Open AccessAberrant α 1→2Fucosyltransferases Found in Human Colorectal Carcinoma Involved in the Accumulation of Le b and Y Antigens in Colorectal Tumors
Author(s) -
Yazawa Shin,
Nakamura Junichi,
Asao Takayuki,
Nagamachi Yukio,
Sagi Morihisa,
Malta Khushi L.,
Achikawa Tetsuya T,
Akamatsu Masaru
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
japanese journal of cancer research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 0910-5050
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.1993.tb00190.x
Subject(s) - colorectal cancer , antigen , carcinoma , epithelioma , cancer research , biology , chemistry , medicine , immunology , cancer
Evidence indicates that the presence of aberrant α 1→2fucosylation pathways is responsible for the accumulation of large quantities of Le b and Y antigens in human colorectal carcinoma. Significantly higher activities of α 1→2 as well as α 1→3 and α 1→4fucosyltransferases were found in most of the tissues from carcinoma than in the adjacent normal tissues and in healthy subjects. α 1→2Fucosyl‐transferases associated with the synthesis of Le b (Fucal→2Gal β 1→3[Fucc1→4]GlcNAc β ) and Y (Fuc α 1→2Ga1 β→ 4[Fuc α 1→3]GlcNAc β ) structures from Le → (GaI β 1→3[Fucal→4]GlcNAcβ) and X (Galβ1→4[Fuc α 1→3]GlcNAc β ) ones, respectively, were demonstrated in colorectal carcinomas and in colorectal carcinoma cell lines (COLO201, LS174T and SW1116). The activation of α 1→2fucosyltransferase with such new substrate specificities in colorectal carcinoma might result in the preferential synthesis of Le b and Y structures from Le → and X rather than from H type 1 and H type 2 structures.