Yumi Watanabe

Publications (1)4.9 Total impact

• Source

  Available from: PubMed Central

  Article: Chondroitin sulfate N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase-1 is required for normal cartilage development.

  Yumi Watanabe, Kosei Takeuchi, Susumu Higa Onaga, Michiko Sato, Mika Tsujita, Manabu Abe, Rie Natsume, Minqi Li, Tatsuya Furuichi, Mika Saeki, Tomomi Izumikawa, Ayumi Hasegawa, Minesuke Yokoyama, Shiro Ikegawa, Kenji Sakimura, Norio Amizuka, Hiroshi Kitagawa, Michihiro Igarashi
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: CS (chondroitin sulfate) is a glycosaminoglycan species that is widely distributed in the extracellular matrix. To understand the physiological roles of enzymes involved in CS synthesis, we produced CSGalNAcT1 (CS N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 1)-null mice. CS production was reduced by approximately half in CSGalNAcT1-null mice, and the amount of short-chain CS was also reduced. Moreover, the cartilage of the null mice was significantly smaller than that of wild-type mice. Additionally, type-II collagen fibres in developing cartilage were abnormally aggregated and disarranged in the homozygous mutant mice. These results suggest that CSGalNAcT1 is required for normal CS production in developing cartilage.
  Biochemical Journal 11/2010; 432(1):47-55. · 4.90 Impact Factor