Conditional control of selectin ligand expression and global fucosylation events in mice with a targeted mutation at the FX locus

J Cell Biol. 2002 Aug 19;158(4):801-15. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200203125. Epub 2002 Aug 19.

Abstract

Glycoprotein fucosylation enables fringe-dependent modulation of signal transduction by Notch transmembrane receptors, contributes to selectin-dependent leukocyte trafficking, and is faulty in leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD) type II, also known as congenital disorder of glycosylation (CDG)-IIc, a rare human disorder characterized by psychomotor defects, developmental abnormalities, and leukocyte adhesion defects. We report here that mice with an induced null mutation in the FX locus, which encodes an enzyme in the de novo pathway for GDP-fucose synthesis, exhibit a virtually complete deficiency of cellular fucosylation, and variable frequency of intrauterine demise determined by parental FX genotype. Live-born FX(-/-) mice exhibit postnatal failure to thrive that is suppressed with a fucose-supplemented diet. FX(-/-) adults suffer from an extreme neutrophilia, myeloproliferation, and absence of leukocyte selectin ligand expression reminiscent of LAD-II/CDG-IIc. Contingent restoration of leukocyte and endothelial selectin ligand expression, general cellular fucosylation, and normal postnatal physiology is achieved by modulating dietary fucose to supply a salvage pathway for GDP-fucose synthesis. Conditional control of fucosylation in FX(-/-) mice identifies cellular fucosylation events as essential concomitants to fertility, early growth and development, and leukocyte adhesion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Carbohydrate Epimerases / genetics
  • Carbohydrate Epimerases / metabolism*
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Embryo, Mammalian / abnormalities
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Fetal Viability
  • Fucose / metabolism*
  • Genotype
  • Integrins / metabolism*
  • Ketone Oxidoreductases / genetics
  • Ketone Oxidoreductases / metabolism*
  • Leukocyte-Adhesion Deficiency Syndrome / genetics
  • Leukocyte-Adhesion Deficiency Syndrome / metabolism
  • Leukocytosis / genetics*
  • Leukocytosis / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Multienzyme Complexes / genetics
  • Multienzyme Complexes / metabolism*
  • Mutation
  • Phenotype
  • Polysaccharides / metabolism
  • Selectins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Integrins
  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • Polysaccharides
  • Selectins
  • wcaG protein, E coli
  • Fucose
  • Ketone Oxidoreductases
  • Carbohydrate Epimerases