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.

[edit] See also

• Fucitol
• Fuculose
• Fucoidan

[edit] References