2-linked, alpha-L-fucose

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L-Fucose
IUPAC name (3S,4R,5S,6S)-6-Methyltetrahydro-
2H-pyran-2,3,4,5-tetraol
Other names 6-Deoxy-L-galactose
Identifiers
CAS number 2438-80-4
PubChem 17106
Properties
Molecular formula C6H12O5
Molar mass 164.16
Supplementary data page
Structure and
properties
n, εr, etc.
Thermodynamic
data
Phase behaviour
Solid, liquid, gas
Spectral data UV, IR, NMR, MS
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state
(at 25 °C, 100 kPa)

Infobox references

Fucose is a hexose deoxy sugar with the chemical formula C6H12O5. It is found on N-linked glycans on the mammalian, insect and plant cell surface, and is the fundamental sub-unit of the fucoidan polysaccharide. Alpha1→3 linked core fucose is a suspected carbohydrate antigen for IgE-mediated allergy.1

Two structural features distinguish fucose from other six-carbon sugars present in mammals: the lack of a hydroxyl group on the carbon at the 6-position (C-6) and the L-configuration. It is equivalent to 6-deoxy-L-galactose.

In the fucose-containing glycan structures, fucosylated glycans, fucose can exist as a terminal modification or serve as an attachment point for adding other sugars.2 In human N-linked glycans, fucose is most commonly linked α-1,6 to the reducing terminal beta-N-acetlyglucosamine. However, fucose at the non-reducing termini linked α-1,2 to galactose forms the H antigen, the substructure of the A and B blood group antigens.

Fucose is metabolized by an enzyme called alpha-fucosidase.

See also

References

Wikipedia content modification information:

  • This page was last modified on 11 November 2008, at 14:27.

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