Remodeling of the Carbohydrate Chains of hCG by Use of Sialyltransferases: Effects on the Biological Activity

Abstract

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a glycoprotein hormone which contains both N- and O-linked carbohydrate chains. It consists of two subunits, a and 8. The a-subunit contains two N-linked carbohydrate chains: a mono-antenna and a non-fucosylated bi-antenna. The $-subunit contains both (two) N and (four) O-linked carbohydrate structures. Both of the N-linked carbohydrate chainsare biantennary, one of which is fucosylated.