Elimination of N-Glycolylneuraminic Acid Residues in Recombinant Glycoproteins: A Gene Knock-Out Approach

Abstract

The enzyme CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CNAH) is responsible for the conversion of N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc) into N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc). Incorporation of NeuGc residues into glycan chains of recombinant glycoproteins of therapeutic interest is not desirable, since NeuGc is potentially antigenic in man.