FUT3

Full Name

Fucosyltransferase 3

Keywords

CD174; FT3B; Fucosyltransferase 3; FucT-III; FUT3; Les; Lewis FT

Background

The Lewis histo-blood group system comprises a set of fucosylated glycosphingolipids that are synthesized by exocrine epithelial cells and circulate in body fluids. The glycosphingolipids function in embryogenesis, tissue differentiation, tumor metastasis, inflammation, and bacterial adhesion. They are secondarily absorbed to red blood cells giving rise to their Lewis phenotype. This gene is a member of the fucosyltransferase family, which catalyzes the addition of fucose to precursor polysaccharides in the last step of Lewis antigen biosynthesis. It encodes an enzyme with alpha(1,3)-fucosyltransferase and alpha(1,4)-fucosyltransferase activities. Lewis blood group antigens are carbohydrate moieties structurally integrated in mucous secretions. Lewis antigen system alterations have been described in gastric carcinoma and associated lesions. Anomalous expression of Lewis B antigen has been found in some non-secretory gastric carcinomas and colorectal cancers.