FUCOSYL TRANSFERASE Meaning and
Definition
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Fucosyl transferase is a type of enzyme that plays a crucial role in the modification of complex carbohydrates. Specifically, it is responsible for transferring fucose, a sugar molecule, from a donor molecule to an acceptor molecule. This transfer is a key step in the process of fucosylation, where fucose is added to larger carbohydrate chains or molecules.
Fucosylation is involved in various biological processes, including cell signaling, cell adhesion, and immune responses. By adding fucose to carbohydrates, fucosyl transferase enzymes help modulate the structure and function of cell surface molecules, such as glycoproteins and glycolipids. These modified molecules, in turn, affect various cellular interactions and processes.
The fucosyl transferase family consists of several different enzymes, each with its specific substrate specificity and tissue distribution. These enzymes are classified based on their ability to transfer fucose to different positions on the carbohydrate acceptor molecule. For instance, α1,2-fucosyl transferases transfer fucose to the second position of the acceptor sugar, while α1,3-fucosyl transferases transfer fucose to the third position, and so on.
Understanding the role of fucosyl transferase enzymes and the process of fucosylation is vital in both basic research and clinical applications. It provides insights into glycosylation pathways, protein-carbohydrate interactions, and disease mechanisms. Moreover, manipulating fucosylation patterns using fucosyl transferase inhibitors or activators can have potential therapeutic implications in various conditions, including cancer, inflammation, and autoimmune disorders.
Common Misspellings for FUCOSYL TRANSFERASE
- ducosyl transferase
- cucosyl transferase
- vucosyl transferase
- gucosyl transferase
- tucosyl transferase
- rucosyl transferase
- fycosyl transferase
- fhcosyl transferase
- fjcosyl transferase
- ficosyl transferase
- f8cosyl transferase
- f7cosyl transferase
- fuxosyl transferase
- fuvosyl transferase
- fufosyl transferase
- fudosyl transferase
- fucisyl transferase
- fucksyl transferase
- fuclsyl transferase
- fucpsyl transferase
Etymology of FUCOSYL TRANSFERASE
The word "fucosyl transferase" has a combination of Greek and Latin etymology.
1. Fucosyl: The term "fucosyl" is derived from the Latin word "fucus", which means "seaweed" or "dark brown". This is because fucose, the sugar molecule involved in fucosyl transferase, was first isolated from a type of seaweed called Fucus evanescens.
2. Transferase: The term "transferase" is derived from the Latin word "transferre", which means "to transfer". In biochemistry and enzymology, "transferase" refers to a type of enzyme responsible for transferring functional groups (like sugars) from one molecule to another.
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