Japan Tobacco Inc.

Motoko Nakashizuka

Takeshi Yamamoto

Ichiro Terada

Hisashi Kodama

&bgr;-galactoside-&agr;2, 6-sialyltransferase gene

Described is a method of production of saccharides containing sialic acid, wherein .beta.-galactoside-.alpha.-2,6-sialyltransferase is used for linking sialic acid to the 6-position of a galactose residue in a sugar chain of a glycoconjugate or the 6-position of a galactose residue in a free sugar chain, or to the 6-position of a monosaccharide having a hydroxyl group on carbon at the 6-position and being capable of forming an oligosaccharide or a glycoconjugate.

Method of the production of saccharides containing sialic acid

A .beta.-galactoside-.alpha.-2,6-sialyltransferase derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Photobacterium has ben disclosed, having the following physicochemical properties: (1) action and specificity: transferring sialic acid from cytidine monophosphate-sialic acid to the 6-position of a galactose residue in a sugar chain of a glycoconjugate or in a free sugar chain, or to the 6-position of a monosaccharide having a hydroxyl group on carbon at the 6-position and being capable of forming a glycoconjugate. (2) optimum pH: 5 to 6; (3) optimum temperature: 30.degree. C.; and (4) molecular weight: 64,000.+-.5,000 (determined by gel filtration).

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Kanagawa, Japan

Motoko Nakashizuka