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Enhanced galactosyltransferase expression in the failing hearts of spontaneously hypertensive rats
D E Humphries1, G Sirokman, O H Bing
1Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Boston, MA 02130, USA.
Abstract:
To examine differences in cardiac gene expression between spontaneously hypertensive rats with and without heart failure, we have used subtractive hybridization to identify differentially expressed genes. After subtraction, cDNAs were amplified by PCR, cloned and sequenced. One of 36 independent cDNAs was found to be 86% homologous to murine UDP-galactose:N-acetylglucosamine beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase. RNA blot analysis confirmed the approximately 4.0 kb rat galactosyltransferase transcript was increased in failing hearts relative to non-failing hearts. Biochemical assay also showed increased galactosyltransferase activity in the failing hearts.