Useful polypeptides

Abstract

The present invention provides a novel polypeptide having a β1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase activity; a method for producing the polypeptide; a DNA which encodes the polypeptide; a recombinant vector into which the DNA is inserted; a transformant comprising the recombinant vector; a method for producing a sugar chain or complex carbohydrate, using the polypeptide; a method for producing a sugar chain or complex carbohydrate, using the transformant; an antibody which recognizes the polypeptide; a method for screening a substance which changes the expression of the gene which encodes the polypeptide; and a method for screening a substance which changes the activity of the polypeptide.

1 - 33 . (canceled)  
     
     
         34 . A process for producing a sugar chain or complex carbohydrate, which comprises: 
 culturing a transformant carrying a recombinant DNA obtained by inserting a DNA encoding a polypeptide which is the active ingredient of a sugar chain synthesizing agent comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2 into a vector in a medium to produce and accumulate a sugar chain comprising a saccharide selected from the group consisting of a saccharide having a GlcNAcβ1-3Gal 1-4GlcNAc structure, a saccharide having a GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-3GlcNAc structure, a saccharide having a GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-4Glc structure, a saccharide having a (Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-3) n Galβ1-4GlcNAc structure wherein n is 1 or more, and a saccharide having a (Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-3) n Galβ1-4Glc structure wherein n is 1 or more, or a complex carbohydrate comprising the sugar chain, in the culture; and    recovering the sugar chain or complex carbohydrate from the culture.    
     
     
         35 . The process according to  claim 34 , wherein the transformant is a microorganism, or an animal cell.  
     
     
         36 - 62 . (canceled)  
     
     
         63 . A process for producing a sugar chain or complex carbohydrate, which comprises: 
 culturing a transformant carrying a recombinant DNA obtained by inserting a DNA encoding a polypeptide which is the active ingredient of a sugar chain synthesizing agent comprising the amino acid sequence positions 45-372 represented by SEQ ID NO:2 into a vector in a medium to produce and accumulate a sugar chain comprising a saccharide selected from the group consisting of a saccharide having a GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-4GlcNAc structure, a saccharide having a GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-3GlcNAc structure, a saccharide having a GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-4Glc structure, a saccharide having a (Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-3) n Galβ1-4GlcNAc structure wherein n is 1 or more, and a saccharide having a (Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-3) n Galβ1-4Glc structure wherein n is 1 or more, or a complex carbohydrate comprising the sugar chain, in the culture; and    recovering the sugar chain or complex carbohydrate from the culture.    
     
     
         64 . The process according to  claim 63 , wherein the transformant is a microorganism, or an animal cell.  
     
     
         65 . A process for producing a sugar chain or complex carbohydrate, which comprises: 
 culturing a transformant carrying a recombinant DNA obtained by inserting a DNA encoding a polypeptide which is the active ingredient of a sugar chain synthesizing agent comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:3 into a vector in a medium to produce and accumulate a sugar chain comprising a saccharide selected from the group consisting of a saccharide having a GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-4GlcNAc structure, a saccharide having a GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-3GlcNAc structure, a saccharide having a GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-4Glc structure, a saccharide having a (Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-3) n Galβ1-4GlcNAc structure wherein n is 1 or more, and a saccharide having a (Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-3) n Galβ1-4Glc structure wherein n is 1 or more, or a complex carbohydrate comprising the sugar chain, in the culture; and    recovering the sugar chain or complex carbohydrate from the culture.    
     
     
         66 . The process according to  claim 65 , wherein the transformant is a microorganism, or an animal cell.  
     
     
         67 . A process for producing a sugar chain or complex carbohydrate, which comprises: 
 culturing a transformant carrying a recombinant DNA obtained by inserting a DNA encoding a polypeptide which is the active ingredient of a sugar chain synthesizing agent comprising the amino acid sequence positions 45-372 represented by SEQ ID NO:3 into a vector in a medium to produce and accumulate a sugar chain comprising a saccharide selected from the group consisting of a saccharide having a GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-4GlcNAc structure, a saccharide having a GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-3GlcNAc structure, a saccharide having a GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-4Glc structure, a saccharide having a (Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-3) n Galβ1-4GlcNAc structure wherein n is 1 or more, and a saccharide having a (Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-3) n Galβ1-4Glc structure wherein n is 1 or more, or a complex carbohydrate comprising the sugar chain, in the culture; and    recovering the sugar chain or complex carbohydrate from the culture.    
     
     
         68 . The process according to  claim 67 , wherein the transformant is a microorganism, or an animal cell.