L-Fucose-containing arabinogalactan-protein in radish leaves.

The carbohydrate moieties of arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs) have ß-(1 → 3)-galactan backbones to which side chains of (1 → 6)-linked ß-Gal residues are attached through O-6. Some of these side chains are further substituted with other sugars. We investigated the structure of L-Fuc-containing oligosaccharides released from the carbohydrate moieties of a radish leaf AGP by digestion with α-L-arabinofuranosidase, followed by exo-ß-(1 → 3)-galactanase. We detected a series of neutral ß-(1 → 6)-galactooligosaccharides branching variously at O-3 of the Gal residues, together with corresponding acidic derivatives terminating in 4-O-methyl-GlcA (4-Me-GlcA) or GlcA at the non-reducing terminals. In neutral oligosaccharides with degree of polymerization (dp) mainly higher than 10, L-Fuc groups were attached through L-Ara residues as the sequence, α-L-Fucp-(1 → 2)-α-L-Araf-(1 →. This sequence was verified by isolation of the pentasaccharide α-L-Fuc-(1 → 2)-α-L-Araf-(1 → 3)-ß-Gal-(1 → 6)-ß-Gal-(1 → 6)-Gal upon digestion of the higher oligosaccharides with endo-ß-(1 → 6)-galactanase. By contrast, in lower polymerized (predominantly dp 4) acidic oligosaccharides, L-Fuc groups were attached directly at the non-reducing terminals through α-(1 → 2)-linkages, resulting in the release of the tetrasaccharides, α-L-Fucp-(1 → 2)-ß-GlcA-(1 → 6)-ß-Gal-(1 → 6)-Gal and α-L-Fucp-(1 → 2)-ß-4-Me-GlcA-(1 → 6)-ß-Gal-(1 → 6)-Gal. In long acidic oligosaccharides with dp mainly higher than 13, L-Fuc groups localized on branches were attached to the uronic acids directly and/or L-Ara residues as in the neutral oligosaccharides.