Glycosyltransferases that mediate the regio- and stereoselective transfer of sugars, such as the fucosyltransferases, determine cell surface-carbohydrate profiles, which is an essential interface for biological recognition processes. Fucosyltransferases catalyze the covalent association of fucose to different positional linkages in sugar acceptor molecules. The carbohydrate moieties generated and covalently attached to cell surfaces are necessary to ensure a surface contour that satisfies physiological roles, which are reliant on adhesion molecules such as selectins. Hematopoietic lineages rely on fucosyltransferases to confer a surface carbohydrate phenotype, which mediates proper cell adhesion molecule recruitment and cell trafficking. Blood Group Lewis a is a carbohydrate determinant carried on both glycolipids and glycoproteins.
