Recombinant Mouse Ceramide Glucosyltransferase (Ugcg), N-His

Mouse Ceramide Glucosyltransferase (Ugcg) is an enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of glucose from UDP-glucose to ceramide to produce glucosylceramide (GlcCer), the first glycosylation step in glycosphingolipid biosynthesis. It belongs to the glycosyltransferase 2 family and is predicted to be located in the Golgi membrane. Ugcg is expressed in various structures such as the blastocyst, brain, early embryo, liver, and oocyte. It is involved in several processes, including cornified envelope assembly, glucosylceramide biosynthetic process, and skin development. Ugcg knockout in mice leads to embryonic lethality during gastrulation and loss of skin barrier function due to dehydration. It is also crucial for the proper formation of lamellar bodies and regular metabolism and composition of lipids in the stratum corneum. In research, Ugcg is used to study various aspects of biology and medicine, such as the regulation of stem cell-like cancer cells in B16F10 murine melanoma, the pathophysiology of Fabry disease, and the role of glycosphingolipids in cell signaling and adhesion.