in the estrous cycle stages could be correlated with the enzyme activities [4].
• Specific assays for C2GnT2 revealed a cyclical pattern throughout the estrous cycle with high activity at the stages of proestrus and estrus and low activity at diestrus 1 [4].

Anatomical context of GCNT3

• Consistently, the majority of colon cancer cell lines and primary colon tumors expressed lower levels of C2GnT-M than did normal colon tissues by RT-PCR [1].
• The mucin-type core 2 beta-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (C2GnT-M) is highly expressed in the gastrointestinal tract and catalyses the formation of core 2, core 4, and blood group I branches on O-glycans [1].
• Mucin-type core 2 beta6-GlcNAc-transferase (C2GnT2) is responsible for synthesizing core 2 and core 4 structures in the oviduct [4].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of GCNT3

• Tumor growth in vivo was also significantly suppressed by C2GnT-M in the xenografts of nude mice [1].

References