Use of benzyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(2-O-methyl-β-d-galactosyl)-β-d-glucopyranoside [2′-O-methyllacto-N-biosel βBn] as a specific acceptor for GDP-fucose: N-acetylglucosaminide α(1→4)-l-fucosyltransferase

A synthetic substrate, benzyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(2-O-methyl-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-β-d-glucopyranoside, was demonstrated to be a specific acceptor for the Lewis blood group-specified α(1 → 4)-l-fucosyltransferase from human saliva and stomach mucosa. The fucosyl linkage of the product resulting from the use of this substrate isolated by paper chromatography was characterized by hydrolysis with specific α(1 → 3)/(1 → 4)-l-fucosidase. The product can be separated by adsorption onto the reverse-phase cartridge and recovered by one-step elution with methanol. The enzymatic properties of α(1 → 4)-l-fucosyltransferase from saliva and stomach mucosa have also been examined using this substrate.