The protein encoded by this gene is a type II membrane protein that catalyzes the transfer of sialic acid from CMP-sialic acid to galactose-containing substrates. The encoded protein is normally found in the Golgi apparatus but can be proteolytically processed to a soluble form. This protein is a member of glycosyltransferase family 29. Mutations in this gene have been associated with autosomal recessive nonsymdromic mental retardation-12 (MRT12). Multiple transcript variants encoding several different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2012].
Jia, Barclay, Roberts, Yen, Chan, Lam, Air, Peiris, Dell, Nicholls, Haslam: "Glycomic characterization of respiratory tract tissues of ferrets: implications for its use in influenza virus infection studies." in: The Journal of biological chemistry, Vol. 289, Issue 41, pp. 28489-504, (2014) (PubMed).