FUT9

This gene encodes α1,3-fucosyltransferase 9 (FUT9). Seven α1,3-fucosyltransferases (α3FUT): FUT3, FUT4, FUT5, FUT6, FUT7, and FUT9 are known to be related in biosynthesis of carbohydrate antigens at the non-reducing ends, and confirmed that each has a characteristic substrate specificity in vitro. Except FUT7, these have activity to transfer fucose to GlcNAc of the type-2 lactosamine structure (Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-3-R) with α1-3-linkage. FUT9 is related to synthesis of Lewis x carbohydrate antigen, one of Lewis blood group antigens, but not related to synthesis of sialyl Lewis x antigen. FUT9 has an activity to transfer fucose from the GlcNAc residue of the reducing end (internal structure) to the non-reducing end (terminal structure) on the oligosaccharide substrates consisting of polylactosamine (poly-N-acetyllactosamine).