ST8SIA1 (human), recombinant protein

Protein function: Catalyzes the addition of sialic acid in alpha 2,8-linkage to the sialic acid moiety of the ganglioside GM3 to form ganglioside GD3, gangliosides are a subfamily of complex glycosphinglolipds that contain one or more residues of sialic acid (PubMed:7937974, PubMed:8058740, PubMed:8195250, PubMed:8631981, PubMed:8706663, PubMed:18348864, PubMed:22885356). Can catalyze the addition of a second alpha-2,8- sialic acid to GD3 to form GT3 (PubMed:8631981). Can use GM1b, GD1a and GT1b as acceptor substrates to synthesize GD1c, GT1a and GQ1b respectively (PubMed:8706663). Can synthesize unusual tetra- and pentasialylated lactosylceramide derivatives identified as GQ3 (II3Neu5Ac4-Gg2Cer) and GP3 (II3Neu5Ac5-Gg2Cer) in breast cancer cells (PubMed:22885356). [The UniProt Consortium]