Forschungsgruppe PD DR. Kemmner

Adhesion and glycosylation of tumor cells

Tumor-associated alterations of cell surface glycosylation (http://www.vei.co.uk/TGN/) play a crucial role for adhesion and metastasis of carcinoma cells. Of particular interest are the sialyltransferases, a group of anabolic enzymes which transfer the negatively charged carbohydrate sialic acid onto different glycoproteins and glycolipids.
Human Gal�1,4GlcNAc a 2,6-sialyltransferase (ST6Gal-I(http://www.vei.co.uk/TGN/gt_guide.htm)) is only slightly expressed in normal colonic mucosa cells, but shows an enhanced activity in metastasizing colorectal carcinomas.
The prognostic value of an increased a 2,6ST activity for the survival of tumor patients is currently investigated. The biological function of sialyltransferases e.g. for cell adhesion, is examined by using sense- and antisense- transfectants of ST6Gal-1. In parallel studies, we could show that enzyme activity was inhibited by specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN).
Ongoing studies will show whether it is possible to obtain antisense-ODNs suitable for the clinical treatment of metastasis.

Working group