A comparison of the alpha-L-fucosidase activities of human liver and serum.

Human liver alpha-L-fucosidase (alpha-L-fucoside fucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.51) has been separated into four components by chromatography on Sephadex G-150 or DEAE-cellulose. These components differ in their relative stability to heat and acid treatment, and their response to neuraminidase. The serum enzyme was devoid of high molecular weight activity and probably contained more sialic acid residues than the corresponding enzyme from liver. All the liver components tested were able to liberate fucose from 2'-fucosyllactose but not fucose from other oligosaccharides.