Meta-Biol

• Pathways

Alpha-(1,3)-fucosyltransferases 3, 5, 6 and 7 (FUT3,5,6,7 respectively) mediate the transfer of fucose (Fuc) to glycan structures such as Type 2 monosialylgalactosylgloboside (Type 2 MSGG) to form the sialyl-Lewis X antigen (sLeX) (Kukowska-Latallo et al. 1990, Weston et al. 1992, Koszdin & Bowen 1992, Natsuka et al. 1994). The adhesion of sialyl-Lewis antigens to E-selectin on endothelial cell surfaces is a key step in the development of metastasis. Down-regulation of these FUTs may be a useful therapeutic approach in some cancers (Padro et al. 2011, Trinchera et al. 2011).