title: FX enzyme and GDP-L-Fuc transporter expression in colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fucosylation is regulated by fucosyltransferases, the guanosine diphosphate-L-fucose (GDP-L-Fuc) synthetic pathway, and the GDP-L-fucose transporter (GDP-L-Fuc Tr). We have reported previously an increased level of α(1,6)fucosyltransferase activity and expression in colorectal cancer (CRC). The present study aimed to analyse the expression profiles of the FX enzyme and GDP-L-Fuc Tr in a cohort of operated CRC patients to elucidate their role in α(1,6)fucosylation in this neoplasm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We assessed the immunohistochemical expression of FX and GDP-L-Fuc Tr in a series of tumour samples and healthy tissues from CRC specimens. FX expression was observed in 58 of 91 (63.7%) tumours and 23 of 28 (82.1%) corresponding healthy samples. GDP-L-Fuc Tr expression was detected in 86 of 102 (84.3%) colorectal tumours, and 13 of 27 (48.1%) healthy tissue specimens. The expression of GDP-L-Fuc Tr was statistically higher in tumours than in healthy tissues (P < 0.001). A correlation was found between FX and GDP-L-Fuc Tr expression in tumour samples (P = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GDP-L-Fuc Tr overexpression in the tumour tissue of CRC patients suggests that GDP-L-Fuc transport to the Golgi apparatus may be an important factor associated with increased α(1,6)fucosylation in CRC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Villar-Portela
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muinelo-Romay
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cuevas
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gil-Martín
authors.forename: Almudena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández-Briera
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002238:Carbohydrate Epimerases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005647:Fucosyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006031:Glycosylation; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism; D006154:Guanosine Diphosphate Fucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006836:Hydro-Lyases / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007658:Ketone Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins; C426650:SLC35C1 protein, human; D006154:Guanosine Diphosphate Fucose; C028277:TSTA3 protein, human; D007658:Ketone Oxidoreductases; D005647:Fucosyltransferases; D006836:Hydro-Lyases; C044971:GDPmannose 4,6-dehydratase; D002238:Carbohydrate Epimerases
keywords: FX; GDP-Fuc Tr; colorectal cancer; α(1,6)fucosylation