Accumulation of histo-blood group antigens such as Lewis b, Lewis Y and H increases @entity5 cell motility and tumorigenesis. Alpha1,2-fucosylation is a key step in the synthesis of these antigens. Two alpha1,2-fucosyltransferases, expressed in @entity14 , have been characterized ( @entity17912 and @entity11632 in @entity1 , FTA and FTB in @entity35 ). To define the relative contribution of each of these enzymes in @entity5 cell behavior, we have used an anti-sense transfection approach in @entity35 @entity694 PROb cells, which synthesize mRNA encoding for both enzymes. We have previously reported that anti-sense transfection of a cDNA fragment of the FTB enzyme decreased H antigenic cell-surface levels and concomitantly decreased tumorigenicity. H antigens, detected by antibodies specific for @entity16090 , 3 or 4, were detected only on a splice variant of CD44 containing the product of exon v6. We now report the anti-sense transfection of an FTA cDNA fragment into PROb cells, which resulted in decreased enzymatic activity on a type 2 precursor and decreased cell-surface H type 2 antigen exclusively. Compared to controls, FTA anti-sense-transfected cells were significantly more tumorigenic in syngeneic animals but not in immunodeficient @entity915 @entity19 . The UEA-I lectin, specific for @entity16090 , revealed that these structures were present on the CD44v6 variant and on an uncharacterized 80-kDa glycoprotein. Our results indicate that FTA and FTB fucosylate distinct glycan chains in the same cell, leading to opposite effects, under control of the immune system.

Increased tumorigenicity of @entity35 XXXX cells after alpha1,2-fucosyltransferase FTA anti-sense cDNA transfection.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['humans'] @entity17912 :: ('2523', 'Gene') :: ['FUT1'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumor'] @entity19 :: ('10090', 'Species') :: ['mice'] @entity915 :: ('MESH:D053632', 'Disease') :: ['SCID'] @entity14 :: ('MESH:D015179', 'Disease') :: ['colorectal carcinomas'] @entity35 :: ('10116', 'Species') :: ['rat', 'rats'] @entity11632 :: ('2524', 'Gene') :: ['FUT2'] @entity16090 :: ('11709', 'Species') :: ['H type 1', 'H type 2'] @entity694 :: ('MESH:D003110', 'Disease') :: ['colon carcinoma']
@entity694 :: (MESH:D003110,Disease) :: ['colon carcinoma']
