The Cytoplasmic Tail of α1,2-Fucosyltransferase Contains a Sequence for Golgi Localization

Abstract

The Golgi apparatus has a central role in the glycosylation of proteins and lipids. There is a sequential addition of carbohydrates by glycosyltransferases that are distributed within the Golgi in the order in which the glycosylation occurs. The mechanism of glycosyltransferase retention is considered to involve their transmembrane domains and flanking regions, although we have shown that the cytoplasmic tail of α 1,2-fucosyltransferase is important for its Golgi localization. Here we show that the removal of the α1,2-fucosyltransferase cytoplasmic tail altered its function of fucosylation and its localization site. When the tail was removed, the enzyme moved from the Golgi to the trans Golg..