FUT4
Description
The FUT4 (fucosyltransferase 4) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 11.
FUT4, also known as fucosyltransferase 4, is an enzyme encoded by the FUT4 gene. It adds fucose to N-acetyllactosamine polysaccharides, creating fucosylated carbohydrate structures. This process generates Lewis x (CD15), a non-sialylated antigen.
FUT4 catalyzes the transfer of fucose from GDP-beta-L-fucose to N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) within type 2 lactosamine (LacNAc, Gal-beta(1->4)GlcNAc) glycans attached to N- or O-linked glycoproteins. This results in the formation of Lewis X antigen (CD15), a glycan determinant that plays crucial roles in development and immunity. FUT4 also fucosylates sialylated LacNAc acceptors, although with lower efficiency, to produce sialyl Lewis X and 6-sulfo sialyl Lewis X determinants, which serve as recognition epitopes for C-type lectins. In collaboration with FUT7, FUT4 contributes to the biosynthesis of selectin ligands (SELE, SELL, and SELP) and facilitates selectin-dependent lymphocyte homing, leukocyte migration, and blood leukocyte homeostasis. In a cell type-specific manner, FUT4 can also fucosylate the internal LacNAc unit of the polylactosamine chain to generate VIM-2 antigen, which acts as a recognition epitope for SELE.
FUT4 is also known as CD15, ELFT, FCT3A, FUC-TIV, FUTIV, LeX, SSEA-1.
Associated Diseases
- cancer
- neutrophil immunodeficiency syndrome
- X-linked severe congenital neutropenia
- neutropenia, severe congenital, 1, autosomal dominant
- neutropenia, severe congenital, 2, autosomal dominant
- nonimmune chronic idiopathic neutropenia of adults
- linear and whorled nevoid hypermelanosis
- severe combined immunodeficiency due to CARD11 deficiency
- myeloperoxidase deficiency
- reticular dysgenesis
