Exploring Cryptococcus neoformans capsule structure and assembly with a hydroxylamine-armed fluorescent probe.

ABSTRACT: Chemical biology is an emerging field that enables the study and manipulation of biological systems with probes whose reactivities provide structural insights. The opportunistic fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans possesses a polysaccharide capsule that is a major virulence factor, but is challenging to study. We report here the synthesis of a hydroxylamine-armed fluorescent probe that reacts with reducing glycans and its application to study the architecture of the C. neoformans capsule under a variety of conditions. The probe signal localized intracellularly and at the cell wall-membrane interface, implying the presence of reducing-end glycans at this location where the capsule is attached to the cell body. In contrast, no fluorescence signal was detected in the capsule

SUBMITTER: Crawford CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7105310 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature