The structure of Cryptococcus neoformans galactoxylomannan contains beta-D-glucuronic acid

Carbohydr Res. 2009 May 12;344(7):915-20. doi: 10.1016/j.carres.2009.03.003. Epub 2009 Mar 10.

Abstract

The structure of galactoxylomannan, a capsular polysaccharide from the opportunistic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans, was re-examined by NMR spectroscopy and GC-MS. The residue that is 3-linked to the side chain galactose and was previously assigned as beta-D-xylose [Vaishnav, V. V.; Bacon, B. E.; O'Neill, M.; Cherniak, R. Carbohydr. Res.1998, 306, 315-330] was determined to be beta-D-glucuronic acid. A revised structure for this polymer is presented, along with a proposal that this compound be termed glucuronoxylomannogalactan (GXMGal).

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Carbohydrate Sequence
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / chemistry*
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Molecular Structure
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry*

Substances

  • Polysaccharides