Lactodifucotetraose (LDFT) in Human Milk Oligosaccharide Research (CAS 20768-11-0)

Lacto-N-difucototeose, as an important member of the human milk oligosaccharide (HMOs) family, is the initial "signaling molecule" of life carefully designed by nature for newborns. It not only supports the early growth and development of infants, but also plays an irreplaceable role in regulating the balance of intestinal flora, shaping immune system function, and resisting pathogenic infections. With the rapid development of glycobiology and nutritional immunology, this natural oligosaccharide with a unique structure is gradually moving from basic research to clinical application, becoming a star molecule in the development of the next generation of functional nutritional preparations, targeted microecological therapies and immunomodulatory drugs.

Chemical Information

Chemical name: Lacto-N-difucottraose

Common name: Lactodifucotetraose, often abbreviated as LDFT

Chemical formula: C₂₄H₄₂O₁₉

Molecular weight: 634.58 g/mol

CAS number: 20768-11-0

Structural features

Lacto-N-difucottraose is a tetrasaccharide structure composed of glucose, galactose, N-acetylglucosamine and fucose connected in sequence through specific glycosidic bonds. Its unique features are:

Fucosylation modification: The end of the molecule contains two fucosyl groups connected by α1-2 and/or α1-3/4. The addition of fucose not only determines its antigen specificity (such as the Lewis blood group antigen-related structure), but also directly affects its biological activity in interacting with microorganisms and immune receptors.

Core skeleton conservation: Its lacto-N-neotetrasaccharide (LNnT) core structure is the common skeleton of many human milk oligosaccharides and has a high degree of evolutionary conservation, suggesting its fundamental role in the early life of mammals.

Recognition specificity of three-dimensional conformation: The unique sugar chain branches and connections enable it to be specifically recognized and utilized by specific intestinal bacterial glycosidases, or highly selectively bind to lectin receptors (such as selectins, DC-SIGN, etc.) on the host cell surface, thereby accurately regulating biological processes.

Main applications and advantages

1. High-end functional ingredients for infant formula

Simulate breast milk function: As a soluble oligosaccharide with a significant content in human milk, supplementing lacto-N-difucotetraose can make the formula closer to the composition and function of breast milk, and support the intestinal health and immune development of infants and young children.

Promote the colonization of beneficial bacteria: It can selectively promote the growth of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacteria in the infant's intestines, inhibit the adhesion of pathogenic bacteria (such as pathogenic Escherichia coli and Salmonella), and help establish a healthy early intestinal microecology.

Supports barrier and immunity: Through indirect (regulating flora) and direct (interacting with immune cells) pathways, it helps enhance intestinal barrier function, gently trains the immune system of infants and young children, and reduces the risk of infection and allergies.

2. Leading molecules for microecological regulation and development of targeted antibacterial preparations

"Prebiotic" effect: As a precise nutritional source of specific probiotics, it has application potential in the fields of adult intestinal health and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) flora intervention.

Anti-adhesion therapy: Many pathogenic microorganisms achieve adhesion and infection by recognizing sugar structures on the surface of host cells. Lacto-N-difucototeose can be used as a "molecular bait" to competitively bind to the adhesins of pathogenic bacteria and prevent their colonization, providing new ideas for the development of non-antibiotic antibacterial strategies.

Regulation of bacterial flora metabolism: Its decomposition products (such as short-chain fatty acids) can further affect host metabolism and immunity, linking nutrition, flora and health.

3. Tool molecules for research on immune regulation and inflammatory diseases

Immune receptor ligands: can be used as natural ligands for specific C-type lectin receptors (such as DC-SIGN, Selectins) to study the glycobiological mechanism of immune cell recognition, migration and activation.

Inflammation regulation potential: By intervening in processes such as leukocyte rolling and adhesion, it may play a regulatory role in chronic inflammation and autoimmune disease models, providing inspiration for the design of new anti-inflammatory drugs.

Research on tumor immune microenvironment: changes in glycosylation on the surface of tumor cells are closely related to immune evasion. This molecule can be used to study sugar-immune interactions and explore new targets for tumor immunotherapy.

4. Exploration of biomarkers and diagnostic applications

Disease-related glycomics: Changes in free or bound forms of lacto-N-difucotetraose and its related structures in human fluids or tissues may be related to certain disease states (such as intestinal diseases, cancer) and have the potential to become glycobiomarkers for disease diagnosis or prognosis.

Conclusion

Lacto-N-difucotose is much more than a simple sugar compound. It is a sophisticated chemical language that communicates between the host, microorganisms and immune system in early life. From optimizing the nutrition of the next generation of infants and young children to creating microecology and immunotherapy based on glycoscience, its value is being continuously explored and expanded.

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