Unusual galactofuranose modification of a capsule polysaccharide in the pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans.

ABSTRACT: Galactofuranose (Galf) is the five-membered ring form of galactose. Although it is absent from mammalian glycans, it occurs as a structural and antigenic component of important cell surface molecules in a variety of microbes, ranging from bacteria to parasites and fungi. One such organism is Cryptococcus neoformans, a pathogenic yeast that causes lethal meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised individuals, particularly AIDS patients. C. neoformans is unique among fungal pathogens in bearing a complex polysaccharide capsule, a critical virulence factor reported to include Galf. Notably, how Galf modification contributes to the structure and function of the cryptococcal capsule is not known. We have determined that Galf is β1,2-linked to an unusual tetrasubstituted galactopyranose of the glu

SUBMITTER: Heiss C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3630864 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature