Structure, function, and implications of fucosyltransferases in health and disease.

ABSTRACT: Fucosylation is a ubiquitous glycosylation event that shapes cellular communication and immunity. Catalyzed by fucosyltransferases (FUTs), this reaction encompasses diverse substrates, mechanisms, and biologic consequences. In this Review, we explore the structural and functional landscape of FUTs primarily from higher eukaryotes, with focus on the mechanistic determinants of regioselectivity, donor/acceptor coordination, and domain modularity. We highlight advances in structural biology, modeling, and enzyme engineering that clarify how FUTs decode glycan topology and specificity. Phylogenetic and structural analyses reveal two major clades of human FUTs that differ in GDP-Fuc recognition and conformational flexibility, providing a molecular rationale for their mechanistic divergence. Dra

SUBMITTER: Ghirardello M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12717137 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature