Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, known in older publications as Harden-Young ester, is fructose sugar phosphorylated on carbons 1 and 6 (i.e., is a fructosephosphate). The β-D-form of this compound is common in cells.[1] Upon entering the cell, most glucose and fructose is converted to fructose 1,6-bisphosphate.[2][3]
Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate has only one biologically active isomer, the β-D-form. There are many other isomers, analogous to those of fructose.
Iron chelation
Fructose 1,6-bis(phosphate) has also been implicated in the ability to bind and sequester Fe(II), a soluble form of iron whose oxidation to the insoluble Fe(III) is capable of generating reactive oxygen species via Fenton chemistry. The ability of fructose 1,6-bis(phosphate) to bind Fe(II) may prevent such electron transfers, and thus act as an antioxidant within the body. Certain neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, have been linked to metal deposits with high iron content, although it is uncertain whether Fenton chemistry plays a substantial role in these diseases, or whether fructose 1,6-bis(phosphate) is capable of mitigating those effects.[5]
^Bajic, Aleksandar; Zakrzewska J; Godjevac D; Andjus P; Jones DR; Spasic M; Spasojevic I (2011). "Relevance of the ability of fructose 1,6-bis(phosphate) to sequester ferrous but not ferric ions". Carbohydrate Research. 346 (3): 416–420. doi:10.1016/j.carres.2010.12.008. PMID21232735.