Fucosyltransferase 7 (FUT7)

Fucosyltransferase 7 (FUT7) is an enzyme encoded by the FUT7 gene on human chromosome 9. It catalyzes the transfer of L-fucose from GDP-fucose to N-acetyl glucosamine on glycoproteins and glycolipids, forming sialyl Lewis X (sLeX)—a carbohydrate structure required for selectin-mediated leukocyte adhesion and trafficking. FUT7 is essential for immune cell extravasation during inflammation and also plays a role in reproductive processes such as embryo implantation. Aberrant expression of FUT7 has been implicated in several cancers, where it promotes tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis by facilitating the synthesis of sLeX, thus enabling tumor cells to interact with selectins. Elevated FUT7 expression is linked to poor prognosis, particularly in bladder and lung cancer, and may serve as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. The enzyme is considered a promising drug discovery target for inflammatory disorders and cancers, with potential risks related to immune function if broadly inhibited.

Other names

Alpha-(1,3)-fucosyltransferase 7FucT-VIIFuc-TVIIGalactoside 3-L-fucosyltransferaseSelectin ligand synthaseFucosyltransferase VIIfuc-TVII

Inhibition of FUT7 would block fucosylation of sLeX, disrupting selectin-mediated cell adhesion, leukocyte rolling, and metastasis