National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology

Niro Inaba

Hisashi Narimatsu

Akira Togayachi

Toru Hiruma

Yasuko Ishizuka

Toshie Iwai

The N-acetyl-D-galactosamine transferase protein of the present invention is characterized by transferring N-acetyl-D-galactosamine to N-acetyl-D-glucosamine with &#x3b2;1,3 linkage, and it preferably has the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4. The canceration assay according to the present invention uses a nucleic acid for measurement which hybridizes under stringent conditions to the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3 or a nucleotide sequence complementary to at least one of them.

&#x3b2;1,3-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine transferase protein, nucleic acid encoding the same and method of examining canceration using the same

Described are an enzyme having an activity to transfer N-acetylglucosamine to N-acetylgalactosaminyl group through a &#x3b2;1,3-linkage; nucleic acid coding for the enzyme; and method for diagnosis of a cancer and/or tumor, especially a cancer and/or tumor of a digestive organ using the expression amount of the gene of the enzyme as an index. A gene coding for a novel enzyme having an activity to transfer N-acetylglucosamine to N-acetylgalactosaminyl group through the &#x3b2;1,3-linkage was cloned from human colon and stomach cells, and the gene was sequenced. The enzyme was expressed, and a monoclonal antibody to the enzyme was prepared. Since this enzyme is not produced substantially or at all in cancer and/or tumor cells, especially in cancer or tumor cells of a digestive organ, the cancer and/or tumor may be diagnosed using the expression of the gene of the enzyme as an index.

N-Acetylglucosamine transferase, nucleic acid encoding the same, antibody against the same and use thereof for diagnosing cancer or tumor

An enzyme having an activity of transferring N-acetylglucosamine to the non-reducing end of a Gal&#x3b2;1-4Glc or Gal&#x3b2;1-4GlcNAc-group via a &#x3b2;-1,3 bond; a nucleic acid encoding the same; and a method of diagnosing cancer and/or tumor, in particular, digestive cancer and/or tumor using the expression dose of a gene of the above enzyme as an indication. A gene of a novel enzyme having an activity of transferring N-acetylglucosamine to the non-reducing end of a Gal &#x3b2;1-4Glc or Gal &#x3b2;1-4GlcNAc-group via a &#x3b2;-1,3 bond is cloned from human stomach cells and its base sequence is determined. Then this enzyme is expressed. Since this enzyme is scarcely or never produced in cancer and/or tumor, in particular, digestive cancer and/or tumor cells, cancer and/or tumor can be diagnosed with the use of the expression of the enzyme gene as an indication.

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Hachioji, Japan

Niro Inaba