Metabolite control of L-fucose utilization.

Thyroid fucokinase is responsive to a number of metabolites which might serve in a regulatory capacity. In addition to inhibition by ADP and stimulation by GMP, fucokinase responds selectively to a series of nucleotide sugars. Of those studied, only guanine nucleotide sugars moderate the activity of the enzyme. GDP-alpha-D-mannose, GDP-alpha-D-glucose, GDP-alpha-D-rhamnose, and GDP-alpha-L-fucose on the other hand is strongly inhibitory. In the case of GDP-alpha-D-mannose stimulation, a physiological role seems possible, but the rationale is not entirely clear. The effects of GDP-beta-L-fucose, on the other hand may represent physiological control effected through feedback inhibition by and end product.