Fucosyltransferase 9 (FUT9)

FUT9 is one of several alpha-3-fucosyltransferases that can catalyze the last step in the biosynthesis of Lewis antigen, the addition of a fucose to precursor polysaccharides. FUT9 synthesizes the LeX oligosaccharide (CD15), which is expressed in organ buds progressing in mesenchyma during human embryogenesis.The deduced 359-amino acid protein predicts a typical type II membrane protein sharing 99% identity with the mouse protein. By RT-PCR, they found strong expression in forebrain and stomach, lower expression in spleen and peripheral blood leukocytes, and no expression in small intestine, colon, liver, lung, kidney, adrenal cortex, or uterus. They noted that this expression pattern is different from that in the mouse, where expression is abundant in kidney.