Sialyltransferases are a subset of glycosyltransferases catalyzing the transfer
of sialic acid (Sia) residues from an activated sugar donor onto glycoconjugates. The
aim of this chapter is to summarize in a comprehensive review what is known about
vertebrate sialyltransferases structural features, the lessons drawn from molecular
biology and the production of recombinant proteins and to explore the relationships
between their primary structure and function. Insights into vertebrate sialyltransferases
origin and evolution using bioinformatic approaches, screening of nucleotide databases
of various animal organisms (vertebrates and invertebrates), molecular phylogeny and
phylogenomic will be discussed.
Keywords: Sialyltransferases, glycosyltransferases, Golgi apparatus, CMP-sialic
acid, sialyltransferase topology and structure, sialyltransferase phylogenomics,
sialyltransferase molecular phylogeny, vertebrates, sialylmotifs, β-galactoside
α2, 3-sialyltransferase, β-galactoside α2, 6-sialyltransferase, GalNAc α2, 6-
sialyltransferase, α2, 8-sialyltransferase.
