Catalyzes the initial reaction in O-linked oligosaccharide biosynthesis, the transfer of an N-acetyl-D-galactosamine residue to a serine or threonine residue on the protein receptor. Has activity toward non-glycosylated peptides such as Muc5AC, Muc1a and EA2, and no detectable activity with Muc2 and Muc7. Displays enzymatic activity toward the Gal-NAc-Muc5AC glycopeptide, but no detectable activity to mono-GalNAc-glycosylated Muc1a, Muc2, Muc7 and EA2. May play an important role in the initial step of mucin-type oligosaccharide biosynthesis in digestive organs (By similarity). L-seryl-[protein] + UDP-N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosamine = 3-O-[N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosaminyl]-L-seryl-[protein] + H(+) + UDP L-threonyl-[protein] + UDP-N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosamine = 3-O-[N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosaminyl]-L-threonyl-[protein] + H(+) + UDP Protein modification; protein glycosylation. There are two conserved domains in the glycosyltransferase region: the N-terminal domain (domain A, also called GT1 motif), which is probably involved in manganese coordination and substrate binding and the C-terminal domain (domain B, also called Gal/GalNAc-T motif), which is probably involved in catalytic reaction and UDP-Gal binding. The ricin B-type lectin domain binds to GalNAc and contributes to the glycopeptide specificity. Belongs to the glycosyltransferase 2 family. GalNAc-T subfamily. Polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 12