Galactosyltransferase I is one of seven β-1,4-galactosyltransferase (β4GalT) enzymes. These enzymes are type II membrane-bound glycoproteins that appear to have exclusive specificity for the donor substrate UDP-galactose; all transfer galactose in a β-1,4 linkage to similar acceptor sugars: GlcNAc, Glc, and Xyl. Each beta4GalT has a distinct function in the biosynthesis of different glycoconjugates and saccharide structures. As type II membrane proteins, they have an N-terminal hydrophobic signal sequence that directs the protein to the Golgi apparatus and which then remains uncleaved to function as a transmembrane anchor. By sequence similarity, the beta4GalTs form four groups: β4GalT1 and β4GalT2, β4GalT3 and β4GalT4, β4GalT5 and β4GalT6, and β4GalT7. The enzyme encoded by this gene attaches the first galactose in the common carbohydrate-protein (GlcA-β-1,3-Gal-β-1,3-Gal-β-1,4-Xyl-beta1-O-Ser) linkage found in proteoglycans. Manganese is required as a cofactor. This enzyme differs from the other six beta4GalTs because it lacks the conserved β4GalT1-β4GalT6 Cys residues and it is located in cis-Golgi instead of trans-Golgi.[7]
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^Seidler DG, Faiyaz-Ul-Haque M, Hansen U, Yip GW, Zaidi SH, Teebi AS, et al. (July 2006). "Defective glycosylation of decorin and biglycan, altered collagen structure, and abnormal phenotype of the skin fibroblasts of an Ehlers-Danlos syndrome patient carrying the novel Arg270Cys substitution in galactosyltransferase I (beta4GalT-7)". Journal of Molecular Medicine. 84 (7): 583–94. doi:10.1007/s00109-006-0046-4. PMID16583246. S2CID10165577.
Amado M, Almeida R, Schwientek T, Clausen H (December 1999). "Identification and characterization of large galactosyltransferase gene families: galactosyltransferases for all functions". Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects. 1473 (1): 35–53. doi:10.1016/S0304-4165(99)00168-3. PMID10580128.
Seidler DG, Faiyaz-Ul-Haque M, Hansen U, Yip GW, Zaidi SH, Teebi AS, et al. (July 2006). "Defective glycosylation of decorin and biglycan, altered collagen structure, and abnormal phenotype of the skin fibroblasts of an Ehlers-Danlos syndrome patient carrying the novel Arg270Cys substitution in galactosyltransferase I (beta4GalT-7)". Journal of Molecular Medicine. 84 (7): 583–94. doi:10.1007/s00109-006-0046-4. PMID16583246. S2CID10165577.
Kuroiwa A, Matsuda Y, Okajima T, Furukawa K (2000). "Assignment of human xylosylprotein beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase gene (B4GALT7) to human chromosome 5q35.2-->q35.3 by in situ hybridization". Cytogenetics and Cell Genetics. 89 (1–2): 8–9. doi:10.1159/000015578. PMID10894925. S2CID33696165.