Developmental patterns of Galβ1,3(4)GlcNAc α2,3-sialyltransferase (ST3Gal III) expression in the mouse: In situ hybridization using DIG-labeled RNA probes

Sialic acids are key determinants for biological processes, such as cell-cell interaction and differentiation. Sialyltransferases contribute to the diversity in carbohydrate structure through their attachment of sialic acid in various terminal positions on glycolipid and glycoprotein (N-linked and O-linked) carbohydrate groups. Galβ 1,3(4)GlcNAc α2,3-sialyltransferase (ST3Gal III) is involved in the biosynthesis of sLe^x and sLe^a known as selectin ligands and tumor-associated carbohydrate structures. The appearance and differential distribution of ST3Gal III mRNA during mice embryogenesis [embryonic (E) days; E9, E11, E13, E15] were investigated by in situ hybridization with digoxigenin-labeled RNA probes coupled with alkaline phosphatase detection. On E9, all tissues were positive for ST3Gal III mRNA expression, whereas ST3Gal III mRNA on E11 was not detected throughout all tissues. On E13, ST3Gal III mRNA was expressed in different manner in various tissues. In this stage, ST3Gal III mRNA was positive only in the liver, pancreas and bladder. On E15, specific signal for ST3Gal III was detected in the liver, lung and forebrain. These results indicate that ST3GAl III is differently expressed at developmental stages of mice embryo, and this may be importantly related with regulation of organogenesis in mice.