Human GlycoEnzymes and Related Genes

The human glycogenes constitute a family of ~350–450 proteins (~2%–3% of the human genome) that directly control the distribution of complex carbohydrate structures or glycans in mammalian cells. Many of these glycogenes are glycosyltransferases that facilitate the transfer of monosaccharides from activated nucleotide-sugar donors to carbohydrate acceptors. Additional enzymes participating in glycan biosynthesis include glycosidases, epimerases, transporters, sulfotransferases, and monosaccharide modifiers (kinases, dehydrogenases, structural proteins etc). Together these enzymes regulate the distribution of carbohydrates on the cell, i.e., the cellular glycome. This article lists the majority of these glycogenes and glycoenzymes, and describes their role in the biosynthesis of various classes of human cellular glycoconjugates.