Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Generation of Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells with Differing Sialylated Phenotypes
Published on: October 20, 2023
Branch-specific sialylation of IgG-Fc glycans by ST6Gal-I
Adam W Barb1, Evan K Brady, James H Prestegard
1Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, 315 Riverbend Road, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.
Sialylated forms of the Fc fragment of immunoglobulin G, produced by the human alpha2-6 sialyltransferase ST6Gal-I, were identified as potent anti-inflammatory mediators in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis and are potentially the active components in intravenous IgG anti-inflammatory therapies. The activities and specificities of hST6Gal-I are, however, poorly characterized. Here MS and NMR methodology demonstrates glycan modification occurs in a branch-specific manner with the alpha1-3Man branch of the complex, biantennary Fc glycan preferentially sialylated. Interestingly, this substrate preference is preserved when using a released glycan, suggesting that the apparent occlusion of glycan termini in Fc crystal structures does not dominate specificity.
Sialylated forms of the Fc fragment of immunoglobulin G, produced by the human alpha2-6 sialyltransferase ST6Gal-I, were identified as potent anti-inflammatory mediators in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis and are potentially the active components in intravenous IgG anti-inflammatory therapies. The activities and specificities of hST6Gal-I are, however, poorly characterized. Here MS and NMR methodology demonstrates glycan modification occurs in a branch-specific manner with the alpha1-3Man branch of the complex, biantennary Fc glycan preferentially sialylated. Interestingly, this substrate preference is preserved when using a released glycan, suggesting that the apparent occlusion of glycan termini in Fc crystal structures does not dominate specificity.
Related Concept Videos
Oligosaccharide Assembly
Multiple sugar molecules that may or may...
Protein Glycosylation
Glycosylation occurs in...
Proteoglycans
Selectins
Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...
Transcytosis of IgG
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...

