Fucosyltransferase 4. GDP-fucose lactosamine α1,3-Fucosyltransferase. Myeloid specific (FUT4)

Abstract

α1,3-Fucosyltransferase-IV (FUT4, Fuc-TIV) was cloned independently by two groups at almost the same time (Goelz et al. 1990; Lowe et al. 1991). It was first cloned as an α1,3-fucosyltransferase determining the expression of the ligand for the endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1) by Goelz et al. and named ELAM-1 ligand fucosyltransferase (ELFT). Lowe et al. cloned it by cross-hybridization with a probe of FUT3 cDNA. However, the terms ELAM-1 and ELFT are not used currently; they have been renamed E-selection and FUT4, respectively. The Fut4 gene is one of three active Fut genes, Fut4, Fut7, and Fut9, in rodents and has been cloned from several species. FUT4 expressed in many tissues (Gersten et al. 1995; Kaneko et al. 1999).