PHYSICAL MAPS OF HUMAN ALPHA(1,3)FUCOSYLTRANSFERASE GENES FUT3-FUTG ON CHROMOSOMES 19P13.3 AND 11Q21

Sialyl Lewis x and related fucosylated glycans are differentially expr essed in human cells and form ligands for selectin adhesion receptors. alpha(1,3)Fucosyltransferases (FUTs) that complete their biosynthesis also show tissue specificity. We have established physical maps of th e FUT3-6 loci to study regulation of this gene family. FUT4 has previo usly been localized to chromosome 11q21; FUT3, FUT6, and now FUT5 are localized to chromosome 19p13.3. Conventional and pulsed-field gel ele ctrophoresis mapping of total genomic DNA and large genomic clones wer e used to generate a fine map of both loci, defining the order, orient ation, and distances between FUTs. A P1 clone with all three 19p FUT g enes in tandem orientation was isolated and used to study regions flan king FUT3, -5, and -6. Our studies provide preliminary information to study regulation of human FUT genes. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.