SLC35A2 Deficiency Promotes an Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition-like Phenotype in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney Cells

In mammalian cells, SLC35A2 delivers UDP-galactose for galactosylation reactions that take place predominantly in the Golgi lumen. Mutations in the corresponding gene cause a subtype of a congenital disorder of glycosylation (SLC35A2-CDG). Although more and more patients are diagnosed with SLC35A2-CDG, the link between defective galactosylation and disease symptoms is not fully understood. According to a number of reports, impaired glycosylation may trigger the process of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We therefore examined whether the loss of SLC35A2 activity would promote EMT in a non-malignant epithelial cell line.