Changes in the expression of N‐acetylglucosaminyltransferase III, IV, V associated with the differentiation of HL‐60 cells

By use of a new assay method based on HPLC, GlcNAc-transferase III, IV and V activities were determined in HL-60 cells, differentiated HL-60 cells and normal myeloid cells. Differentiation along the monocytic lineage with 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 resulted in increased GlcNAc-transferase IV and decreased GlcNAc-transferase III activity. Differentiation along the myeloid lineage with retinoic acid resulted in a decrease in GlcNAc-transferase III activity. Although differentiated HL-60 cells show a changed GlcNAc-transferase pattern, they do not resemble normal myeloid cells. Macrophages and granulocytes are characterized by a very low level of GlcNAc-transferase III activity whereas differentiated HL-60 cells still contain this activity. This is the first demonstration of GlcNAc-transferase IV and V activity in a human cell.