Enzymatic synthesis of fucose-containing galacto-oligosaccharides using β-galactosidase and identification of novel disaccharide structures.

Fucosylated oligosaccharides have an important role in maintaining a healthy immune system and homeostatic gut microflora. This study employed a commercial β-galactosidase in the production of fucose-containing galacto-oligosaccharides (fGOS) from lactose and fucose. The production was optimized using experiment design and optimal conditions for a batch production in 3-liter scale. The reaction product was analyzed and the produced galactose-fucose disaccharides were purified. The structures of these disaccharides were determined using NMR and it was verified that one major product with the structure Galβ1-3Fuc and two minor products with the structures Galβ1-4Fuc and Galβ1-2Fuc were formed. Additionally, the product composition was defined in more detail using several different analytical methods. It was concluded that the final product contained 42% total monosaccharides, 40% disaccharides and 18% of larger oligosaccharides. 290 μmol of fGOS was produced per gram of reaction mixture and 37% of the added fucose was bound to fGOS. The fraction of fGOS from total oligosaccharides was determined as 44%. This fGOS product could be used as a new putative route to deliver fucose to the intestine.