L-fucose metabolism in cystic fibrosis fibroblasts.

The capacity of skin fibroblasts from cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF individuals 
to incorporate exogenous L-fucose into various metabolic pools was compared. Incorporation 
into intracellular acid-soluble pools and extracellular glycopeptides was measured by a 
dual-label co- chromatographic technique, whereas total macromolecular incorporation was measured by 
a single-label procedure. Although CF and normal fibroblasts incorporate exogenous fucose 
into intracellular acid- soluble and high molecular weight compounds in a 
similar manner, CF cells appear to be characterized by an increased 
incorporation of label into low molecular weight extracellular glycopeptides. 