Carbohydrates of the cell surface: molecular aspects of glycosyltransferases and their genes.

With the development of monospecific antibodies to transferase proteins as well as cDNA probes to cloned transferase genes, the study of glycosylation and its regulatory mechanisms holds great promise for the future. Here we provide a brief overview of the present knowledge of glycosyltransferases, their primary structure, cellular topography, regulation, and the basis of the genetic polymorphisms as revealed by blood groups.