4-galactosyl-N-acetylglucosaminide 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase

In enzymology, a 4-galactosyl-N-acetylglucosaminide 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * GDP-beta-L-fucose + 1,4-beta-D-galactosyl-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminyl-R $$\rightleftharpoons$$ GDP + 1,4-beta-D-galactosyl-(alpha-1,3-L-fucosyl)-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminyl- R

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are GDP-beta-L-fucose and 1,4-beta-D-galactosyl-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminyl-R, whereas its 3 products are GDP, 1,4-beta-D-galactosyl-(alpha-1,3-L-fucosyl)-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminyl-, and R.

This enzyme belongs to the family of glycosyltransferases, specifically the hexosyltransferases. The systematic name of this enzyme class is GDP-beta-L-fucose:1,4-beta-D-galactosyl-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminyl-R 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase. Other names in common use include Lewis-negative alpha-3-fucosyltransferase, plasma alpha-3-fucosyltransferase, guanosine diphosphofucose-glucoside alpha1->3-fucosyltransferase, galactoside 3-fucosyltransferase, GDP-L-fucose:1,4-beta-D-galactosyl-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminyl-R, 3-L-fucosyltransferase, GDP-beta-L-fucose:1,4-beta-D-galactosyl-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminyl-R, and 3-L-fucosyltransferase. This enzyme participates in 3 metabolic pathways: glycosphingolipid biosynthesis - neo-lactoseries, glycosphingolipid biosynthesis - globoseries, and glycan structures - biosynthesis 2.

Structural studies
As of late 2007, 3 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes, , and.