Abstract
The α-Gal epitope (Gal-α1-3Gal-β1-4-GlcNAc-R), which is biosynthesized by the UDP-Gal:α1-3-galactosyltransferase (α1,3GT), is highly associated with hyperacute rejection in swine to human xenotransplantation. A variety of strategies have been pursued to reduce or eliminate this epitope from swine tissues. Since swine ES cells are not available at present, the targeted knock out of the α1,3GT is restricted. Other strategies, such as enzyme competition of the α1,3GT with other glycosyltransferases and/or control of sugar processing by the glycosyltransferases, provide a new insight into the downregulation of the α-Gal epitope. This review will focus on this type of strategy, which involves a gene transfection of variety of glycosyltransferases as competitors against α1,3GT.
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