Plasma Sialyltransferase Activity in Healthy Subjects and Atherosclerotic Patients

E. V. Gracheva^*, N. K. Golovanova, M. V. Ezhov, P. P. Malyshev, V. V. Kukharchuk, and N. V. Prokazova

Institute of Experimental Cardiology, Cardiology Research Center, Russian Ministry of Health, 3-ya Cherepkovskaya ul. 15a, Moscow, 121552 Russia; fax: (095) 415-2962; E-mail: korot@cardio.med.msu.su

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received February 11, 1999; Revision received May 15, 1999

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Plasma sialyltransferase activity measured by incorporation of cytidine 5´-phospho[¹⁴C]acetylneuraminic acid (CMP-NeuAc) into asialofetuin was twofold higher in patients with documented atherosclerosis than in healthy donors. Kinetic studies showed that the enzyme affinity for CMP-NeuAc is the same in donors and patients. Low activity of plasma sialyltransferase in donors may be due to low blood content of this enzyme.

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KEY WORDS: sialyltransferase activity, human blood plasma, atherosclerosis

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