biology

Glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase

Glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase rather than just read about it. In short: In enzymology, a glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.214) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction GDP-L-fucose + N4-{N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl-(1->2)-alpha-D-mannosyl-(1->3)-[N- acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl-(1->2)-alpha-D-mannosyl-(1->6)]-beta-D- mannosyl-(1->4)-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl-(1->4)-N-acetyl-beta-D- glucosaminyl}asparagine ⇌ {\displaystyle \rightleftharpoons } GDP + N4-{N-ac…

Key takeaways

Glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

In enzymology, a glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.214) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

GDP-L-fucose + N4-{N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl-(1->2)-alpha-D-mannosyl-(1->3)-[N- acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl-(1->2)-alpha-D-mannosyl-(1->6)]-beta-D- mannosyl-(1->4)-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl-(1->4)-N-acetyl-beta-D- glucosaminyl}asparagine ⇌ {\displaystyle \rightleftharpoons } GDP + N4-{N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl-(1->2)-alpha-D-mannosyl-(1->3)-[N- acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl-(1->2)-alpha-D-mannosyl-(1->6)]-beta-D- mannosyl-(1->4)-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl-(1->4)-[alpha-L- fucosyl-(1->3)]-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl}asparagine The 5 substrates of this enzyme are GDP-L-fucose, [[N4-{N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl-(1->2)-alpha-D-mannosyl-(1->3)-[N-]], [[acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl-(1->2)-alpha-D-mannosyl-(1->6)]-beta-D-]], [[mannosyl-(1->4)-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl-(1->4)-N-acetyl-beta-D-]], and [[glucosaminyl}asparagine]], whereas its 5 products are GDP, [[N4-{N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl-(1->2)-alpha-D-mannosyl-(1->3)-[N-]], [[acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl-(1->2)-alpha-D-mannosyl-(1->6)]-beta-D-]], [[mannosyl-(1->4)-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl-(1->4)-[alpha-L-]], and [[fucosyl-(1->3)]-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl}asparagine]]. This enzyme belongs to the family of glycosyltransferases, specifically the hexosyltransferases. The systematic name of this enzyme class is GDP-L-fucose:glycoprotein (L-fucose to asparagine-linked N-acetylglucosamine of N4-{N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl-(1->2)-alpha-D-mannosyl-(1->3)-[N-a cetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl-(1->2)-alpha-D-mannosyl-(1->6)]-beta-D-man nosyl-(1->4)-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl-(1->4)-N-acetyl-beta-D-glu cosaminyl}asparagine) 3-alpha-L-fucosyl-transferase. Other names in common use include GDP-L-Fuc:N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide alpha1,3-fucosyltransferase, GDP-L-Fuc:Asn-linked GlcNAc alpha1,3-fucosyltransferase, GDP-fucose:beta-N-acetylglucosamine (Fuc to, (Fucalpha1->6GlcNAc)-Asn-peptide) alpha1->3-fucosyltransferase, GDP-L-fucose:glycoprotein (L-fucose to asparagine-linked, N-acetylglucosamine of, 4-N-{N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl-(1->2)-alpha-D-mannosyl-(1->3)-[N-, acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl-(1->2)-alpha-D-mannosyl-(1->6)]-beta-D-, mannosyl-(1->4)-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl-(1->4)-N-acetyl-beta-D-, and glucosaminyl}asparagine) 3-alpha-L-fucosyl-transferase. This enzyme participates in glycan structures - biosynthesis 1.

References

Muller S, Hauser MT (2001). "Cloning and expression of cDNAs encoding alpha1,3-fucosyltransferase homologues from Arabidopsis thaliana". Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1527 (1–2): 88–96. doi:10.1016/s0304-4165(01)00151-9. PMID 11420147. Fabini G, Freilinger A, Altmann F, Wilson IB (2001). "Identification of core alpha 1,3-fucosylated glycans and cloning of the requisite fucosyltransferase cDNA from Drosophila melanogaster Potential basis of the neural anti-horseadish peroxidase epitope". J. Biol. Chem. 276 (30): 28058–67. doi:10.1074/jbc.M100573200. PMID 11382750. Leiter H, Mucha J, Staudacher E, Grimm R, Glossl J, Altmann F (1999). "Purification, cDNA cloning, and expression of GDP-L-Fuc:Asn-linked GlcNAc alpha1,3-fucosyltransferase from mung beans". J. Biol. Chem. 274 (31): 21830–9. doi:10.1074/jbc.274.31.21830. PMID 10419500. van Tetering A, Schiphorst WE, van den Eijnden DH, van Die I (1999). "Characterization of a core alpha1→3-fucosyltransferase from the snail Lymnaea stagnalis that is involved in the synthesis of complex-type N-glycans". FEBS Lett. 461 (3): 311–4. doi:10.1016/S0014-5793(99)01489-1. PMID 10567717. Staudacher E, Altmann F, Glössl J, März L, Schachter H, Kamerling JP, Hård K, Vliegenthart JF (1991). "GDP-fucose: beta-N-acetylglucosamine (Fuc to (Fuc alpha 1--6GlcNAc)-Asn-peptide)alpha 1--3-fucosyltransferase activity in honeybee (Apis mellifica) venom glands. The difucosylation of asparagine-bound N-acetylglucosamine". Eur. J. Biochem. 199 (3): 745–51. doi:10.1111/j.1432-1033.1991.tb16179.x. PMID 1868856.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase

In research: Glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics EC 2.4.1, EC 2.4 stubs, Enzymes of unknown structure, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase in simple terms?

In enzymology, a glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.214) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction GDP-L-fucose + N4-{N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl-(1->2)-alpha-D-mannosyl-(1->3)-[N- acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl-(1->2)-alpha-D-mannosyl-(1->6)]-beta-D- mannosyl-(1->4)-N-acetyl…

Why does Glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase.