UGT8

2-hydroxyacylsphingosine 1-beta-galactosyltransferase is an is_associated_with::enzyme that in humans is encoded by the UGT8 is_associated_with::gene.

Function
is_associated_with::Galactocerebrosides are abundant is_associated_with::sphingolipids of the myelin membrane of the is_associated_with::central nervous system and is_associated_with::peripheral nervous system and are also present in small amounts in kidney. The key enzymatic step in the biosynthesis of galactocerebrosides consists of the transfer of is_associated_with::galactose to is_associated_with::ceramide catalyzed by UDP-galactose ceramide galactosyltransferase (CGT, EC 2.4.1.45). The enzyme encoded by the CGT gene is the first involved in complex lipid biosynthesis in the myelinating is_associated_with::oligodendrocyte.