Patent Publication Number: US-2011053792-A1

Title: Microarray for expression analysis of cellular glycosylation mechanism

Description:
The present invention relates to a support onto which a set of probes is deposited wherein the set comprises: (a) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding fucosyltransferases; (b) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding galactosyltransferases; (c) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding N-acetylglucosaminyltransferases; (d) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases; (e) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding sialyltransferases; (f) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding sugar sulfotransferases; (g) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding lectins; (h) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding selectins; (i) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding fucosidases; (j) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding neuraminidases (sialidases); (k) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding nucleotide sugar epimerases; (l) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding sugar kinases; (m) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding sugar epimerases; (n) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding sugar transporters; and (o) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding enzymes of the fucose or sialic acid metabolism. The invention further relates to a kit which comprises the probes of the invention and the use of the support or the kit of the invention for the quantitative determination of expression profiles in a sample obtained from a cell, a tissue or an organism. The present invention further relates to a diagnostic composition and the use of the set of probes of the invention for the preparation of diagnostic compositions or of a diagnostic apparatus for the diagnosis of tumours, inflammatory and/or neurological diseases. 
     A number of documents including patent applications and manufacturers&#39; instructions of the prior art are mentioned in the description. While the disclosure content of these documents is not considered relevant for the patentability of the invention, it is incorporated by reference into the present description. 
     An essential post-translational modification is glycosylation by which sugars are enzymatically attached to proteins. Glycosylation serves different functions, such as the stabilisaton of proteins by protection against proteolytic degradation. Also the correct protein conformation and the affinity to binding partners associated therewith may depend on glycosylation. The glycosylation of proteins further affects their intracellular transport, contributes to cell interaction or serves as a structural component of cell membranes. The most important sugars that play a role in glycoproteins are fucose, galactose, mannose, glucose, xylose, N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylneuraminic acid. The binding to proteins can be N-glycosidic or O-glycosidic. N-glycosylation occurs at the endoplasmatic reticulum by the binding of a sugar to the free amino group of asparagine. O-glycosylation, however, occurs at the Golgi apparatus by binding of the sugar to the hydroxyl group of serine, threonine, hydroxyproline or hydroxylysine. 
     The structure of the specific glycosylation pattern of a cell depends on the expression as well as on the activity of the molecules of the glycosylation machinery, such as e.g. glycosyltransferases, degrading enzymes (e.g. sialidases), sugar transporters and glycoprotein-binding molecules. The large number of glycosyltransferases described is presumably caused by the high three-fold specificity of glycosyltransferases. These are specific for i) the substrate, i.e. the sugar that is transferred, ii) the acceptor to which the sugar is transferred and iii) the type of bond that is established between the two partners. 
     Sialyltransferases, which catalyse the transfer of a nucleotide-activated sialic acid to specific sugar side-chains, play an important role for glycoprotein-producing cells, since the terminal sialic acid is very important for the biological activity and/or half-life of glycoproteins. The expression of sialyltransferases also plays an important role in the diagnostic of tumour diseases. 
     Also enzymes and transporters which play an important role in sugar metabolism, can be of significant importance for the diagnosis of different diseases. Furthermore, these enzymes and transporters are of interest for the recombinant production of glycoproteins. 
     Another important group of molecules are lectins, such as galectins, selectins and sialic acid-binding lectins. These lectins are the receptors for the sugar side-chains on the cell membrane. Many of these lectins are involved in immunological recognition mechanisms and, for example, the induction of apoptosis/anoikis. 
     Specific changes of the glycan structure on the cell surface are characteristic of a number of diseases and, thus, may be used for their diagnosis. One example is the early diagnosis of carcinomas having an increased metastasic potential. Liver cells, for example, carry receptors on their surface which bind specific glycoproteins and, in this way, regulate the half-life of serum proteins. The Thomsen Friedenreich TF glycan, which is present on the surface of tumour cells, is bound by the receptors and facilitates the metastasis of tumour cells into the liver. There is an interrelationship with sialyltransferase ST6GalNAc-II, the over-expression of which correlates with an increased presence of TF and is of prognostic relevance (Schneider et al., 2001). It has been known for some time that certain acidic sugars (sialic acids) increasingly occur in glycan structures of metastasizing tumour cells. This is consistent with the fact that also the activity of the enzyme catalyzing said structures (sialyltransferase ST6Gal-I) is increased in metastasizing colorectal carcinomas (Kemmner at al., 1994). Similar results were found in studies on gastric carcinomas, renal carcinomas and mamma carcinomas. 
     Other glycan structures are responsible for the binding of tumour cells circulating in the blood to specific receptors on endothelia of blood vessels, i.e. selectins. Also this process is very important in the metastasis of colorectal carcinoma and can be used to evaluate the prognosis for a patient. The selectins themselves are glycoproteins which normally initiate the glycan-depending interactions of leucocytes with the endothelium. These result in the migration of leucocytes into centres of inflammation. Thus, glycan structures are also important with respect to the organisation of the immune defence and have diagnostic potential also in this respect. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,566,060 analyses the expression of glycosyltransferases with the aim of determining the tumorigenic potential of brain cells and the treatment of neurological diseases. 
     US patent application no. US 2004/0204381 describes reagents and methods for the treatment and prevention of diseases that are caused by changes in the sialylation and glycosylation patterns of proteins. 
     US patent application 2003/0175734 describes materials and methods for the determination of the predisposition of cells to develop malignant phenotypes, in particular brain tumours. These methods are based on the analysis of expression patterns of oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes. 
     WO02059350 discloses the use of sialyltransferases, in particular sialyltransferase ST6GalNAc-II for the diagnosis and therapy of tumour diseases. 
     However, no approach is known in the prior art which allows the comprehensive analysis of the glycosylation apparatus. 
     Thus, the problem underlying the present invention was the provision of improved and/or modified means and methods for the analysis of the glycosylation apparatus. This problem is solved by the provision of the embodiments defined in the claims. 
     Consequently, the present invention relates to a support onto which a set of probes is deposited wherein the set comprises: (a) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding fucosyltransferases; (b) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding galactosyltransferases; (c) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding N-acetylglucosaminyltransferases; (d) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases; (e) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding sialyltransferases; (f) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding sugar sulfotransferases; (g) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding lectins; (h) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding selectins; (i) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding fucosidases; (j) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding neuraminidases (sialidases); (k) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding nucleotide sugar epimerases; (l) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding sugar kinases; (m) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding sugar epimerases; (n) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding sugar transporters; and (o) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding enzymes of the fucose or sialic acid metabolism. 
     The term “support” refers to a device having a surface onto which the probes of the invention can be deposited. This surface in accordance with the, invention may be a surface of any kind. The surface may be a coating which was applied onto the support or it may be the surface of the support itself. Suitable materials for the support are known to the person skilled in the art and include synthetic materials, glass, silica, gold, stainless steel, Teflon, nylon and silicon. Coatings in accordance with the invention, as far as they are used, include poly-L-lysin and aminosilan coatings as well as epoxide- and aldehyde-activated surfaces. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the support is miniaturised, for example in form of a chip, a disk, a bead or a microtitre plate. The support in accordance with the invention permits the parallel analysis of a plurality of individual detections in a small amount of sample material. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, each probe is assigned a defined coordinate in order to permit the evaluation of the results e.g. by using robot-assisted automated test procedures. The use of supports further avoids mixing or a “spill-over” of samples and, in addition, allows long-term preservation. 
     The term “probe” refers to a nucleic acid molecule which is preferably used in molecular biological hybridisation methods for sequence-specific detection of DNA and RNA molecules. The preparation of the probes can be carried out using any method known in the art, for example, the probes may be synthesised enzymatically and chemically. The probes can, for example, be synthesised directly onto the support by “in situ” synthesis using photolithography or ink-jet systems (Gao et al., 2001; Lausted et al., 2004) or can be deposited in a contact-free manner using piezoelectric or steel needles which deposit smallest amounts upon contact with the surface. The application of the probes can be carried out e.g. using spotting robots (Auburn et al., 2005). 
     In this context, nucleic acid molecule refers to all naturally occurring nucleic acid molecules, such as DNA or RNA, as well as to artificial base analogues, such as PNA (Peptide Nucleotide Acids; Harris and Winssinger, 2005) or LNA (Locked Nucleic Acids; Castoldi et al., 2006). 
     Fucosyltransferases (EC 2.4.1.-) belong to the group of glycosyltransferases, in particular to the group of hexosyltransferases, and catalyse the transfer of fucose from an activated sugar phosphate, e.g. GDP-fucose, to a protein or a sugar. 
     Galactosyltransferases (EC 2.4.1.-) belong to the group of glycosyltransferases, in particular to the group of hexosyltransferases, and catalyse the transfer of galactose from an activated sugar phosphate, UDP-galactose, to a protein or a sugar. 
     N-acetyl-glucosaminyltransferases (EC 2.4.1.-) belong to the group of glucosyltransferases, in particular to the group of hexosyltransferases, and catalyse the transfer of N-acetylglucosamin from an activated sugar phosphate, e.g. UDP-GlcNAc, to a protein or a sugar. 
     N-acetyl-galactosaminyltransferases (EC 2.4.1.-) belong to the group of glycosyltransferases, in particular to the group of hexosyltransferases, and catalyse the transfer of N-acetyl-galactosamine from an activated sugar phosphate, e.g. UDP-GalNAc, to a protein or a sugar. 
     Sialyltransferases (E 2.4.99.-) belong to the group of glycosyltransferases and catalyse the transfer of nucleotide-activated sialic acid, e.g. CMP-NeuAc, to a protein or a sugar. 
     Sugar sulfotransferases (EC 2.8.2) belong to the group of sulfotransferases and catalyse the transfer of a sulphate group of the nucleotide analogue 3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphosulfate (PAPS) to a sugar. 
     Lectins are glycoproteins which are capable of specifically binding to sugar residues of cells and/or cell membranes and of inducing biochemical reactions from there. Lectins do not have enzymatic activity. 
     Selectins are a group of carbohydrate-binding adhesion molecules which are in particular involved in cell-cell-interactions of the immune system. In the context of an inflammation, selectins mediate for example the “rolling” of leucocytes on activated endothelial cells and contribute to the slowing of leucocyte velocity and their exit from the blood stream (Sperandio, 2006). 
     Fucosidases (EC 3.2.1.-) belong to the group of glycosidases and catalyse the hydrolytic cleavage of fucose from sugar residues. 
     Neuraminidases (EC 3.2.1.-) belong to the group of glycosidases and catalyse the hydrolytic cleavage of terminal sialic acid residues from glycoproteins on the cell surface. Neurominidases are also known to the person skilled in the art as sialidases. 
     Nucleotide sugar epimerases (EC 5.1.3.-) belong to the group of isomerases and catalyse the sterochemical transformation of a nucleotide sugar into its isomeric structure (i.e. molecules having the same empirical molecular formula, but different structural formulas). 
     Sugar kinases (EC 2.7.-.-) belong to the group of transferases, in particular phosphotransferases. Sugar kinases catalyse the phosphorylation of hydroxyl groups of sugar molecules. 
     Sugar epimerases (EC 5.1.3.-) belong to the group of isomerases and catalyse the stereochemical transformation of a sugar molecule into its isomeric structure (i.e. molecules having the same empirical molecular formula, but different structural formulas). 
     Sugar transporters are proteins which bind specific sugars and nucleotide-activated sugars, such as e.g. GDP-fucose, and serve to transport sugar. This includes the transport of sugar within the cell, e.g. from the cytoplasm to the Golgi apparatus or the endoplasmatic reticulum, as well as sugar transport from the extracellular space into the cell. 
     Enzymes of the fucose or sialic acid metabolism are part of the metabolic chain that catalyse the synthesis of sialic acid or fucose from glucose. Furthermore, the group of enzymes of the fucose or sialic acid metabolism also includes enzymes that catalyse the transformation of fucose and sialic acid taken-up by the cell to the nucleotide-activated sugars CMP-sialic acid and GDP-fucose. Enzymes of the fucose or sialic acid metabolism are, for example, N-acetylneuraminate synthase (NANS; EC 2.5.1.56), CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH; EC 1.14.18.2), N-acetylneuraminate pyruvate-lyase (NPL; EC 4.1.3.3), N-acetylglucosamine kinase (NAGK; EC 2.7.1.59), glucosamine (UDP-N-acetyl)-2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine kinase (GNE; EC 5.1.3.14), fucose-1-phosphate guanylyltransferase (FPGT; EC 2.7.11.1), cytidine monophosphate N-acetylneuraminic acid synthetase CMAS; EC 2.7.7.43), phosphoglucomutase 3 (PGM3; EC 5.4.2.3), UDP-galactose 4-epimerase (GALE; EC 5.1.3.2), transplantation antigen P35B (Fx/TSTA3; EC 1.1.1.271), fucokinase (FUK; EC 2.7.1.52), sialate-O-acetylesterase (SIAE/OAE; EC 3.1.1.53) and renin binding protein (RENBP; EC 5.1.3.8). 
     For the above-listed enzymes, reference was made to the classification according to the Enzyme Commission (EC) number system commonly used in the state of the art. In this system, each enzyme is assigned a code of four numbers. The first number refers to the enzyme class. In total, the enzymes are classified into 6 enzyme classes: oxidoreductases, transferases, hydrolases, lyases, isomerases and ligases. The other numbers provide an even more detailed characterisation of the enzymes, such as information about the substrates, the group transferred and the type of the bond formed or cleaved. This characterisation is hierarchical and depends on the individual enzyme class. 
     “Comprise” in accordance with the invention means that, apart from the probes mentioned additional probes, for example control probes, may be deposited onto the support. Control probes may be, for example, probes encoding genes of  Aradopsis thaliana  (thale cress) and to which human RNA does not bind. Thus, it is possible to control the efficiency of fluorescent labelling at the cDNA level and the equal quality of arrays by translating and hybridising exactly titered amounts of corresponding RNA of  Arabidopsis thaliana  with each analysis. Further examples of additional probes are inter alia “guidance spots” for correct positioning of the support and qualitative analysis of the results. Furthermore, probes may be used which bind nucleic acids the expression of which should not change in different tissues and cell lines (housekeeping gene) and which, thus, serve as internal controls. 
     Supports which contain only probes that specifically hybridise with nucleic acids encoding fucosyltransferases, galactotransferases, acetyl-glucosaminyl transferases, acetyl-galactosaminyl transferases, sialyltransferases, sugar sulfotransferases, lectins, selectins, fucosidases, neuraminidases (sialidases), nucleotide sugar epimerases, sugar kinases, sugar epimerases, sugar transporters and enzymes of the fucose or sialic acid metabolism, as defined above, are also taken into consideration. 
     The term “hybridise” in accordance with the invention refers to the binding of the probes of the invention to a complementary strand of polynucleotides whereby these form a hybrid. Methods for carrying out hybridisation experiments are known in the art and the person skilled in the art knows the conditions which have to be applied for hybridisation according to the invention. Such hybridisation techniques can be found in text books such as Sambrook, Russell “Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual” Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, N.Y. (2001); Ausubel, “Current Protocols in Molecular Biology”, Green Publishing Associates and Wiley Interscience, N.Y. (1989), or Higgins and Hames (Eds.) “Nucleic acid hybridization, a practical approach”, IRL Press Oxford, Washington D.C., (1985). 
     Stringent hybridisation conditions include conditions comprising e.g.: overnight incubation at 65° C. in 4×SSC (600 mM sodium chloride, 60 mM sodium citrate), followed by a washing step at 65° C. in 0.1×SSC for 1 hour. Alternatively, it is possible to incubate at 42° C. in a solution that contains 50% formamide, 5×SSC (750 mM sodium chloride, 75 mM sodium citrate), 50 mM sodium phosphate (pH 7.6), 5× Denhardt&#39;s solution, 10% dextrane sulphate and 20 μg/ml denatured, sheared DNA from salmon sperm, followed by washing steps in 0.1×SSC of 5 to 20 minutes at approximately 65° C. These hybridisation conditions are known to the person skilled in the art as highly stringent hybridisation conditions. 
     Less stringent conditions are also contemplated in accordance with the invention. Less stringent conditions for hybridisation and signal detection can be achieved, for example, by varying temperature or salt concentration. Low stringent hybridisation conditions are achieved e.g. by incubation at 50° C. in 4×SSC. Furthermore, changing the concentration of formamide can achieve less stringent conditions (lower formamide concentrations result in less stringent hybridisation), including, for example: an overnight incubation at 37° C. in a solution containing 30% formamide, 6×SSPE (20×SSPE=3 M NaCl, 0.2 M NaH 2 PO 4 , 0.02 M EDTA, pH 7.4), 0.5% SDS, 100 μg/ml DNA from salmon sperm and subsequent washing at 50° C. with 1×SSPE and 0.1% SDS. These conditions can be further varied by using alternative blocking reagents for the suppression of background signals. Such alternative blocking reagents are, for example, Denhardt&#39;s solution, BLOTTO, heparin, denatured DNA from salmon sperm as well as other commercially available reagents. If alternative blocking reagents are used, the hybridisation conditions may have to be adjusted to the respective experimental conditions. 
     Preferred probes of the invention are probes which, under stringent conditions, bind to a species of the above-mentioned nucleic acids without cross-reacting with other nucleic acids. 
     The term “probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids” refers to probes which, under suitable conditions, specifically hybridise with the relevant nucleic acids. Said suitable conditions preferably are stringent hybridisation conditions as defined above. In a preferred embodiment, a probe hybridises only with one nucleic acid, e.g. encoding for a specific fucosyltransferase or a specific galactosyltransferase. Alternatively, it is preferred that a probe hybridises with several nucleic acids of the same type of enzymes (e.g. fucolsyltransferases) for example when this type of enzyme is characterised by a common motif. In this regard, the term “type of enzyme” refers to a group of enzymes. Thus, for example, the fucosyltransferases defined in (a) represent one type of enzymes, likewise the galactosyltransferases defined in (b) etc. Of course, there are always several probe molecules of a species deposited on the support. The term “probes” also includes that only one specific probe sequence per enzyme or type of enzyme is deposited onto the support. In an alternative embodiment, several different probe sequences hybridising with different molecules of a type of enzymes (e.g. fucolsyltransferases) and/or with one enzyme of a type of enzymes, are deposited onto the support. 
     The support of the invention offers the advantage of a complete analysis of the molecules of the glycosylation machinery in one assay as well as the advantage that carrying out the analysis requires little time and small amounts of test material in comparison to other techniques. Thus, this comprehensive assay provides a sensitive, quick and parallel analysis of the components of the glycosylation apparatus based on micro-arrays. The arrays allow to detect the expression of all the glycosyltransferases and the other molecules of the glycosylation machinery within a short time and starting from a small number of cells. This is for example an advantage with respect to the diagnosis of tumour diseases or inflammatory and/or neurological diseases, in particular. 
     In accordance with the invention, the term “tumour” refers to the new formation of body tissues (neoplasias) which are formed due to a dysregulation of cell growth. A distinction is made between benign and malignant tumours. 
     Inflammatory diseases in accordance with the invention are diseases which represent a first reaction of the immune system to infections or stimuli, such as e.g. physical stimuli, microorganisms, allergens, toxins or dysfunctional enzymes, having the function to eliminate or remedy the damaging stimulus. Frequently occuring inflammatory diseases are, for example, arthritis, myocarditis, dermatitis, otitis, pneumonia, rheumatic diseases, Crohn&#39;s disease, ulcerative colitis, spondylitis, osteoarthritis or psoriasis. 
     Neurological diseases in accordance with the invention are diseases of the nervous system. The organ systems concerned are the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system including the surrounding structures. Neurological diseases comprise, for example, multiple sclerosis, cerebral meningitis, inflammation of the spinal cord, cerebral infarction, Parkinson&#39;s disease, brain tumours, migraine, epileptic diseases, dementias and muscular dystrophies. 
     The determination of the expression of the glycosyltransferases in their entirety and other molecules of the glycosylation apparatus can also be advantageous for the analysis of glycosylation in production cell lines. Since glycans play a crucial role in the formation of correctly folded functional proteins, this expression analysis provides an innovative technology for the preparation of glycosylated biopharmaceuticals with optimised activity. The importance of this knowledge concerning the glycosylation patterns with respect to pharmacological bioactivity and bioavailability of proteins is particularly striking when, due to a lack of glycosylation or faulty glycosylation, the therapeutic use and success of recombinant proteins fall short of expectations. 
     A further advantage is the possibility of a simple and quick qualitative and quantitative determination of changes of the different molecules of the glycosylation apparatus that are expressed in a cell line subsequent to specific glyco-engineering. Cell lines often have to be subjected to additional glyco-engineering either to enhance specific glycosyltransferase activities and/or to exclude others. It is possible that other elements of the glycosylation machinery also react to such specific interventions. Thus, the comprehensive approach of the support of the invention offers the possibility to detect also surprising, unforeseen expression changes. Another advantage consists in the small amount of sample required since a single cell already provides sufficient test material. Thus, in comparison with standard methods such as sugar analysis by HPLC, the support of the invention provides a cost and labour saving method. Further advantages of the invention will be mentioned in connection with the preferred embodiments. 
     The invention further relates to a support onto which a set of probes is deposited, wherein the set comprises: (a) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding fucosyltransferases; (b) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding galactosyltransferases; (c) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding N-acetylglucosaminyltransferases; (d) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases; (e) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding sialyltransferases; (f) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding sugar sulfotransferases; (g) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding lectins; (h) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding selectins; (i) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding fucosidases; (j) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding neuraminidases (sialidases); (k) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding nucleotide sugar epimerases; (l) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding sugar kinases; (m) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding sugar epimerases; (n) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding sugar transporters; and/to (o) probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding enzymes of the fucose or sialic acid metabolism, wherein at least one probe selected from (k), (l) or (m) is contained in the set of probes. 
     The characterising features of this embodiment are as defined above. 
     According to the invention, the term “wherein at least one probe selected from (k), (l) or (m) is contained in the set of probes” refers to a set of probes containing at least probes that are capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding nucleotide sugar epimerases; and/or probes that are capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding sugar kinasases and/or probes that are capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding sugar epimerases. In a preferred embodiment, the set contains probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding nucleotide sugar epimerases and probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding sugar kinases as well as probes capable of specifically hybridising with nucleic acids encoding sugar epimerases. According to the invention, the set of probes may comprise further probes as mentioned under (a) to (j) and (n) to (o) in any possible combination. 
     As shown in the Examples 2 and 4 below based on the example of the key enzyme of sialic acid synthesis (UDP-N-acetylgucosamine-2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine kinase (GNE)), the analysis of the mRNA expression profile of sugar kinases and sugar epimerases can be used to derive direct information about the glycosylation pattern, in this case the density of sialic acid, on the cell surface. 
     In a preferred embodiment the support is a solid support. 
     A solid support in accordance with the invention is a support characterised by high stability and the possibility of miniaturisation. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, the support is made of glass. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the probes are oligonucleotide probes. Oligonucleotide probes in accordance with the invention have a length of at least 30 nucleotides. Oligonucleotide probes can be produced in a molecular biological way or synthetically (such as, for example, the oligonucleotide probes used by Affymetrix, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,445,934 and 5,744,305). In another preferred embodiment, a protein in accordance with the invention can be represented by several different oligonucleotides. 
     In another preferred embodiment, probes are deposited onto the support that have a length of 40 to 100 bases. In a more preferred embodiment, the probes have a length of 50 to 90 bases, even more preferably a length of 60 to 80 bases and most preferably a length of approximately 70 bases. All values within these ranges, e.g. probes having a length of 62, 65, 68, 72, 75 or 78 bases are explicitly comprised by the preferred embodiments. 
     In another preferred embodiment of the support of the invention, fucosyltransferases, galactotransferases, acetyl-glucosaminyl transferases, acetyl-galactosaminyl transferases, sialyltransferases, sugar sulfotransferases, lectins, selectins, fucosidases, neuraminidases (sialidases), nucleotide sugar epimerases, sugar kinases, sugar epimerases, sugar transporters and/or enzymes of the fucose or sialic acid metabolism are selected from Table 1. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Gene list of fucosyltransferases, galactosyltransferases, acetyl-glucosaminyl transferases, 
               
               
                 acetyl-galactosaminyltransferases, sialyltransferases, sugar-sulfotransferasen, lectins, selectins, 
               
               
                 fucosidases, neuraminidases (sialidases), nucleotide sugar epimerases, sugar kinases, sugar 
               
               
                 epimerases, sugar transporters and/or enyzmes of the fucose or sialic acid metabolism. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                   
                 SEQ ID 
                 SEQ ID 
                 SEQ ID 
               
               
                 GlycoGene 
                 Database No. 
                 Gene name 
                 NO: 
                 Oligo 1 
                 Oligo 2 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 SEPT9 
                 NM_006640 
                   Homo sapiens  Septin 9 
                 128 
                 368 
                   
               
               
                   
                 GI:19923366 
               
               
                 A4GALT 
                 NM_017436 
                   Homo sapiens  alpha-1,4- 
                 1 
                 207 
               
               
                   
                 GI:55956926 
                 galactosyltransferase 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (globotriaosylceramide synthase) 
               
               
                 A4GNT 
                 NM_016161.1 
                   Homo sapiens  alpha-1,4-N- 
                 2 
                 208 
               
               
                   
                 GI:7705858 
                 acetylglucosaminyltransferase 
               
               
                 ACT 
                 NM_001101 
                 beta-Actin 
                 179 
                 209 
                 417 
               
               
                 AFG3L2 
                 NM_006796 
                   Homo sapiens  AFG3 (ATPase family 
                 3 
                 210 
               
               
                   
                 GI:5802969 
                 gene 3-like 2; yeast); nuclear gene, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 coding for mitochondrial protein 
               
               
                 ANXA4 
                 NM_001153 
                   Homo sapiens  annexin A4 
                 4 
                 211 
                 418 
               
               
                   
                 GI:4809272 
               
               
                 ARAF 
                 NM_001654 
                   Homo sapiens  v-raf murine sarcoma 
                 5 
                 212 
                 419 
               
               
                   
                 GI:4502192 
                 3611 viral oncogene, homologous 
               
               
                 B2M 
                 NM_004048 
                   Homo sapiens  beta-2-microglobulin 
                 6 
                 213 
               
               
                   
                 GI:37704380 
               
               
                 B3GALNT1 
                 NM_003781 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-Gal:betaGlcNAc 
                 188 
                 214 
               
               
                   
                 GI:84452144 
                 beta-1,3-galactosyltransferase, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 polypeptide 3 (globoside blood group) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (B3GALT3), transcript variant 1 
               
               
                 B3GALNT2 
                 NM_152490 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-GalNAc:betaGlcNAc 
                 7 
                 215 
               
               
                   
                 GI:22749020 
                 beta-1,3-galactosaminyltransferase, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 polypeptide 2 
               
               
                 B3GALT1 
                 NM_020981 
                 UDP-Gal:betaGlcNAc beta-1,3- 
                 8 
                 216 
               
               
                   
                 GI:15451870 
                 galactosyltransferase, polypeptide 1 
               
               
                 B3GALT2 
                 NM_003783 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-Gal:betaGlcNAc 
                 9 
                 217 
               
               
                   
                 GI:15451871 
                 beta-1,3-galactosyltransferase, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 polypeptide 2 
               
               
                 B3GALT4 
                 NM_003782 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-Gal:betaGlcNAc 
                 10 
                 218 
               
               
                   
                 GI:51702476 
                 beta-1,3-galactosyltransferase, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 polypeptide 4 
               
               
                 B3GALT5 
                 NM_006057 and 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-Gal:betaGlcNAc 
                 180; 466 
                 219 
               
               
                   
                 NM_033173 
                 beta-1,3-galactosyltransferase, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 polypeptide 5 
               
               
                 B3GALT6 
                 NM_080605 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-Gal:betaGal 
                 11 
                 220 
               
               
                   
                 GI:37537720 
                 beta-1,3-galactosyltransferase, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 polypeptide 6 
               
               
                 B3GNT1 
                 NM_006876.2 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-GlcNAc:betaGal 
                 12 
                 221 
               
               
                   
                 GI:92091577 
                 beta-1,3-N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylglucosaminyltransferase 1 
               
               
                 B3GNT2 
                 NM_006577 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-GlcNAc:betaGal 
                 13 
                 222 
                 420 
               
               
                   
                 GI:92091578 
                 Beta-1,3-N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylglucosaminyltransferase 
               
               
                 B3GNT3 
                 NM_014256 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-GlcNAc:betaGal 
                 14 
                 223 
               
               
                   
                 GI:92091603 
                 beta-1,3-N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylglucosaminyltransferase 3 
               
               
                 B3GNT4 
                 NM_030765 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-GlcNAc:betaGal 
                 15 
                 224 
               
               
                   
                 GI:42544235 
                 beta-1,3-N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylglucosaminyltransferase 4 
               
               
                 B3GNT5 
                 NM_032047 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-GlcNAc:betaGal 
                 16 
                 225 
                 421 
               
               
                   
                 GI:44680131 
                 beta-1,3-N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylglucosaminyltransferase 5 
               
               
                 B3GNT6 
                 NM_138706 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-GlcNAc:betaGal 
                 17 
                 226 
               
               
                   
                 GI:47271458 
                 beta-1,3-N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylglucosaminyltransferase 6 
               
               
                 B3GNT7 
                 NM_145236 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-GlcNAc:betaGal 
                 18 
                 227 
               
               
                   
                 GI:21687138 
                 beta-1,3-N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylglucosaminyltransferase 7 
               
               
                 B3GNT8 
                 NM_198540 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-GlcNac:betaGal 
                 19 
                 228 
               
               
                   
                 GI:42821106 
                 beta-1,3-N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylglucosaminyltransferase 8 
               
               
                 B3GNTL1 
                 NM_001009905 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-GlcNAc:betaGal 
                 20 
                 229 
               
               
                   
                 GI:57770467 
                 beta-1,3-N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylglucosaminyltransferase-like 1 
               
               
                 B4GALNT1 
                 NM_001478 
                   Homo sapiens  beta-1,4-N- 
                 21 
                 230 
                 422 
               
               
                   
                 GI:84781815 
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 1 
               
               
                 B4GALNT2 
                 NM_153446.1| 
                   Homo sapiens  beta-1,4-N- 
                 22 
                 231 
               
               
                   
                 [23592223] 
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 2 
               
               
                 B4GALNT3 
                 NM_173593.3 
                   Homo sapiens  beta-1,4-N- 
                 23 
                 232 
                 423 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 3 
               
               
                 B4GALNT4 
                 NM_178537.3 
                   Homo sapiens  beta-1,4-N- 
                 24 
                 233 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 4 
               
               
                 B4GALT1 
                 NM_001497 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-Gal:betaGlcNAc 
                 25 
                 234 
                 424 
               
               
                   
                 GI:13929461 
                 beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 polypeptide 1 
               
               
                 B4GALT2 
                 NM_003780.3 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-Gal:betaGlcNAc 
                 26 
                 235 
               
               
                   
                 GI:53759111 
                 beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 polypeptide 2 
               
               
                 B4GALT3 
                 NM_003779 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-Gal:betaGlcNAc 
                 27 
                 236 
               
               
                   
                 GI:13929468 
                 beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase 
               
               
                   
                   
                 polypeptide 3 
               
               
                 B4GALT4 
                 NM_003778 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-Gal:betaGlcNAc 
                 28 
                 237 
               
               
                   
                 GI:47078256 
                 beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 polypeptide 4, transcript variant 2 
               
               
                 B4GALT5 
                 NM_004776.2 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-Gal:betaGlcNAc 
                 29 
                 238 
               
               
                   
                 GI:13929470 
                 beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 polypeptide 5 
               
               
                 B4GALT6 
                 NM_004775.2 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-Gal:betaGlcNAc 
                 30 
                 239 
               
               
                   
                 GI:13929471 
                 beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 polypeptide 6 
               
               
                 B4GALT7 
                 NM_007255 
                   Homo sapiens  xylosyl protein beta- 
                 31 
                 240 
               
               
                   
                 GI:6005951 
                 1,4-galactosyltransferase, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 polypeptide 7 
               
               
                 C1GALT1 
                 NM_020156 
                   Homo sapiens  ‘core 1’ synthase, 
                 32 
                 241 
               
               
                   
                 GI:9910143 
                 glycoprotein-N-acetylgalactosamine 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3-beta-galactosyltransferase, 1 
               
               
                 C1GALT1C1 
                 NM_152692 
                   Homo sapiens  C1GALT1-specific 
                 33 
                 242 
                 425 
               
               
                   
                 GI:58532585 
                 chaperon 1, transcript variant 1 
               
               
                 CD44 
                 NM_000610 
                   Homo sapiens  CD44 molecule (Indian 
                 202 
                 243 
               
               
                   
                 gi|48255934| 
                 blood group), transcript variant 1 
               
               
                 CD69 
                 NM_001781 
                   Homo sapiens  CD69 molecule 
                 36 
                 244 
                 426 
               
               
                   
                 GI:4502680 
               
               
                 CDC2L1 
                 NM_033488-1 
                   Homo sapiens  CDC2-like 1 (PITSLRE 
                 37 
                 245 
               
               
                   
                 GI:16332361 
                 Proteine), transcript variant 4 
               
               
                 CDC2L2 
                 NM_024011 
                   Homo sapiens  CDC2-like 2 (PITSLRE 
                 38 
                 246 
               
               
                   
                 GI:16357497 
                 proteins), transcript variant 1 
               
               
                 CDH17 
                 NM_004063 
                   Homo sapiens  cadherin 17, LI 
                 39 
                 247 
               
               
                   
                 GI:16507959 
                 cadherin (liver-intestine) 
               
               
                 CHPF 
                 NM_024536 
                   Homo sapiens  chondroitin 
                 191 
                 248 
               
               
                   
                   
                 polymerizing factor 
               
               
                 CHST4 
                 NM_005769 
                   Homo sapiens  carbohydrate (N- 
                 40 
                 249 
               
               
                   
                 GI:5031734 
                 acetylglucosamine 6-O) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sulfotransferase 4 
               
               
                 CHST5 
                 NM_012126 
                   Homo sapiens  carbohydrate (N- 
                 194 
                 250 
               
               
                   
                 GI:6912305 
                 acetylglucosamin 6-O) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sulfotransferase 5 
               
               
                 CHST6 
                 NM_021615 
                 human corneal N-acetylglucosamine 
                 41 
                 251 
                 427 
               
               
                   
                 GI:52851439 
                 6-O sulfotransferase (hCGn6ST) 
               
               
                 CHST8 
                 NM_022467 
                   Homo sapiens  carbohydrate (N- 
                 42 
                 252 
               
               
                   
                 GI:21361615 
                 acetylgalactosamin 4-0) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sulfotransferase 8 
               
               
                 CHST9 
                 NM_031422 
                   Homo sapiens  carbohydrate (N- 
                 43 
                 253 
               
               
                   
                 GI:13899234 
                 acetylgalactosamin 4-0) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sulfotransferase 9 
               
               
                 CHSY1 
                 NM_014918 
                   Homo sapiens  carbohydrate 
                 189 
                 254 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (chondroitin) synthase 1 
               
               
                 CHSY-2/CSS1 
                 NM_175856 
                   Homo sapiens  chondroitin synthase 2 
                 181 
                 255 
               
               
                 CLEC2B 
                 NM_0005127 
                   Homo sapiens  C-type lectin domain 
                 397 
                 256 
               
               
                   
                 GI:37577106 
                 family 2, B 
               
               
                 CLEC7A 
                 NM_197954 
                   Homo sapiens  C-type lectin domain 
                 206 
                 257 
               
               
                   
                 GI:88999595 
                 family 7, A, transcript variant 6 
               
               
                 CMAH 
                 NR_002174 
                   Homo sapiens  CMP-N- 
                 186 
                 258 
               
               
                   
                 GI:3800813 
                 acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase 
               
               
                   
                   
                 mRNA 
               
               
                 CMAS 
                 NM_018686 
                   Homo sapiens  cytidine- 
                 44 
                 259 
               
               
                   
                 GI:22027483 
                 monophosphat N-acetylneuraminic 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acid synthetase 
               
               
                 CSGALNACT1 
                 NM_018371 
                   Homo sapiens  chondroitin beta-,4 N- 
                 205 
                 260 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (ChGn) 
               
               
                 CSGALNACT2 
                 NM_018590 
                   Homo sapiens  mRNA for beta-1,4-N- 
                 199 
                 261 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 
               
               
                 CSS2 
                 AB086062 
                   Homo sapiens  mRNA for chondroitin 
                 193 
                 262 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sulfate synthase 
               
               
                 CXADR 
                 NM_001338 
                   Homo sapiens  Coxsackie virus and 
                 45 
                 263 
                 428 
               
               
                   
                 GI:45827793 
                 adenovirus receptor 
               
               
                 DPAGT1 
                 NM_203316 
                   Homo sapiens  dolichyl phosphate 
                 46 
                 264 
               
               
                   
                 GI:42794010 
                 (UDP-N-Acetylglucosamine) N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylglucosamine 
               
               
                   
                   
                 phosphotransferase 1 (GlcNAc-1-P 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transferase) 
               
               
                 DSP 
                 NM_004415 
                   Homo sapiens  desmoplakin, 
                 47 
                 265 
               
               
                   
                 GI:58530839 
                 transcript variant 1 
               
               
                 ECOP 
                 NM_030798 
                   Homo sapiens  EGFR-co-amplified 
                 178 
                 266 
               
               
                   
                 GI:31542523 
                 and over-expressed protein 
               
               
                 ETFB 
                 NM_001985 
                   Homo sapiens  electron transfer 
                 48 
                 267 
                 429 
               
               
                   
                 GI:62420878 
                 flavoprotein, beta polypeptide, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transcript variant 1 
               
               
                 FPGT 
                 NM_003838 
                   Homo sapiens  fucose-1-phosphate 
                 49 
                 268 
               
               
                   
                   
                 guanylyltransferase 
               
               
                 FUCA1 
                 NM_000147 
                   Homo sapiens  fucosidase, alpha-L- 1, 
                 50 
                 269 
                 430 
               
               
                   
                 GI:24475878 
                 tissue 
               
               
                 FUCA2 
                 NM_032020 
                   Homo sapiens  fucosidase, alpha-L- 2, 
                 182 
                 270 
               
               
                   
                   
                 plasma 
               
               
                 FucT1/SLC35C1 
                 NM_018389 
                   Homo sapiens  ‘solute carrier’ 
                 187 
                 271 
               
               
                   
                   
                 family 35, C1, putative GDP-fucose 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transporter 
               
               
                 FUK 
                 NM_145059 
                   Homo sapiens  fucokinase 
                 51 
                 272 
               
               
                 FUT1 
                 NM_000148 
                   Homo sapiens  fucosyltransferase 1 
                 52 
                 273 
                 431 
               
               
                   
                 GI:58331243 
                 (galactoside 2-alpha-L- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 fucosyltransferase, blood group H) 
               
               
                 FUT10 
                 NM_032664 
                   Homo sapiens  fucosyltransferase 10 
                 53 
                 274 
                 432 
               
               
                   
                 GI:40805105 
                 (alpha (1,3) fucosyltransferase) 
               
               
                 FUT11 
                 NM_173540 
                   Homo sapiens  fucosyltransferase 11 
                 54 
                 275 
               
               
                   
                 GI:27734920 
                 (alpha (1,3) fucosyltransferase) 
               
               
                 FUT2 
                 NM_000511 
                   Homo sapiens  fucosyltransferase 2 
                 55 
                 276 
                 433 
               
               
                   
                 GI:56711329 
                 (including secretor status) 
               
               
                 FUT3 
                 NM_000149 
                   Homo sapiens  fucosyltransferase 3 
                 56 
                 277 
                 434 
               
               
                   
                 GI:4503808 
                 (galactoside 3(4)-L- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 fucosyltransferase, Lewis blood group) 
               
               
                 FUT4 
                 NM_002033 
                   Homo sapiens  fucosyltransferase 4 
                 57 
                 278 
                 435 
               
               
                   
                 GI:50845425 
                 (alpha (1,3) fucosyltransferase, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 myeloid specific) 
               
               
                 FUT5 
                 NM_002034 
                   Homo sapiens  fucosyltransferase 5 
                 58 
                 279 
                 436 
               
               
                   
                 GI:52485798 
                 (alpha (1,3) fucosyltransferase) 
               
               
                 FUT6 
                 NM_000150.1 
                   Homo sapiens  fucosyltransferase 6 
                 60 
                 280 
                 437 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (alpha (1,3) fucosyltransferase) 
               
               
                 FUT7 
                 NM_004479 
                   Homo sapiens  fucosyltransferase 7 
                 59 
                 281 
               
               
                   
                 GI:56090657 
                 (alpha (1,3) fucosyltransferase) 
               
               
                 FUT8 
                 NM_004480 
                   Homo sapiens  fucosyltransferase 8 
                 61 
                 282 
                 438 
               
               
                   
                 GI:30410721 
                 (alpha (1,6) fucosyltransferase), 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transcript variant 4 
               
               
                 FUT9 
                 NM_006581 
                   Homo sapiens  fucosyltransferase 9 
                 62 
                 283 
               
               
                   
                 GI:36951077 
                 (alpha (1,3) fucosyltransferase) 
               
               
                 Fx/TSTA3 
                 NM_003313 
                   Homo sapiens  tissue specific 
                 197 
                 284 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transplantation antigen P35B 
               
               
                 GAK 
                 NM_005255 
                   Homo sapiens  cyclin G-associated 
                 63 
                 285 
               
               
                   
                 GI:4885250 
                 kinase 
               
               
                 GAL3ST2 
                 NM_022134 
                   Homo sapiens  galactose-3-O- 
                 61 
                 286 
               
               
                   
                 GI:11545866 
                 sulfotransferase 2 
               
               
                 GALE 
                 NM_001008216 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-galactose-4- 
                 65 
                 287 
               
               
                   
                 GI:56118216 
                 epimerase, transcript variant 2 
               
               
                 GALNT1 
                 NM_020474 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-N-acetyl-alpha- 
                 66 
                 288 
               
               
                   
                 GI:13124890 
                 D-galactosamine: polypeptide N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (GalNAc-T) 
               
               
                 GALNT10 
                 NM_017540 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-N-acetyl-alpha- 
                 67 
                 289 
               
               
                   
                 GI:38788170 
                 D-galactosamine: polypeptide N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 10 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (GalNAc-T10) 
               
               
                 GALNT11 
                 NM_022087 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-N-acetyl-alpha- 
                 68 
                 290 
               
               
                   
                 GI:11545800 
                 D-galactosamine: polypeptide N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 11 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (GalNAc-T11) 
               
               
                 GALNT12 
                 NM_024642 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-N-acetyl-alpha- 
                 69 
                 291 
               
               
                   
                 GI:22203764 
                 D-galactosamine: polypeptide N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 12 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (GalNAc-T12) 
               
               
                 GALNT13 
                 NM_052917 
                   Homo sapiens  GALNT-13 mRNA for 
                 196 
                 292 
               
               
                   
                   
                 UDP-N-acetyl-apha-D- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 galactosamine: polypeptide 
               
               
                   
                   
                 N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 
               
               
                   
                   
                 13, complete 
               
               
                 GALNT14 
                 NM_024572 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-N-acetyl-alpha- 
                 184 
                 293 
               
               
                   
                   
                 D-galactosamine: polypeptide N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 14 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (GalNAc-T14) (GALNT14) 
               
               
                 GALNT15/ 
                 NM_054110 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-N-acetyl-alpha- 
                 183 
                 294 
               
               
                 GALNTL2 
                   
                 D-galactosamine: polypeptide N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase-like 
               
               
                   
                   
                 2 
               
               
                 GALNT17 
                 NM_001034845 
                   Homo sapiens  GALNT17 mRNA for 
                 192 
                 295 
               
               
                   
                   
                 UDP-N-acetyl-alpha-D- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 galactosamine: polypeptide N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 17 
               
               
                 GALNT2 
                 NM_004481 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-N-acetyl-alpha- 
                 70 
                 296 
               
               
                   
                 GI:9945385 
                 D-galactosamine: polypeptide N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (GalNAc-T) 
               
               
                 GALNT3 
                 NM_004482 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-N-acetyl-alpha- 
                 71 
                 297 
               
               
                   
                 GI:9945386 
                 D-galactosamine: polypeptide N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (GalNAc-T) 
               
               
                 GALNT4 
                 NM_003774 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-N-acetyl-alpha- 
                 72 
                 298 
               
               
                   
                 GI:34452724 
                 D-galactosamine: polypeptide N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 4 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (GalNAc-T4) 
               
               
                 GALNT5 
                 NM_014568 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-N-acetyl-alpha- 
                 175 
                 299 
               
               
                   
                   
                 D-galactosamine: polypeptide N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 5 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (GalNAc-T5) 
               
               
                 GALNT6 
                 NM_007210 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-N-acetyl-alpha- 
                 73 
                 300 
               
               
                   
                 GI:13124893 
                 D-galactosamine: polypeptide N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 6 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (GalNAc-T6) 
               
               
                 GALNT7 
                 NM_017423 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-N-acetyl-alpha- 
                 74 
                 301 
                 439 
               
               
                   
                 GI:8393408 
                 D-galactosamine: polypeptide N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (GalNAc-T) 
               
               
                 GALNT8 
                 NM_017417 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-N-acetyl-alpha- 
                 75 
                 302 
               
               
                   
                 GI:8393411 
                 D-galactosamine: polypeptide N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 8 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (GalNac-T8) 
               
               
                 GALNT9 
                 NM_021808 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-N-acetyl-alpha- 
                 76 
                 303 
               
               
                   
                 GI:38327555 
                 D-galactosamine: polypeptide N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 9 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (GalNAc-T9) 
               
               
                 GALNTL1/ 
                 NM_020692 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-N-acetyl-alpha- 
                 169 
                 304 
               
               
                 GALNT16 
                   
                 D-galactosamine: polypeptide N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase-like 
               
               
                   
                   
                 1 
               
               
                 GALNTL4 
                 NM_198516 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-N-acetyl-alpha- 
                 83 
                 305 
               
               
                   
                 GI:38348337 
                 D-galactosamine: polypeptide N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase-like 
               
               
                   
                   
                 4 
               
               
                 GALNTL5 
                 NM_145292 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-N-acetyl-alpha- 
                 173 
                 306 
               
               
                   
                   
                 D-galactosamine: polypeptide N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylgalactosaminyltransferase-like 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5 
               
               
                 GAPDH 
                 NM_002046 
                   Homo sapiens  glyceraldehyde-3- 
                 185 
                 307 
                 440 
               
               
                   
                 GI:83641890 
                 phosphate dehydrogenase 
               
               
                 GCNT1 
                 NM_001490 
                   Homo sapiens  glucosaminyl (N- 
                 84 
                 308 
                 441 
               
               
                   
                 GI:34485725 
                 acetyl) transferase 1, ‘core’ 2 (beta- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 1′,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase) 
               
               
                 GCNT2 
                 NM_145649 
                   Homo sapiens  glucosaminyl (N- 
                 468; 467 
                 309 
                 442 
               
               
                   
                 GI:85790494 and 
                 acetyl) transferase 2, I-branching 
               
               
                   
                 NM_145655 
                 enzyme (blood group I) 
               
               
                 GCNT3 
                 NM_004751 
                   Homo sapiens  glucosaminyl (N- 
                 85 
                 310 
                 443 
               
               
                   
                 GI:4758421 
                 acetyl) transferase 3, mucin type 
               
               
                 GCNT4 
                 NM_016591.1 
                   Homo sapiens  glucosaminyl (N- 
                 77 
                 311 
               
               
                   
                 GI:7706126 
                 acetyl) transferase 4, ‘core’ 2 
               
               
                 GLB1 
                 NM_000404 
                   Homo sapiens  galactosidase, beta 1, 
                 86 
                 312 
                 444 
               
               
                   
                 GI:10834965 
                 transcript variant 179423 
               
               
                 GNE 
                 NM_005476 
                   Homo sapiens  glucosamine (UDP-N- 
                 87 
                 313 
                 445 
               
               
                   
                 GI:38788307 
                 acetyl)-2-epimerase/N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylmannosamine kinase 
               
               
                 GNPTG 
                 NM_032520 
                   Homo sapiens  N-acetylglucosamine- 
                 88 
                 314 
               
               
                   
                 GI:42476109 
                 1-phosphate transferase, gamma- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 subunit 
               
               
                 GPAA1 
                 NM_003801 
                   Homo sapiens  homologue to GPAA1 
                 89 
                 315 
               
               
                   
                 GI:83367079 
                 (glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchor 
               
               
                   
                   
                 attachment protein 1) of yeast 
               
               
                 HDAC1 
                 NM_004964 
                   Homo sapiens  histone deacetylase 1 
                 90 
                 316 
                 446 
               
               
                   
                 GI:13128859 
               
               
                 HSP90AB1 
                 NM_007355 
                   Homo sapiens  heat shock protein 
                 198 
                 317 
               
               
                 (HSPCB) 
                 GI:20149593 
                 90 kDa alpha (cytosolic), class B, 1 
               
               
                 IGnT2 
                 AB078432 
                   Homo sapiens  mRNA for beta-1,6-N- 
                 195 
                 318 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylglucosaminyltransferase 2 
               
               
                 ITLN1 
                 NM_017625 
                   Homo sapiens  intelectin 1 
                 91 
                 319 
               
               
                   
                 GI:31542985 
                 (galactofuranose-binding) 
               
               
                 ITLN2 
                 NM_080878 
                   Homo sapiens  intelectin 2 
                 92 
                 320 
               
               
                   
                 GI:37622351 
               
               
                 KDELR1 
                 NM_006801 
                   Homo sapiens  KDEL (Lys-Asp-Glu- 
                 93 
                 321 
               
               
                   
                 GI:32307173 
                 Leu) endoplasmic reticulum protein 
               
               
                   
                   
                 retention receptor 1 
               
               
                 KDELR2 
                 NM_006854 
                   Homo sapiens  KDEL (Lys-Asp-Glu- 
                 94 
                 322 
               
               
                   
                 GI:8051609 
                 Leu) endoplasmic reticulum protein 
               
               
                   
                   
                 retention receptor 2 
               
               
                 KIAA0174 
                 NM_014761 
                   Homo sapiens  KIAA0174 
                 95 
                 323 
               
               
                   
                 GI:41281488 
               
               
                 LGALS1 
                 NM_002305 
                   Homo sapiens  lectin, galactoside- 
                 96 
                 324 
                 447 
               
               
                   
                 GI:85815826 
                 binding, soluble, 1 (Galectin 1) 
               
               
                 LGALS10/ 
                 NM_001828 
                   Homo sapiens  Charcot-Leyden 
                 172 
                 325 
               
               
                 CLC 
                   
                 crystal protein 
               
               
                 LGALS12 
                 NM_033101 
                   Homo sapiens  lectin, galactoside- 
                 97 
                 326 
               
               
                   
                 GI:20127658 
                 binding, soluble, 12 (Galectin 12) 
               
               
                 LGALS13 
                 NM_013268 
                   Homo sapiens  lectin, galactoside- 
                 98 
                 327 
               
               
                   
                 GI:20302163 
                 binding, soluble, 13 (Galectin 13) 
               
               
                 LGALS14 
                 NM_020129 
                   Homo sapiens  lectin, galactoside- 
                 99 
                 328 
               
               
                   
                 GI:45439323 
                 binding, soluble, 14 transcript 
               
               
                   
                   
                 variant 1 
               
               
                 LGALS2 
                 NM_006498 
                   Homo sapiens  lectin, galactoside- 
                 100 
                 329 
               
               
                   
                 GI:51173752 
                 binding, soluble, 2 (Galectin 2) 
               
               
                 LGALS3 
                 NM_002306 
                   Homo sapiens  lectin, galactoside- 
                 101 
                 330 
                 448 
               
               
                   
                 GI:4504982 
                 binding, soluble, 3 (Galectin 3) 
               
               
                 LGALS3BP 
                 NM_005567 
                   Homo sapiens  lectin, galactoside- 
                 102 
                 331 
               
               
                   
                 GI:6006016 
                 binding, soluble, 3 Bindeprotein 
               
               
                 LGALS4 
                 NM_006149 
                   Homo sapiens  lectin, galactoside- 
                 103 
                 332 
               
               
                   
                 GI:6006017 
                 binding, soluble, 4 (Galectin 4) 
               
               
                 LGALS7 
                 NM_002307 
                   Homo sapiens  lectin, galactoside- 
                 104 
                 333 
                 449 
               
               
                   
                 GI:4504984 
                 binding, soluble, 7 (Galectin 7) 
               
               
                 LGALS8 
                 NM_006499 
                   Homo sapiens  lectin, galactoside- 
                 105 
                 334 
               
               
                   
                 GI:42544184 
                 binding, soluble, 8 (Galectin 8) 
               
               
                 LGALS9 
                 NM_002308 
                   Homo sapiens  lectin, galactoside- 
                 106 
                 335 
                 450 
               
               
                   
                 GI:6806891 
                 binding, soluble, 9 (Galectin 9) 
               
               
                 LLGL2 
                 NM_004524 
                   Homo sapiens  ‘lethal giant larvae’ 
                 107 
                 336 
                 451 
               
               
                   
                 GI:62739160 
                 homologue 2 ( Drosophila ), transcript 
               
               
                   
                   
                 variant 1 
               
               
                 LYPLA2 
                 NM_007260 
                   Homo sapiens  lysophospholipase II 
                 108 
                 337 
               
               
                   
                 GI:20302149 
               
               
                 MAPKAPK2 
                 NM_004759 
                   Homo sapiens  mitogen-activated 
                 109 
                 338 
               
               
                   
                 GI:32481207 
                 protein kinase-activated protein 
               
               
                   
                   
                 kinase 2, transcript variant 1 
               
               
                 MGAT1 
                 NM_002406 
                   Homo sapiens  mannosyl (alpha-1,3-)- 
                 110 
                 339 
               
               
                   
                 GI:6031182 
                 glycoprotein beta-1,2-N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylglucosaminyltransferase 
               
               
                 MGAT3 
                 NM_002409 
                   Homo sapiens  mannosyl (beta-1,4-)- 
                 111 
                 340 
               
               
                   
                 GI:19924166 
                 glycoprotein beta-1,4-N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylglucosaminyltransferase 
               
               
                 MGAT4A 
                 NM_012214.2 
                   Homo sapiens  mannosyl (alpha-1,3-)- 
                 166 
                 341 
               
               
                   
                   
                 glycoprotein beta-1,4-N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylglucosaminyltransferase, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 isozyme A, mRNA 
               
               
                 MGAT4B 
                 NM_054013 
                   Homo sapiens  mannosyl (alpha-1,3-)- 
                 112 
                 342 
               
               
                   
                 GI:83267864 
                 glycoprotein beta-1,4-N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylglucosaminyltransferase, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 isozyme B, transcript variant 2 
               
               
                 MGAT5 
                 NM_002410 
                   Homo sapiens  mannosyl (alpha-1,6-)- 
                 113 
                 343 
                 452 
               
               
                   
                 GI:6031185 
                 glycoprotein beta-1,6-N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylglucosaminyltransferase 
               
               
                 MGRN1 
                 NM_015246 
                   Homo sapiens  Mahogunin, Ringfinger 
                 114 
                 344 
               
               
                   
                 GI:44917607 
                 1 
               
               
                 NAGK 
                 NM_017567 
                   Homo sapiens  N-acetylglucosamine- 
                 79 
                 345 
               
               
                   
                 GI:49574507 
                 kinase, mRNA. 
               
               
                 NANS 
                 NM_018946 
                   Homo sapiens  N-acetylneuramininic 
                 115 
                 346 
               
               
                   
                 GI:12056472 
                 acid synthase (sialic acid synthase) 
               
               
                 NDST1 
                 NM_001543 
                   Homo sapiens  N-deacetylase/N- 
                 116 
                 347 
                 453 
               
               
                   
                 GI:46094001 
                 sulfotransferase (heparan 
               
               
                   
                   
                 glucosaminyl) 1 
               
               
                 NEU1 
                 NM_000434 
                   Homo sapiens  sialidase 1 (lysosomal 
                 117 
                 348 
                 454 
               
               
                   
                 GI:40806202 
                 sialidase) 
               
               
                 NEU2 
                 NM_005383 
                   Homo sapiens  sialidase 2 (cytosolic 
                 118 
                 349 
               
               
                   
                 GI:4885514 
                 sialidase) 
               
               
                 NEU3 
                 NM_006656 
                   Homo sapiens  sialidase 3 (membrane 
                 119 
                 350 
               
               
                   
                 GI:21704286 
                 sialidase) 
               
               
                 NEU4 
                 NM_080741 
                   Homo sapiens  sialidase 4 
                 171 
                 351 
               
               
                 NPL 
                 NM_030769 
                   Homo sapiens  N-acetylneuraminate- 
                 78 
                 352 
               
               
                   
                 GI:13540532 
                 pyruvate lyase (dihydrodipicolinate 
               
               
                   
                   
                 synthase) 
               
               
                 O-acetyl- 
                 AF300796.1 
                   Homo sapiens  sialic acid specific 
                 168 
                 353 
               
               
                 esterase 
                 GI:10242344 
                 9-O-acetylesterase I mRNA 
               
               
                 OGT 
                 NM_181673.1 
                   Homo sapiens  O-linked N- 
                 167 
                 354 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylglucosamin (GlcNAc) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transferase (UDP-N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylglucosamine: polypeptide-N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylglucosaminyl transferase), 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transcript variant 2, mRNA 
               
               
                 PGM3 
                 NM_015599 
                   Homo sapiens  phosphoglucomutase 
                 80 
                 355 
               
               
                   
                 GI:7661567 
                 3 
               
               
                 POFUT1 
                 NM_015352 
                   Homo sapiens  protein O- 
                 176 
                 356 
               
               
                   
                   
                 fucosyltransferase 1 
               
               
                 POFUT2 
                 NM_015227 
                   Homo sapiens  protein O- 
                 177 
                 357 
               
               
                   
                   
                 fucosyltransferase 2 
               
               
                 POMGNT1 
                 NM_017739 
                   Homo sapiens  O-linked 
                 82 
                 358 
               
               
                 (FLJ20277) 
                 GI:116686123 
                 mannose beta 1,2-N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylglucosaminyltransferase 
               
               
                 PPIA 
                 NM_021130 
                   Homo sapiens  peptidylprolyl- 
                 120 
                 359 
                 455 
               
               
                   
                 GI:45439309 
                 isomerase A (cyclophilin A), transcript 
               
               
                   
                   
                 variant 1 
               
               
                 RABGAP1L 
                 NM_014857 
                   Homo sapiens  RAB GTPase 
                 121 
                 360 
               
               
                   
                 GI:78217385 
                 activating protein 1-like, transcript 
               
               
                   
                   
                 variant 1 
               
               
                 RENBP 
                 NM_002910.4 
                   Homo sapiens  renin binding protein 
                 81 
                 361 
               
               
                   
                 GI:11496987 
               
               
                 RERE 
                 NM_012102 
                   Homo sapiens  arginine-glutamic acid 
                 122 
                 362 
               
               
                   
                 GI:19923392 
                 dipeptide (RE) repeats 
               
               
                 RNASE4 
                 NM_002937 
                   Homo sapiens  ribonuclease, RNase 
                 123 
                 363 
               
               
                   
                 GI:37577173 
                 A family, 4, transcript variant 2 
               
               
                 RPL13A 
                 NM_012423 
                   Homo sapiens  ribosomal protein L13a 
                 124 
                 364 
               
               
                   
                 GI:14591905 
               
               
                 SELE 
                 NM_000450 
                   Homo sapiens  selectin E (endothelial 
                 125 
                 365 
                 456 
               
               
                   
                 GI:4506870 
                 adhesion molecule 1) 
               
               
                 SELL 
                 NM_000655 
                   Homo sapiens  selectin L (lymphocytic 
                 126 
                 366 
                 457 
               
               
                   
                 GI:5713320 
                 adhesion molecule 1) 
               
               
                 SELP 
                 NM_003005 
                   Homo sapiens  selectin P (granule 
                 127 
                 367 
               
               
                   
                 GI:6031196 
                 membrane protein 140 kDa, antigen 
               
               
                   
                   
                 CD62) 
               
               
                 SIAE/ 
                 NM_170601 
                   Homo sapiens  sialic acid 
                 465 
                 369 
               
               
                 OAE 
                   
                 acetylesterase 
               
               
                 SIGLEC1/ 
                 NM_023068 
                   Homo sapiens  sialic acid-binding Ig- 
                 170 
                 370 
               
               
                 CD169 
                   
                 like lectin 1, sialoadhesin 
               
               
                 SIGLEC10 
                 NM_033130 
                   Homo sapiens  sialic acid-binding Ig- 
                 129 
                 371 
               
               
                   
                 GI:31377638 
                 like lectin 10 
               
               
                 SIGLEC11 
                 NM_052884 
                   Homo sapiens  sialic acid-binding Ig- 
                 130 
                 372 
               
               
                   
                 GI:16418392 
                 like lectin 11 
               
               
                 SIGLEC12 
                 NM_053003 
                   Homo sapiens  sialic acid-binding Ig- 
                 131 
                 373 
               
               
                   
                 GI:24497436 
                 like lectin 12, transcript variant 1 
               
               
                 SIGLEC2/ 
                 NM_001771 
                   Homo sapiens  CD22 molecule 
                 34 
                 374 
                 458 
               
               
                 CD22 
                 GI:4502650 
               
               
                 SIGLEC3/ 
                 NM_001772 
                   Homo sapiens  CD33 molecule 
                 35 
                 375 
                 459 
               
               
                 CD33 
                 GI:50726999 
               
               
                 SIGLEC5 
                 NM_003830 
                   Homo sapiens  sialic acid-binding Ig- 
                 132 
                 376 
               
               
                   
                 GI:4502658 
                 like lectin 5 
               
               
                 SIGLEC6 
                 NM_198845 
                   Homo sapiens  sialic acid-binding Ig- 
                 133 
                 377 
               
               
                   
                 GI:87298829 
                 like lectin 6, transcript variante 2 
               
               
                 SIGLEC7 
                 NM_016543 
                   Homo sapiens  sialic acid -binding Ig- 
                 134 
                 378 
               
               
                   
                 GI:7706570 
                 like lectin 7, transcript variant 2 
               
               
                 SIGLEC8 
                 NM_014442 
                   Homo sapiens  sialic acid -binding Ig- 
                 135 
                 379 
               
               
                   
                 GI:7657571 
                 like lectin 8 
               
               
                 SIGLEC9 
                 NM_014441 
                   Homo sapiens  sialic acid -binding Ig- 
                 136 
                 380 
               
               
                   
                 GI:23943855 
                 like lectin 9 
               
               
                 SLC2A1 
                 NM_006516 
                   Homo sapiens  ‘solute carrier’ family 
                 137 
                 381 
               
               
                   
                 GI:5730050 
                 2 (facilitated glucose transporter), 1 
               
               
                 SLC35A1 
                 NM_006416 
                   Homo sapiens  ‘solute carrier’ family 
                 138 
                 382 
               
               
                   
                 GI:20149579| 
                 35 (CMP- sialic acid transporter), A1 
               
               
                 SLC35A2 
                 NM_005660 
                   Homo sapiens  ‘solute carrier’ family 
                 139 
                 383 
               
               
                   
                 GI:5032210 
                 35 (UDP-galactose transporter), A2, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transcript variante 1 
               
               
                 SLC35A3 
                 NM_012243 
                   Homo sapiens  ‘solute carrier’ family 
                 140 
                 384 
               
               
                   
                 GI:6912667 
                 35 (UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 GlcNAc) transporter), A3 
               
               
                 SLC35D1 
                 NM_015139 
                   Homo sapiens  ‘solute carrier’ family 
                 141 
                 385 
               
               
                   
                 GI:14028874 
                 35 (UDP-glucuronic acid/UDP-N- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 acetylgalactosamine dual 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transporter), D1 
               
               
                 ST3GAL1 
                 NM_003033 
                   Homo sapiens  ST3 beta-galactoside 
                 142 
                 386 
               
               
                   
                 GI:27765097 
                 alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase 1, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transcript variant 1 
               
               
                 ST3GAL2 
                 NM_006927 
                   Homo sapiens  ST3 beta-galactoside 
                 143 
                 387 
               
               
                   
                 GI:27765098 
                 alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase 2 
               
               
                 ST3GAL3 
                 NM_006279 
                   Homo sapiens  ST3 beta-galactoside 
                 144 
                 388 
               
               
                   
                 GI:28373066 
                 alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase 3, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transcript variant 10 
               
               
                 ST3GAL4 
                 NM_006278 
                   Homo sapiens  ST3 beta-galactoside 
                 145 
                 389 
                 460 
               
               
                   
                 GI:5454057 
                 alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase 4 
               
               
                 ST3GAL5 
                 NM_003896 
                   Homo sapiens  ST3 beta-galactoside 
                 146 
                 390 
               
               
                   
                 GI:28373079 
                 alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase 5 
               
               
                 ST3GAL6 
                 NM_006100 
                   Homo sapiens  ST3 beta-galactoside 
                 147 
                 391 
               
               
                   
                 GI:31377787 
                 alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase 6 
               
               
                 ST6GAL1 
                 NM_003032 
                   Homo sapiens  ST6 beta-galactosamide 
                 148 
                 392 
               
               
                   
                 GI:27765094 
                 alpha-2,6-sialyltranferase 1, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transcript variant 2 
               
               
                 ST6GAL2 
                 NM_032528 
                   Homo sapiens  ST6 Beta-Galactosamid 
                 149 
                 393 
               
               
                   
                 GI:26190609 
                 Alpha-2,6-Sialyltranferase 2 
               
               
                 ST6GALNAC1 
                 NM_018414 
                   Homo sapiens  ST6 (alpha-N-acetyl- 
                 150 
                 394 
               
               
                   
                 GI:90403587 
                 neuraminyl-2,3-beta-galactosyl-1,3)- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 N-acetylgalactosaminide alpha-2,6- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sialyltransferase 1 
               
               
                 ST6GALNAC2 
                 NM_006456 
                   Homo sapiens  ST6 (alpha-N-acetyl- 
                 151 
                 395 
                 461 
               
               
                   
                 GI:5454091 
                 neuraminyl-2,3-beta-galactosyl-1,3)- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 N-acetylgalactosaminide alpha-2,6- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sialyltransferase 2 
               
               
                 ST6GALNAC3 
                 NM_152996 
                   Homo sapiens  ST6 (alpha-N-acetyl- 
                 152 
                 396 
               
               
                   
                 GI:23308723 
                 neuraminyl-2,3-beta-galactosyl-1,3)- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 N-acetylgalactosaminid alpha-2,6- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sialyltransferase 3 
               
               
                 ST6GALNAC5 
                 NM_030965 
                   Homo sapiens  ST6 (alpha-N-acetyl- 
                 153 
                 398 
               
               
                   
                 GI:13569937 
                 neuraminyl-2,3-beta-galactosyl-1,3)- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 N-acetylgalactosaminid alpha-2,6- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sialyltransferase 5 
               
               
                 ST6GALNAC6 
                 NM_013443 
                   Homo sapiens  ST6 (alpha-N-acetyl- 
                 154 
                 399 
               
               
                   
                 GI:34147672 
                 neuraminyl-2,3-beta-galactosyl-1,3)- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 N-acetylgalactosaminid alpha-2,6- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sialyltransferase 6 
               
               
                 ST8SIA1 
                 NM_003034 
                   Homo sapiens  ST8 alpha-N-acetyl- 
                 155 
                 400 
               
               
                   
                 GI:28373095 
                 neuraminide alpha-2,8- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sialyltransferase 1 
               
               
                 ST8SIA2 
                 NM_006011 
                   Homo sapiens  ST8 alpha-N-acetyl- 
                 156 
                 401 
               
               
                   
                 GI:59806358 
                 neuraminid alpha-2,8- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sialyltransferase 2 
               
               
                 ST8SIA3 
                 NM_015879 
                   Homo sapiens  ST8 alpha-N-acetyl 
                 157 
                 402 
               
               
                   
                 GI:7705667 
                 neuraminide alpha-2,8- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sialyltransferase 3 
               
               
                 ST8SIA4 
                 NM_005668 
                   Homo sapiens  ST8 alpha-N-acetyl- 
                 158 
                 403 
               
               
                   
                 GI:38202228 
                 neuraminide alpha-2,8- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sialyltransferase 4, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transcript variant 1 
               
               
                 ST8SIA5 
                 NM_013305 
                   Homo sapiens  ST8, alpha-N-acetyl- 
                 159 
                 404 
               
               
                   
                 GI:59806359 
                 neuraminide alpha-2,8- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sialyltransferase 5 
               
               
                 ST8SIA6 
                 NM_001004470 
                   Homo sapiens  ST8 alpha-N-acetyl- 
                 160 
                 405 
               
               
                   
                   
                 neuraminide alpha-2,8- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sialyltransferase 6 
               
               
                 SULT1C2 
                 NM_001056 
                   Homo sapiens  sulfotransferase 
                 203 
                 406 
                 462 
               
               
                   
                 GI:45935387 
                 family, cytosolic, 1C, family member 
               
               
                   
                   
                 1, transcript variant 1 
               
               
                 SULT1C4 
                 NM_006588 
                   Homo sapiens  sulfotransferase 
                 201 
                 407 
               
               
                   
                 GI:28830307 
                 family, cytosolic, 1C, family member 
               
               
                   
                   
                 2 
               
               
                 TACSTD1 
                 NM_002354 
                   Homo sapiens  tumour-associated 
                 163 
                 408 
               
               
                   
                 GI:4505058 
                 calcium signal transducer 1 
               
               
                 TAF15 
                 NM_003487 
                   Homo sapiens  TAF15 RNA 
                 164 
                 409 
               
               
                   
                 GI:21327699 
                 polymerase II, TATA box binding 
               
               
                   
                   
                 protein (TBP)-associated factor, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 68 kDa, transcript variant 2 
               
               
                 TAX1BP1 
                 NM_006024 
                   Homo sapiens  Tax1 (human T-cell 
                 165 
                 410 
               
               
                   
                 GI:21361681 
                 leukaemia virus type I) binding protein 
               
               
                   
                   
                 1 
               
               
                 TNFRSF1B 
                 NM_001066 
                   Homo sapiens  tumour necrosis factor 
                 162 
                 411 
                 463 
               
               
                   
                 GI:23312365 
                 receptor superfamily, 1B 
               
               
                 TUBA3C 
                 NM_006001 
                   Homo sapiens  tubulin, alpha 2, 
                 204 
                 412 
                 464 
               
               
                   
                 GI:17921992 
                 transcript variant 1 
               
               
                 TUBA4 
                 NR 003063 
                   Homo sapiens  tubulin, alpha 4 
                 200 
                 200 
                 413 
               
               
                   
                 GI:95113641 
               
               
                 UAP1 
                 NM_003115 
                   Homo sapiens  UDP-N- 
                 161 
                 161 
                 414 
               
               
                   
                 GI:34147515 
                 acteylglucosamine 
               
               
                   
                   
                 pyrophosphorylase 1 
               
               
                 WBSCR1/ 
                 NM_022170 
                   Homo sapiens  Williams-Beuren 
                 190 
                   
                 415 
               
               
                 EIF4H 
                 GI:11559922 
                 syndrome chromosome region 1, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transcript variant 1 
               
               
                 WBSCR17/ 
                 NM_022479 
                   Homo sapiens  Williams-Beuren 
                 174 
                 174 
                 416 
               
               
                 GALNTL3 
                   
                 syndrome chromosome region 17 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (WBSCR17) 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 In column four of the Table, the corresponding SEQ ID numbers are assigned to the genes described. Furthermore, in column five (SEQ ID NO Oligo 1) and six (SEQ ID NO Oligo 2), the corresponding SEQ ID numbers of preferred oligonucleotides are assigned to the genes in question. 
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In a further preferred embodiment of the support of the invention, the probes are selected from the preferred oligonucleotides listed in Table 1. 
     In a further preferred embodiment each of the proteins of Table 1 is represented by at least one probe on the support. 
     The invention further relates to a kit, comprising the set of probes as defined above. In a preferred embodiment, the kit according to the invention comprises at least one probe each for the proteins mentioned in Table 1. The probes contained in the kit can be used for the production of a support, for example of the support according to the invention, and also as probes in hybridisation methods such as e.g. Southern Blotting or Northern Blotting. These methods per se are well-known in the art. 
     The present invention also relates to the use of the support or kit according to the invention for the quantitative determination of the expression of nucleic acids encoding fucosyltransferases, galactosyltransferases, N-acetylglucosaminyl transferases, N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferases, sialyltransferases, sugar sulfotransferases, lectins, selectins, fucosidases, neuraminidases (sialidases), nucleotide sugar epimerases, sugar kinases, sugar epimerases, sugar transporters and enzymes of the fucose or sialic acid metabolism, in a sample obtained from a cell, a tissue or an organism. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the term quantitative determination refers to the measuring of the amount of a target molecule or a value proportional thereto. This amount can be stated as an absolute value (e.g. the signal intensity of the target molecule) or as a ratio. The presentation of the quantity in form of a ratio, e.g. between the signal intensities of the target molecule and a control molecule analysed in parallel offers crucial advantages. For example, experiments can be compared with each other that were carried out at different times, under different conditions, with different methods or different starting material. Methods for the analysis and determination of expression data are known to the person skilled in the art. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the term a sample obtained from a cell, a tissue or an organism refers to a sample which is obtained from cells, tissues or an organism by means of, for example, methods known in the art. For example, a sample can be taken from a living organism by means of biopsy. In addition, methods such as e.g. laser capture microdissection can be used to isolate individual cells. These methods per se are well-known in the art, as described e.g. in Kamme et al., 2003. Subsequently, the thus obtained cells and/or tissues as well as cells from cell cultures can be lysed by methods known to the person skilled in the art. By means of these methods, samples can be obtained, for example, from a single cell. However, samples can also be obtained from a greater number of cells, for example 10 3  to 10 5  cells. 
     Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for the quantitative determination of the expression of nucleic acids encoding fucosyltransferases, galactosyltransferases, N-acetylglucosaminyl transferases, N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferases, sialyltransferases, sugar sulfotransferases, lectins, selectins, fucosidases, neuraminidases (sialidases), nucleotide sugar epimerases, sugar kinases, sugar epimerases, sugar transporters and enzymes of the fucose or sialinic acid metabolism, comprising the steps of contacting the support according to the invention with a preparation of labelled nucleic acids obtained by reverse transcription of mRNAs that are present in a sample obtained from a cell, a tissue or an organism, and quantifying the amount of labelling bound to the probes on the support. 
     In this context, labelled nucleic acids include, among others, cDNAs or cRNAs which have a detectable label, for example a radioactive or a luminescent or fluorescent label, or which are biotinylated. The production of labelled cDNAs is well-known to the person skilled in the art and is described, for example, in Manduchi et al., 2002. For example labelled nucleotides can be introduced directly into the resulting cDNA during the reverse transcription of RNA, or specific reactive nucleotides are introduced which, in a second step, are linked to a label (e.g. indirect amino allyl cDNA labelling), or cDNAs can be equipped with a so-called “capture sequence” which facilitates labelling of the cDNAs already bound to the array by means of fluorescent dendrimers (e.g. Genisphere 3DNA Array labelling kits). The production of labelled cRNAs is also well-known to the person skilled in the art. For example, mRNA is used as a template for cDNA synthesis which, after purification, is transcribed into cRNA in an in vitro transcription with labelled ribonucleotides. Frequently used labels include, for example, the fluorescent labels Cy3, Cy5, Alexa Fluor 546 or Alexa Fluor 647, as well as P 32 -labelled nucleotides for direct labelling in the case of radioactive labelling. In this context, different samples can be labelled with different labels (e.g. different fluorescent markers) and, subsequently be contacted with a common support (dual colour labelling) or the same label (for example biotin) can be used for all samples, in which case each sample is contacted with a separate support (single colour labelling). 
     A preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention further comprises the determination of the expression of nucleic acids encoding fucosyltransferases, galactosyltransferases, N-acetylglucosaminyl transferases, N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferases, sialyltransferases, sugar sulfotransferases, lectins, selectins, fucosidases, neuraminidases (sialidases), nucleotide sugar epimerases, sugar kinases, sugar epimerases, sugar transporters and enzymes of the fucose or sialinic acid metabolism, wherein the determination of the expression comprises: (i) determination of the amount of mRNA by PCR, Ribonuclease Protection Assay or SAGE (Serial Analysis of Gene Expression); and/or (ii) determination of the amount of protein. 
     Thus, in accordance with this preferred embodiment, the determination of the expression by means of the support or kit according to the invention is enriched by further expression data which are determined by means of other methods. 
     Methods for the determination of the amount of mRNA by PCR as such are well-known to the person skilled in the art and include, for example, real-time PCR and real competitive PCR. Methods for the determination of the amount of mRNA by Ribonuclease Protection Assay or SAGE as such are well-known in the art and are described, for example, in Ding and Cantor, 2004. 
     In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the determination of the expression of the fucosyltransferases, galactosyltransferases, N-acetylglucosaminyl transferases, N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferases, sialyltransferases, sugar sulfotransferases, lectins, selectins, fucosidases, neuraminidases, sialidases, nucleotide sugar epimerases, sugar kinases, sugar epimerases, sugar transporters and enzymes of the fucose or sialinic acid metabolism takes place by means of antibodies or aptamers that are specific for the fucosyltransferases, galactosyltransferases, N-acetylglucosaminyl transferases, N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferases, sialyltransferases, sugar sulfotransferases, lectins, selectins, fucosidases, neuraminidases, sialidases, nucleotide sugar epimerases, sugar kinases, sugar epimerases, sugar transporters and enzymes of the fucose or sialinic acid metabolism. 
     The term “antibody” in accordance with the invention comprises specific antibodies or antibody fragments or antibody derivatives. Fragments of antibodies include e.g. Fab or F(ab′) 2  fragments. Derivatives include scFvs. Methods for the generation of specific antibodies are known in the art. Standard detection methods wherein antibodies are used are, as already mentioned above, among others ELISA, RIA or also protein arrays, but also immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and other detection methods. In this context, the antibodies bind specifically to the target molecules. The antibody binding can be made visible by e.g. labelling of the primary antibodies or is detected by means of secondary antibodies that bind the antibody, and that are in this case labelled themselves. The antibodies can be modified with e.g. fluorescent substances, radioactive labelling or an enzymatic label. Immunological detection methods using specific antibodies are known in the art (e.g. Harlow et al., 1988) and include, for example, Western Blotting, ELISA, RIA, protein arrays, immunofluorescence or flow cytometry. Suitable antibodies according to the invention are, for example but not exclusively, CD22 antibodies, antibodies against Thomsen-Friedenreich glycotope as well as antibodies for sialyl Lewis X and sialyl Lewis A antigens. 
     The term “aptamer” according to the invention comprises nucleic acids that, due to their three-dimensional structure, bind to a target molecule. Aptamers per se are known in the art, e.g. in Osborne et al., 1997. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the use according to the invention or the method according to the invention, the expression shows the glycosylation status of the cell, the tissue or the organism. 
     Glycosylation status refers to the number and kind of sugar side chains of proteins on/in a cell. The knowledge about the condition of the glycosylation apparatus, which is gained by means of the expression analysis, enables a correlation with the glycosylation status of a cell. For example, the knowledge about a reduced expression of the enzyme UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine-kinase (GNE)—the key enzyme of sialic acid synthesis—enables a correlation to the density of sialic acid on the cell surface. 
     The use of the expression data according to the invention for the analysis of the glycosylation status can be used, for example, for the profiling of cell lines for the production of glycosylated biopharmaceuticals. By means of the array, the selection of the optimum cell line for the biosynthesis of a desired glycan structure is facilitated. Furthermore, it can be tested whether enzymes are expressed which can reduce or prevent the synthesis of a desired glycan structure. 
     The analysis of expression patterns according to the invention is also advantageous with regard to testing of the effects of glycoengineering. Often, cell lines have to be subjected to additional glycoengineering either to enhance specific glycosyl transferase activities and/or to reduce or eliminate other activities e.g. by means of siRNA technology. The success of this glycoengineering and the potential additional changes of the expression profile associated therewith can be analysed by means of the method according to the invention. 
     The effect of changes in cell culture parameters such as e.g. serum deprivation or changes in the O 2  and/or CO 2  gas concentration can be observed since they have an important impact on the glycolisation pattern of product cell lines. Additionally or alternatively, the expression patterns can also serve for the process monitoring of the constancy of cell cultivation processes during the production phase. 
     In a further preferred embodiment of the use according to the invention or the method according to the invention, the expression indicates the disease state, the malignancy and/or the potential of formation of metastase of the cell, the tissue or the organism. 
     The term malignancy according to the invention describes a course of disease which has a progressive destructive effect and, potentiallly, can lead to death. In connection with tumour diseases, malignancy relates to the capability of a tumour to penetrate the basal membrane and form metastases. A tumour of that kind is colloquially referred to as cancer. Depending on the capability of tumours/tumour cells to develop such metastases, a differentiation is made between low malignant and highly malignant tumours. 
     The term potential of formation of metastase refers to the capability of cells (in general tumour cells) to lose connectivity to the surrounding tissue. During this loss of connectivity, groups of cells can detach and emigrate. An additional defect of the adhesion molecules on the surface of (malignant) cells that are essential for the connectivity of cells facilitates the emigration additionally. 
     By means of the use according to the invention or the method according to the invention, for example expression profiles of carcinomas with different prognoses can be obtained and the expression data can be correlated with categories such as the metastasis of the carcinoma and the survival period of the patient, so that a prognoses can be given for other patients. Thus, array-based profiling of tumour-expressed glycosylation enzymes represents an innovative technology for diagnostics or therapy prognoses. 
     For all these uses and methods, the present invention offers highly parallel and quickly to perform alternatives to the elaborate glycan analyses. 
     The invention further relates to a diagnostic composition comprising the set of probes as defined above. 
     The invention further relates to the use of the set of probes according to the invention for the preparation of one or more diagnostic compositions or of a diagnostic device for the diagnosis of tumours, inflammatory and/or neurological diseases. 
     The measurement of the activity of enzymes, the activity of which regulates the glycosylation in a tissue- and differentiation-specific way, can be used for diagnostic purposes. In addition, also the mRNA expression of these glycogens can be of diagnostic value. For example, it is known that specific acidic sugars (sialic acids) occur more strongly in the glycan structures of metastasising tumour cells. In accordance with this, also the expression of the enzyme catalysing the formation of these structures (sialyltransferase ST6Gal-1) is increased in metastasising colorectal carcinomas (Dall&#39;Olio et al., 1989; Kemmner et al., 1994). Similar results were found in analyses of stomach, kidney, prostate and mamma carcinomas (see Table 2). 
     The immune defence also depends on a regulated activation of glycosyltransferases. Investigations show that the expression profile of different glycosyltransferases changes during the development of T-lymphocytes in a temporally and spacially controlled manner (Baum, 2002). For example, the sugar sequence NeuAca2,6Gal, the product of the ST6Gal-I sialyltransferase, is only found on mature medullary thymocytes. Moreover, glycosylation also plays an important role for the activation of the HIV virus (Lefebvre et al., 1994) or the infection of epithelia cells by influenza viruses (Stevens et al., 2006). 
     Another highly glycosylated protein is the prion protein which is made responsible for spongiform encephalopathies, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle and Creutzfeld-Jakob disease in humans. Glycosylation is one of the factors controlling the conversion of the “normal” protein into the disease-causing form and depends on the relative activities of the glycosyltransferases of the host cell. 
     Moreover, changes of the expression pattern of glycogens were detected in Alzheimer&#39;s disease, neuromuscular and hereditary diseases (CGD), which e.g. lead to mental retardation. 
     Table 2 summarises important studies which show how the expression patterns of these glycogens differ in different clinical pictures. 
     As already defined above, the term tumour according to the invention refers to new formation of body tissues (neoplasia) occurring due to a dysregulation of cell growth. Differentiation is made between benign and malignant tumours. 
     As already defined above, inflammatory diseases according to the invention are diseases which represent a first reaction of the immune system to infections or stimuli such as e.g. physical stimuli, microorganisms, allergens, toxins or dysfunctional enzymes, which have-the function to remove or to repair the damaging stimulus. Frequently occurring diseases include e.g. arthritis, myocarditis, dermatitis, otitis, pneumonia, rheumatoid diseases, Crohn&#39;s disease, ulcerative colitis, spondylitis, osteoarthritis or psoriasis. 
     As already defined above, neurological diseases according to the invention refer to diseases of the nervous system. The organ systems concerned are the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system including the surrounding structures. Neurological diseases include e.g. multiple sclerosis, cerebral meningitis, inflammations of the spinal cord, cerebral infarct, Parkinson&#39;s disease, brain tumours, migrane, epilepsy, dementias and muscle dystrophies. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Expression patterns of glyogens in different clinical pictures. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Disease 
                 Publication 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Alzheimer&#39;s 
                 B. Espinosa et al.; 2001; J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol. 
               
               
                 disease 
                 60(5): 441. 
               
               
                   
                 Y. Huang et al.; 2004; Eur. J. Neurosci. 20(12): 3489. 
               
               
                   
                 L. A. Robertson et al.; 2004; J. Alzheimers. Dis. 
               
               
                   
                 6(5): 489. 
               
               
                 Cancer 
                 F. Schneider et al.; 2001; Cancer Res. 61(11): 4605. 
               
               
                 diseases 
                 E. Y. Song et al.; 2001; Cancer Invest 19(8): 799. 
               
               
                   
                 T. Petretti et al.; 2000; Gut 46(3): 359. 
               
               
                   
                 T. Takahashi et al.; 2000; Int. J. Cancer 88(6): 914. 
               
               
                   
                 I. Brockhausen; 1999; Biochim. Biophys. Acta 
               
               
                   
                 1473(1): 67. 
               
               
                   
                 J. Burchell et al.; 1999; Glycobiology. 9(12): 1307. 
               
               
                   
                 J. W. Dennis et al.; 1999; Biochim. Biophys. Acta 
               
               
                   
                 1473(1): 21. 
               
               
                   
                 T. F. Orntoft and E. M. Vestergaard; 1999; 
               
               
                   
                 Electrophoresis 20(2): 362. 
               
               
                   
                 T. Petretti et al.; 1999; Biochim. Biophys. Acta 
               
               
                   
                 1428(2-3): 209. 
               
               
                   
                 T. Kudo et al.; 1998; Lab. Invest. 78(7): 797. 
               
               
                   
                 H. Ito et al.; 1997; Int. J. Cancer 71(4): 556. 
               
               
                   
                 G. Sotiropoulou et al.; 2002; Mol. Med. 8(1): 42. 
               
               
                   
                 S. Saito et al.; 2002; Oncol. Rep. 9(6): 1251. 
               
               
                   
                 Y. Ide et al.; 2006; Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 
               
               
                   
                 341(2): 478. 
               
               
                   
                 X. L. Jin et al.; 2004; Hepatobiliary. Pancreat. 
               
               
                   
                 Dis. Int. 3(2): 292. 
               
               
                 Hereditary 
                 J. Jaeken and G. Matthijs; 2001; Annu. Rev. Genomics 
               
               
                 diseases 
                 Hum. Genet. 2: 129. 
               
               
                   
                 B. S. Miller and H. H. Freeze; 2003; Rev. Endocr. 
               
               
                   
                 Metab Disord. 4(1): 103. 
               
               
                   
                 E. A. Eklund and H. H. Freeze; 2006; NeuroRx. 
               
               
                   
                 3(2): 254. 
               
               
                   
                 L. Sturla et al.; 2005; Glycobiology 15(10): 924. 
               
               
                   
                 E. Martin-Rendon and D. J. Blake; 2003; Trends 
               
               
                   
                 Pharmacol. Sci. 24(4): 178. 
               
               
                 Diseases of the 
                 J. B. Lowe; 2001; Cell 104(6): 809. 
               
               
                 immune system 
                 G. Alvarez et al.; 1999; Immunol. Invest. 28(1): 9. 
               
               
                   
                 J. S. Axford; 1999; Biochim. Biophys. Acta 
               
               
                   
                 1455(2-3): 219. 
               
               
                   
                 P. J. Delves; 1998; Autoimmunity 27(4): 239. 
               
               
                   
                 L. Galli Stampino et al.; 1997; Cancer Res. 
               
               
                   
                 57(15): 3214. 
               
               
                   
                 A. Orlacchio et al.; 1997; J. Neurol. Sci. 
               
               
                   
                 151(2): 177. 
               
               
                   
                 J. C. Lefebvre et al.; 1994; Virology 199: 265. 
               
               
                   
                 T. Feizi and M. Larkin; 1990; Glycobiology 
               
               
                   
                 1(1): 17. 
               
               
                   
                 [Erratum in Glycobiology 1991 June; 1(3): 315]. 
               
               
                   
                 M. Demetriou et al.; 2001; Nature 409(6821): 733. 
               
               
                   
                 M. Bunting et al.; 2002; Curr. Opin. Hematol. 
               
               
                   
                 9(1): 30. 
               
               
                   
                 E. I. Buzas et al.; 2006; Autoimmunity 39(8): 691. 
               
               
                   
                 M. Lanteri et al.; 2003; Glycobiology 13(12): 909. 
               
               
                 Muscle 
                 A. Yoshida et al.; 2001; Dev. Cell 1(5): 717. 
               
               
                 dystrophies 
                 B. Xia et al.; 2002; Dev. Biol. 242(1): 58. 
               
               
                   
                 T. Endo and H. Manya; 2006; 417: 137. 
               
               
                 Neurological 
                 H. Narimatsu; 2006; CNS. Neurol. Disord. Drug Targets. 
               
               
                 diseases 
                 5(4): 441. 
               
               
                 Prion-mediated 
                 P. M. Rudd et al.; 2002; Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol. 
               
               
                 diseases 
                 12(5): 578. 
               
               
                   
                 C. J. Bosques and B. Imperiali; 2003; 
               
               
                   
                 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 100(13): 7593. 
               
               
                   
                 M. Ermonval et al.; 2003; Biochimie 85(1-2): 33. 
               
               
                 Influenza 
                 J. Stevens et al.; 2006; J. Mol. Biol. 355(5): 1143. 
               
               
                 diseases 
                 K. F. Winklhofer et al.; 2003; Traffic. 4(5): 313. 
               
               
                 (Influenza) 
                 M. Matrosovich et al.; 2003; J. Virol. 77(15): 8418. 
               
               
                   
                 S. J. Morris et al.; 1999; J. Gen. Virol. 80(Pt 1): 137. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the tumour is selected from the group consisting of colorectal carcinoma, stomach carcinoma, mamma carcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma, melanoma, sarcoma and lymphomas, such as e.g. Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lympoma. 
    
    
     
       The Figures show: 
         FIG. 1 : 
       Hybridisation of the support of the invention with cDNA samples. On the left, the complete array with four fields is shown. On the right, one of the subarrays is shown magnified. cDNAs were labelled using the Invitrogen direct kit. 
         FIG. 2 : 
       Immuno-histochemical stainings of pancreatic carcinoma cells with an antibody specific for glycoprotein CD22. p-16 transfectants correspond to p16 transfected capan cells; mock transfectants correspond to capan cells that were transfected with the same vector having antibiotic resistance, but without target sequence; RAJI cells serve as positive control. Red indicates the fluorescence of the CD22-specific antibody. Cell nuclei are marked blue (DAPI staining). 
         FIG. 3 : 
       Determination of membrane-bound sialic acid on the surface of pancreatic carcinoma cells. p16 are p16-transfected capan cells; mock refers to capan cells transfected with a vector having antibiotic resistance but without target gene sequence. 
     
    
    
     The Examples illustrate the invention. The examples are not intended to limit the invention. The examples are only added to illustrate the invention and the invention is exclusively defined by the claims. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     Sample Preparation and Array Hybridisation 
     Total RNA is extracted by means of RNeasy and the quality and quantity of the RNA obtained is examined using BioAnalyzer (Agilent). Subsequently, the RNA is labelled by reverse transcription with fluorescent dyes. Different processes for labelling the cDNA samples were carried out according to the manufacturer&#39;s instructions and tested (see Table 2). A total of 7 different labelling methods using different dyes, such as Alexa 647/546 or Cy3/Cy5 as well as different reverse transcriptases were used. As a comparison, the long-established direct/indirect methods by Amersham using Cy3/Cy5 dyes and a direct method kit by Invitrogen, were tested. The latter method showed the best results with respect to signal intensity. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Tests of different cDNA labelling methods 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Method 
                 Result 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Amersham direct Cy3/Cy5 
                 weak signals, not satisfactory 
               
               
                 3DNA Array 350 Cy3/Cy5 
                 signals not satisfactory 
               
               
                 Amersham indirect Cy3/Cy5 
                 signals not sufficiently reproducible 
               
               
                 3DNA Array 900 Alexa 647/546 
                 not suitable 
               
               
                 3DNA Array 350 Alexa 546/647, 
                 clear red, yellow and green signals 
               
               
                 Powerscript II 
               
               
                 3DNA Array 350 Alexa 546/647, 
                 clear red, yellow and green signals 
               
               
                 Superscript II 
               
               
                 Invitrogen direct, Alexa 546/647 
                 clear red, yellow and green signals 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The quality of the labelling is then examined by NanoDrop Measuring and the labelled cDNA is hybridised in the aHyb station (Miltenyi) onto the array. Fluorescence is measured by means of the AGILENT scanner and the data are evaluated using AGILENT software. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     Comparison of Expression Patterns of Selected Target Molecules using GlycoProfiler Array and Real Time PCR in Transfected Capan-1 Prancreatic Carcinoma Cells. 
     The pancreatic cell line CAPAN-1, which was transfected with the tumour suppressor gene p16 (p16) as well as a mock-transfected control cell line (CAPAN-1 transfected with the same vector having antibiotic resistance genes but no target gene sequence) were characterised by the GlycoProfiler Array. 
     The tumour suppressor p16 is an inhibitor of cyclin-dependant kinases (cdk4+6), Which play an important role in the control of the cell cycle by phosphorylating the product of the retinoblastoma (pRb). In the normal cell cycle, the expression of p16 is strictly controlled. The Microarray experiments show significant differences in the gene expression of glycosylation genes between the p16 cell line and the mock-transfected cell line. This confirms that glycosylation and glycosylation-dependant functions, such as lectin binding or induction of anoikis, are dramatically altered by the transfection with p16. 
     In addition, the hybridisation results of the Microarray were verified by quantitative real time RT-PCR (Taqman). The PCR results are used as “gold standard” to evaluate the specificity of the microarray results. For this purpose, a library of PCR primers was established for 17 of the most important target molecules of the GlycoProfiler Array. As shown in Table 3, the results of the microarray examination are in close agreement with those of the real time PCR. For example, for the enzyme UDP-N-Acetylglucosamine-2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine kinase (GNE), the PCR as well as the array data show very low expression of the enzyme in p16-transfected cells (Table 3). UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine kinase is the key enzyme in the biosynthesis of sialic acids and regulates the first two steps of this metabolic pathway and, thus, plays a crucial role in its regulation. The two methods also correspond with regard to the expression of CMP-Neu/Ac synthetase (CMAS), another important “down-stream” situated enzyme of the sialic acid metabolism, which is highly increased in p16-transfected cells. As shown in the other examples (Table 3), the microarray allows satisfactory determination of the gene expression profile of the cells. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Differences in the gene expression of selected 
               
               
                 target molecules using GlycoProfiler Array (second 
               
               
                 column) and real time PCR (first column). 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Gene 
                 Taqman 
                 GlycoProfiler 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 B3GNT3 
                 0.09 
                 0.14 
               
               
                   
                 B3GNT5 
                 4.98 
                 1.93 
               
               
                   
                 C2GNT-L 
                 0.33 
                 0.18 
               
               
                   
                 C2GNT-M 
                 0.09 
                 0.10 
               
               
                   
                 CD22 
                 0.02 
                 0.51 
               
               
                   
                 CMAS 
                 3.00 
                 2.30 
               
               
                   
                 GNE 
                 0.01 
                 0.04 
               
               
                   
                 FUT6 
                 0.20 
                 0.91 
               
               
                   
                 FUT8 
                 0.21 
                 0.31 
               
               
                   
                 Gal-1 
                 1.11 
                 1.29 
               
               
                   
                 Gal-3 
                 0.64 
                 0.48 
               
               
                   
                 MGAT3 
                 0.57 
                 2.09 
               
               
                   
                 MGAT5 
                 0.37 
                 0.72 
               
               
                   
                 NANS 
                 0.57 
                 0.93 
               
               
                   
                 ST3Gal IV 
                 1.05 
                 0.96 
               
               
                   
                 ST6Gal I 
                 1.43 
                 1.12 
               
               
                   
                 ST6GalNAc II 
                 0.36 
                 0.51 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 The expression values are shown as quotients of the expression (relative amount) of p16/mock. 
               
            
           
         
       
     
     EXAMPLE 3 
     CD22 Expression in Transfectants of Capan-1 Pancreatic Carcinoma Cells. 
     Both the GlycoProfile Array as well as RT-PCR show that CD22, a sialic acid-binding lectin, is more strongly expressed in mock-transfected cells than in p16-transfected cells. As shown in  FIG. 2 , this reduced CD22 expression in p16-cells can also be confirmed by immuno histochemical analyses. The staining of mock-cells by a CD22-antibody is considerably more intense than the staining of p16-transfected cells ( FIG. 2 ). Thus, in this case, it is possible to directly infer the presence of lectin protein CD22 from the CD22 expression of the mRNA. 
     EXAMPLE 4 
     Membrane-Bound Amount of Sialic Acid on the Surface of Transfected Capan-1 Pancreatic Carcinoma Cells. 
     Analysis of the amount of membrane-bound sialic acid on the surface of p16-transfected and mock-transfected cells by means of a highly sensitive HPLC-based detection method (Hara et al. 1987) show that p16-transfected cells exhibit reduced sialic acid production and sialic acid density on glycoconjugates of the cell membrane ( FIG. 3 ). The amount of sialic acid detected on the cell surface of p16-transfectants is significantly less than the amount detected on mock-transfectants (6.5 nmol sialic acid/mg protein compared to 12.4 nmol/mg). 
     In combination with the reduced expression of the enzyme GNE—the key enzyme of sialic acid synthesis—in p16-transfected cells as shown in Example 2, these results demonstrate that it is possible to infer, at least to a certain degree from the mRNA expression of GNE, the density of sialic acid on the cell surface. 
     EXAMPLE 5 
     Glycoprofiling of Cell Lines Under Different Culture Conditions. 
     Glycoprofiling can be used to control temporal changes in the expression pattern of the glycosylation apparatus of cell lines subjected e.g. to modified culture conditions. The effect of the serum content as well as of temperature and gases is of particular relevance for the culture of production cell lines. It is therefore of interest to characterise the expression pattern of the glycosylation apparatus of cell lines under serum depletion or upon culture in serum-free media by means of the microarray technique. 
     Extraction of total RNA and labelling of cDNA, hybridisation with the array and data evaluation are carried out as described in Example 2. 
     EXAMPLE 6 
     Glycoprofiling of Glyco-Engineered Production Cell Lines. 
     It is possible to glyco-engineer cell lines by transfecting glycosyltransferases or by silencing them using siRNA techniques. To analyse how such manipulations are reflected at the level of glycoprofiling and whether other elements which are different from those elements of the glycosylation machinery that have been changed potentially react to these manipulations, the GlycoProfiler Array may be used. It allows determining qualitative and quantitative changes of the different glycosyltransferases expressed in a cell line after a specific glycoengineering. 
     For this purpose, selected glycosyltransferases, such as sialyltransferase ST6Gal-1, are over-expressed in cell lines or are reduced or eliminated by siRNA and the expression pattern of the glycosylation apparatus of the cells is analysed. Extraction of total RNA as well as labelling of cDNA, hybridisation with the array and data evaluation are carried out as described in Example 2. 
     EXAMPLE 7 
     Glycoprofiling of Human Tumour Tissues. 
     It is very difficult to quantitatively measure individual glycan structures on cells or in tissue due to their complexity and their presence in only small amounts. The above-mentioned examples, however, show that the expression profile of glycosyltransferases present in a cell can provide information about the glycan structures formed and, thus, may be of diagnostic interest. 
     20 samples of colorectal carcinomas, gastric carcinomas and mamma carcinomas and of the related normal tissues, respectively, are analysed and their profiles compared with the results of real time PCR. 
     To this aim, tissues are cut using a cryostat and examined by an experimental pathologist. The selection and examination of the material to be analysed are particularly important for the subsequent analyses. Only biopsies which contain more than 60% carcinoma tissue, no lymph follicles, little connective tissue and only small amounts of fatty tissue and which show no symptoms of necrosis are further processed. The extraction of total RNA, labelling of cDNA, hybridisation with the array and data evaluation are carried out as described in Example 2. 
     In this way it is possible to gather expression profiles of carcinomas with different prognosis and to correlate the expression data with categories such as metastasis of the carcinoma and the survival time of the patients. 
     Further Literature 
     Auburn R P, Kreil D P, Meadows L A, Fischer B, Matilla S S, Russell S. Robotic spotting of cDNA and oligonucleotide microarrays.  Trends Biotechnol.  July 2005; 23(7):374-9. 
     Ausubel, “Current Protocols in Molecular Biology”, Green Publishing Associates and Wiley Interscience, N.Y., 1989 
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