L-Fucose: occurrence, physiological role, chemical, enzymatic and microbial synthesis

• Published in: Journal of chemical technology and biotechnology (1986) Vol. 74; no. 6; pp. 479 - 497
• Main Authors: Vanhooren, Petra T, Vandamme, Erick J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.06.1999; Wiley
• Subjects: Bioconversions. Hemisynthesis; Biological and medical sciences; Biosynthesis; Biotechnology; Enzymes; exopolysaccharide; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydrolysis; L-fucose; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; occurrence; physiological role; Physiology; Enzymatic synthesis; Hexose; Algae; Oligosaccharide; Review; Fermentation; Biological activity; Production; L stereoisomer; Microorganism; Chemical synthesis; Polysaccharide; Medical application; Physicochemical properties; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0268-2575; 1097-4660
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4660(199906)74:6<479::AID-JCTB76>3.0.CO;2-E

An easy source of unusual monosaccharides such as the 6‐deoxyhexose, L‐fucose are certain microbial extracellular polysaccharides (EPS), best known for their thickening, gelling or emulsifying properties. L‐Fucose and L‐fucose containing oligosaccharides have potential application in the medical field in preventing tumour cell colonisation of the lung (anticancer effect), in controlling the formation of white blood cells (anti‐inflammatory effect), in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, in the synthesis of antigens for antibody production (rational immunisation) and in cosmeceuticals as skin moisturing agent. L‐Fucose production via chemical synthesis is laborious and suffers from low yield, while direct extraction from brown algae is costly and subject to seasonal variations in supply volume and quality. Enzymatic synthesis is currently under investigation. Chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis of L‐fucose‐rich microbial EPS opens up a new route towards efficient L‐fucose production. This review deals with the properties, occurrence, physiological roles, chemical, enzymatic and microbial production of L‐fucose. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry