Molecular characterization of secretor type α(1,2)-fucosyltransferase gene deficiency in the Philippine population

Abstract

 We analyzed the seven mutations which are responsible for the deficiency of the secretor type α(1,2)-fucosyltransferase gene product, Se enzyme, in the Philippine population. One hundred and one unrelated Filipinos in Taiwan were studied. A new mutation, a 3-base pair deletion from nt 688 through 690, was found in two (0.1%) of 202 chromosomes. The frequencies of six other mutated alleles were as follows: 71/202 (35.2%) were cDNA 385 A→T missensed mutation (se2), 28/202 (13.9%) were C571T nonsense mutation (se3), 16/202 (7.9%) were G849A nonsense mutation (se4), 4/202 (1.9%) were G428A nonsense mutation (se1), and 81/202 (40.1%) were wild-type allele (Se). No C628T nonsense mutations (se5) or fusion genes of pseudogene and FUT2 gene (se 6) were found in this population. For the molecular basis of phenotype Le(a+ b–): eight cases had se2/se2, six cases had se2/se3, two cases had se3/se4, one case was homozygous of se4, one case was se3/se1, and two cases were se2/se7. For the Le(a+ b+) phenotype: four cases had se2/se2, two cases had se2/se3, one case was se3/se3, and one case was se2/se4. For the Le(a– b+) phenotype: 16 cases were Se/Se, 21 cases were Se/se2, six cases were Se/se3, five cases were Se/se4, and two cases had Se/se1. Our results suggest that the genotypes of the α(1,2)-fucosyltransferase gene in phenotypes Le(a+ b+) and Le(a+ b–) are the same. Other factors that play important roles may cause the differences between these two phenotypes. Several hotspot mutations in the α(1,2)-fucosyltransferase gene are responsible for the nonsecretor phenotype.