Absence of a specific ganglioside galactosyltransferase in mouse cells transformed by murine sarcoma virus.

The ganglioside composition of a nonproducer subclone (derived from BALB/c 3T3 mouseembryo cells) transformed by Kirsten murine sarcoma virus was drastically altered compared to the nontransformed parental clone. The transformed clone was unable to synthesize the mono- and disialogangliosides, G(M1) and G(D1a), due to the complete absence of a specific galactosyltransferase. The lack of this enzyme activity was established by sensitive radiochemical and enzymological techniques in vivo and in vitro.