Fucosylgalacto-N-neohexacose II—oligosaccharide core functional structural unit 56501-25-8

Fucosyllacto-N-neohexaose II is a key and structurally complex representative molecule in the human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) family. It is not only a precious immune and nutritional factor endowed by nature to infants and young children, but also a core active raw material and research tool that has attracted much attention in the fields of modern biomedicine, functional food and high-end in vitro diagnostics. As an outstanding embodiment of the precise structure of HMOs, this molecule is driving the cutting-edge exploration of next-generation microbial preparations, targeted delivery systems and glycoimmunotherapy.

Chemical Information

Chemical name: Fucosylgalacto-N-neohexose II

Common name: Fucosyllacto-N-neohexaose II, FLNNH II

Chemical formula: C₄₆H₇₈N₂O₃₅

Molecular weight: 1219.1 g/mol

CAS number: 56501-25-8

Structural features

Fucosylgalacto-N-neohexacose II is a fucosylated HMO with a type I core structure. It has an exquisite structure and specific functions:

Precise polysaccharide chain structure: The molecule is based on lactose and extends N-acetylglucosamine and galactose units to form a specific linear "new hexasaccharide" skeleton. Its core feature is that the fucosyl group linked by the α1-2/4 bond is precisely modified at the galactose end. This connection method determines its unique receptor binding specificity.

The "code" of biological recognition: This structure accurately simulates the terminal antigenic determinants of various glycoproteins and glycolipids on the cell surface (such as H, Lewis and other blood group antigen-related structures), so that it can be metabolized and utilized by specific probiotics (such as bifidobacteria) in the intestinal flora, and can specifically bind to the lectins of pathogens (such as bacteria and viruses), thereby blocking their infection pathways.

Stable chemical and metabolic properties: Compared with simple sugars, its complex branched structure and specific glycosidic bonds give the molecule good metabolic stability, which can completely reach the lower intestine and exert prebiotic and anti-pathogen adhesion effects.

Main applications and advantages

1. The gold standard of high-end infant nutrition and functional food

Precision prebiotic effect: As a highly specific prebiotic, it can be efficiently and selectively utilized by beneficial bacteria in the infant intestine (such as Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis) to promote their proliferation, optimize the intestinal microecological balance, and build a healthy intestinal immune barrier.

Anti-pathogen defense barrier: Through the "molecular decoy" mechanism, it competitively binds to the surface lectins of pathogenic bacteria (such as Salmonella, Campylobacter) and viruses (such as rotavirus) in the intestine, preventing them from adhering to intestinal mucosal epithelial cells, reducing the risk of infection from the source.

Support brain and immune development: HMOs have been proven to indirectly support cognitive development and immune system maturation in infants and young children through the gut-brain axis and immune regulatory pathways. FLNNH II, as a functional unit with a clear structure, is the core ingredient for the development of next-generation formula milk powder and nutritional supplements that are closer to the functions of human milk.

2. Key ligands for new drug development and targeted delivery systems

Intestinal targeted delivery carrier: Utilizing its property of being recognized by intestinal probiotics or specific cell surface receptors, it can be used as a targeted packaging material for oral drugs or probiotic preparations to improve the enrichment and efficacy of drugs in specific parts of the intestine.

Exploration of carbohydrate immunotherapy and vaccine adjuvants: Its structure simulates carbohydrate antigens related to immune regulation. It has great potential in regulating immune cell function, developing anti-inflammatory preparations or serving as a glycosylation adjuvant for vaccines, opening up new ideas for autoimmune diseases and cancer immunotherapy.

Lead molecule for anti-adhesion therapy: Using this as a template, new anti-adhesion drugs can be designed and developed for the prevention and treatment of intestinal and urinary system bacterial infections, providing an alternative strategy to avoid antibiotic abuse.

3. High-end tools for cutting-edge life science research and in vitro diagnostics

Microbial interaction research: It is an indispensable standard for studying how intestinal flora specifically metabolize HMOs and analyzing the molecular mechanism of "bacteria-sugar" interaction, helping to unlock the black box of intestinal microecology.

Sugar-binding protein (lectin) specificity analysis: As a complex sugar chain with a well-defined structure, it can be used to screen, identify and characterize the lectin specificity from pathogens, immune cells or plants. It is a key reagent for basic research on glycobiology.

Disease biomarker and diagnostic development: In certain infectious or inflammatory disease states, the expression of sugar chains with similar structures in the body will change. FLNNH II can be used as a standard reference material for the development of sensitive diagnostic methods based on glycomic analysis.

Conclusion

Fucosylgalacto-N-Neohexose II is much more than a sugar molecule, it is a sophisticated piece of life information instructions encoded in breast milk by nature. From laying the foundation of early life nutrition for the health of infants and young children to leading the next generation of drugs and therapies based on glycoscience, its value is being continuously discovered and deepened.

The above information is provided by the editor of KASONS and is for scientific research only.