FUT9
Description
The FUT9 (fucosyltransferase 9) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 6.
FUT9 is a gene that encodes an enzyme called alpha-(1,3)-fucosyltransferase. This enzyme is one of several alpha-3-fucosyltransferases that catalyze the final step in the synthesis of Lewis antigens. This step involves adding a fucose molecule to precursor polysaccharides.
FUT9 catalyzes the transfer of a fucose molecule from GDP-beta-L-fucose to N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc) within type 2 lactosamine (LacNAc) glycans attached to glycolipids and glycoproteins. This process forms alpha(1->3) linkages, creating Lewis x (Lex) and Lewis y (Ley) antigens, which are involved in cell adhesion and differentiation. FUT9 also generates Lex epitopes in the brain, contributing to the maintenance of neuronal stemness and neurite outgrowth in progenitor neural cells. It fucosylates the internal type 2 LacNAc unit of the polylactosamine chain, producing VIM-2 antigen, a recognition epitope for SELE. FUT9 can modify milk oligosaccharides, specifically the type 2 tetrasaccharide LNnT.
FUT9 is also known as Fuc-TIX.
