FUT7

Description

The FUT7 (fucosyltransferase 7) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 9.

Alpha-(1,3)-fucosyltransferase is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the FUT7 gene.

== Function == The sialyl Lewis x oligosaccharide determinant is an essential component of leukocyte counterreceptors for E-selectin- (MIM 131210) and P-selectin- (MIM 173610) mediated adhesions of leukocytes. This oligosaccharide molecule is displayed on the surfaces of granulocytes, monocytes, and natural killer cells.

FUT7, also known as Fucosyltransferase 7, Fucosyltransferase VII, Galactoside 3-L-fucosyltransferase, and Selectin ligand synthase, is an enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of L-fucose from a guanosine diphosphate-beta-L-fucose to the N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc) of a distal alpha2,3 sialylated lactosamine unit of a glycoprotein or a glycolipid-linked sialopolylactosamines chain through an alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkage. It plays a crucial role in the final fucosylation step in the biosynthesis of sialyl Lewis X (sLe(x)), a carbohydrate essential for cell and matrix adhesion during leukocyte trafficking and fertilization. FUT7 also synthesizes sialyl-dimeric-Lex structures from VIM-2 structures, and both di-fucosylated and trifucosylated structures from mono-fucosylated precursors. However, it does not catalyze alpha 1-3 fucosylation when an internal alpha 1-3 fucosylation is present in the polylactosamine chain, and the fucosylation rate of the internal GlcNAc residues is reduced once fucose has been added to the distal GlcNAc. Additionally, FUT7 catalyzes the transfer of a fucose from GDP-beta-fucose to the 6-sulfated a(2,3)sialylated substrate to produce 6-sulfo sLex, mediating significant L-selectin-dependent cell adhesion. Through sialyl-Lewis(x) biosynthesis, FUT7 can control SELE- and SELP-mediated cell adhesion with leukocytes, allowing leukocytes to tether and roll along the endothelial tissue, enabling their accumulation at sites of inflammation. FUT7 may enhance embryo implantation through sialyl Lewis X (sLeX)-mediated adhesion of embryo cells to the endometrium. It may also affect insulin signaling by up-regulating the phosphorylation and expression of some signaling molecules involved in the insulin-signaling pathway through SLe(x), which is present on the glycans of the INSRR alpha subunit. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:10200296, ECO:0000269|PubMed:10386892, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11404359, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15632313, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15926890, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17229154, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18402946, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18553500, ECO:0000269|PubMed:29138114, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8207002, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8666674, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8752218, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9299472, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9405391, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9461592, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9473504, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9499379, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9834120}

FUT7 is also known as FucT-VII.

Associated Diseases

WES Whole Exome Sequencing

Clinical Exome Sequencing