Sialyltransferase of bovine serum: age- and hormone-related changes

Sialyltransferase activity of bovine serum with the acceptor asialofetuin exhibits a pH optimum at 6.0-6.5, no divalent cation dependence, and a Km for CMP-sialic acid of 0.05 mM. Although a 2-fold increase in sialyltransferase activity with the acceptor asialofetuin is observed in serum samples from 2-day-old vs 20-day-old calves, the relative activity towards other glycoprotein acceptors is not different between the groups. With the acceptor lactose, the major product (greater than 95%) for all samples is 3'-sialyllactose, suggesting that the elevated levels of sialyltransferase in 2-day-old calves are due to Gal-R (alpha 2-3) sialyltransferase.