Polymorphic α-Glucans as Structural Scaffolds in Cryptococcus Cell Walls for Chitin, Capsule, and Melanin: Insights From ¹³C and ¹H Solid-State NMR.

ABSTRACT: Cryptococcus species are major fungal pathogens responsible for life-threatening infections in approximately a million individuals globally each year, with alarmingly high mortality rates. These fungi are distinguished by a distinctive cell wall architecture further reinforced by two virulence-associated layers, melanin and capsule, rendering them insensitive to antifungal agents targeting the cell wall, such as echinocandins. The molecular interplay between these three biomolecular layers remains poorly understood. Here, we employ solid-state NMR spectroscopy to examine intact cells of both wild-type and capsule-deficient strains of C. neoformans, along with melanized cells. High-resolution ¹³C and ¹H data revealed five distinct structural forms of α-1,3-glucans that

SUBMITTER: Ankur A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12366749 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature