beta -1-6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase that forms core 2, core 4 and I branches

The present invention provides a substantially pure C2GnT-M polypeptide or a functional fragment or derivative thereof, wherein C2GnT-M is characterized as a polypeptide having core 2, core 4 and I branching beta -1->6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase activities. The invention also provides a substantially pure C2GnT-M peptide, wherein the peptide is immunogenic. Also provided is a method of modifying an acceptor molecule by contacting the acceptor molecule with a substantially pure C2GnT-M polypeptide or a functional fragment under conditions that allow addition of core 2, core 4 or I GlcNAc linkages to the acceptor molecule, and an acceptor molecule produced by the method. Also provided is a substantially pure nucleic acid molecule having substantially the nucleic acid sequence designated SEQ ID NO: 1, or the complement thereof. The invention also provides a substantially pure nucleic acid molecule encoding C2GnT-M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof, or the complement of the nucleic acid molecule, wherein C2GnT-M is characterized as a polypeptide having core 2, core 4 and I branching P-1->6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase activities. Also provided are vectors and host cells containing nucleic acid molecules encoding C2GnT-M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof. A substantially pure oligonucleotide having a nucleotide sequence corresponding to or complementary to at least 15 nucleotides from SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 9 or SEQ ID NO: 13 is also provided. The invention further provides an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof that is specifically reactive with C2GnT-M or with a functional fragment or derivative hereof. Methods of detecting the presence of C2GnT-M in sample are also provided.