Molecular cloning of mouse alpha-1,6-fucosyltransferase and expression of its mRNA in the developing cerebrum

Complementary DNA encoding mouse alpha-1,6-fucosyltransferase (FUT) was clo ned. The deduced primary structure consisted of 575 amino acids and had 96. 0% and 93.0% identity with alpha-1,6-FUT of human and porcine origin, respe ctively. Quantitative analysis of alpha-1,6-FUT mRNA expression during sele cted developmental stages of the cerebrum showed that the expression increa sed during later embryonic stages and was highest in the early postnatal st ages (P1 to P7), after which it declined somewhat but still remained relati vely high in the mature adult. The expression profile suggests important ro les of FUT in the developing central nervous system.