It is found on N-linked glycans on the mammalian, insect and plant cell surface.

[1] The α(1→3) linked core of fucoidan is a suspected carbohydrate antigen for IgE-mediated allergy.

[3] In human N-linked glycans, fucose is most commonly linked α-1,6 to the reducing terminal β-N-acetylglucosamine.

Fucose is released from fucose-containing polymers by an enzyme called α-fucosidase found in lysosomes.

L-Fucose has several potential applications in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and dietary supplements[4][5] Fucosylation of antibodies has been established to reduce binding to the Fc receptor of Natural Killer cells and thereby reduce antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.