Lacto-n-fucopentaose I is an oligosaccharide found in human milk and other biofluids. Oligosaccharides of the blood group family decorate diverse glycoproteins and glycolipids on the surface of cells. Lacto-n-fucopentaose I and its sulfated and sialylated analogs, SuLNFPI and SLNFPI, are potent oligosaccharide ligands for the animal lectins, E- and L-selectin, and the natural killer cell receptor, NKR-P1. Burkinabe women show lower concentrations of lacto-n-fucopentaose I while Italian women show a higher concentrations of lacto-n-fucopentaose I. Lacto-n-fucopentaose I inhibits blastocyst attachment to uterine epithelial cells in vitro; component(s) carrying LNF-1 in the secretion might be regulatory molecules helping to secure the proper time for implantation. (PMID: 8639679, 16954962, 1802622, 3927775, 2988366).
belongs to the class of organic compounds known as oligosaccharides. These are carbohydrates made up of 3 to 10 monosaccharide units linked to each other through glycosidic bonds.