Plant members of the α1→3/4‐fucosyltransferase gene family encode an α1→4‐fucosyltransferase, potentially involved in Lewisa biosynthesis, and two core α1→3‐fucosyltransferases1

Abstract
Three putative α1→3/4‐fucosyltransferase (α1→3/4‐FucT) genes have been detected in the Arabidopsis thaliana genome. The products of two of these genes have been identified in vivo as core α1→3‐FucTs involved in N‐glycosylation. An orthologue of the third gene was isolated from a Beta vulgaris cDNA library. The encoded enzyme efficiently fucosylates Galβ1→3GlcNAcβ1→3Galβ1→4Glc. Analysis of the product by 400 MHz 1H‐nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed that the product is α1→4‐fucosylated at the N‐acetylglucosamine residue. In vitro, the recombinant B. vulgaris α1→4‐FucT acts efficiently only on neutral type 1 chain‐based glycan structures. In plants the enzyme is expected to be involved in Lewisa formation on N‐linked glycans.

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