Significance of Altered Glycosyltransferase Expression Levels in Oral Cancer

We evaluate the relative quantification of mRNA expression levels of the gene encoding an enzyme that catalyses initial step in glycosylation of dolichol-linked oligosaccharide such as dolichyl-phosphate N-acetylglucosaminephosphotransferase 1 (DPAGT1). Furthermore, beta-1,4-mannosyl-glycoprotein 4-beta-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (MGAT3) and alpha-1,6-mannosylglycoprotein 6-beta-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (MGAT5) mediated N-glycosylation, selected alpha 2, 3, alpha 2, 6 sialyltransferases families and sialidase by using the Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Thirty human oral cancer tissue samples and twelve control samples were examined. Results indicated significant upregulation of ST6 N-acetylgalactosaminide alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase 1 (ST6GALNAC1) in oral cancer compared to controls. Additionally, the expressions of DPAGT1, MGAT3, MGAT5, ST3 betagalactoside alpha-2,3- sialyltransferase 1 (ST3GAL1), ST6 beta-galactoside alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase 1 (ST6GAL1), and ST6GALNAC1 were considerably higher in the tumour in tongue lesion compared to the buccal cavity. Hence, our experiment demonstrates significance of glycosyltransferases in the progression of oral cancer.