Molecular cloning and characterization of an alpha1,3 fucosyltransferase, CEFT-1, from Caenorhabditis elegans.
We report on the identification, molecular cloning, and characterization of an alpha1,3 fucosyltransferase (alpha1,3FT) expressed by the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans . Although C. elegans glycoconjugates do not express the Lewis x antigen Galbeta1-->4[Fucalpha1-->3]GlcNAcbeta-->R, detergent extracts of adult C.elegans contain an alpha1,3FT that can fucosylate both nonsialylated and sialylated acceptor glycans to generate the Lexand sialyl Lexantigens, as well as the lacdiNAc-containing acceptor GalNAcbeta1-->4GlcNAcbeta1-->R to generate GalNAcbeta1-->4 [Fucalpha1-->3]GlcNAcbeta1-->R. A search of the C.elegans genome database revealed the existence of a gene with 20-23% overall identity to all five cloned human alpha1,3FTs. The putative cDNA for the C.elegans alpha1,3FT (CEFT-1) was amplified by PCR from a cDNA lambdaZAP library, cloned, and sequenced. COS7 cells transiently transfected with cDNA encoding CEFT-1 express the Lex, but not sLexantigen. The CEFT-1 in the transfected cell extracts can synthesize Lex, but not sialyl Lex, using exogenous acceptors. A second fucosyltransferase activity was detected in extracts of C. elegans that transfers Fuc in alpha1,2 linkage to Gal specifically on type-1 chains. The discovery of alpha-fucosyltransferases in C. elegans opens the possibility of using this well-characterized nematode as a model system for studying the role of fucosylated glycans in the development and survival of C.elegans and possibly other helminths.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, BRC 417, 975 N.E. 10th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
R A
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DeBose-Boyd
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Nyame
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Cummings
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D019556:COS Cells; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D005647:Fucosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D016256:Lewis X Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D000080506:Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; D014162:Transfection
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D016256:Lewis X Antigen; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000080506:Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; D005647:Fucosyltransferases; C031692:galactoside 3-fucosyltransferase