Meta-Biol

• Pathways

The addition of a bisecting GlcNAc to a complex N-glycan by MGAT3 is one of the most important regulatory steps in N-glycosylation, directing the pathway toward the synthesis of complex and hybrid N-glycans. This addition changes the structure of the N-glycan and inhibits further modification by MGAT2, MGAT4, MGAT5A/B and FUT8. Defects in MGAT3 have been shown to be associated with predisposition to cancer and several developmental defects (Song et al 2010; Stanley 2002).