Abstract
The bifunctional enzyme UDP-GlcNAc 2-epimerase/ManNAc kinase is the key enzyme in sialic acid biosynthesis. Loss of UDP-GlcNAc 2-epimerase activity results in a hyposialylated phenotype as shown for two human hematopoietic cell lines that lack the specific mRNA. We found that treatment with the DNA methylation inhibitor 5 ′-aza-2 ′-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) restored the UDP-GlcNAc 2-epimerase/ManNAc kinase mRNA, as well as enzyme activity and cell surface sialylation. Increase of UDP-GlcNAc 2-epimerase activity by 5-aza-dC treatment was also found for a rat Morris hepatoma cell line. These results indicate a regulation of UDP-GlcNAc 2-epimerase/ManNAc kinase expression on the transcriptional level by DNA methylation.
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