Enzymatic synthesis of fucose-containing disaccharides employing the partially purified alpha-L-fucosidase from Penicillium multicolor

The alpha-L-Fucp-(1 --> 3)-D-GlcpNAc disaccharide structure is a vital core unit of the oligosaccharide components of glycoconjugates isolated from hu man milk and blood group substances, alpha-L-Fucosidase from Penicillium mu lticolor catalyses the transfer of L-fucose from donor structures such as a lpha-L-FucpOpNP and alpha-L-FucpF to various GlcpNAc derivatives and Glcp, forming alpha-(1 --> 3) linkages. The synthesis of several biologically rel evant disaccharides including alpha-L-Fucp-(1 --> 3)-alpha-D-GlcpNAcOMe, al pha-L-Fucp-(1 --> 3)-alpha-D-GlcpNAcOAll, alpha-L-Fucp-(1 --> 3)-beta-D-Glc pNAcOAll, alpha-L-Fucp-(1 --> 3)-D-GlcpNAc and alpha-L-Fucp-(1 --> 3)-D-Glc p has been achieved in up to 34% yields by application of this enzyme. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.