Galactomannoproteins of Aspergillus fumigatus

Eukaryot Cell. 2005 Jul;4(7):1308-16. doi: 10.1128/EC.4.7.1308-1316.2005.

Abstract

Galactofuranose-containing molecules have been repeatedly shown to be important antigens among human fungal pathogens, including Aspergillus fumigatus. Immunogenic galactofuran determinants have been poorly characterized chemically, however. We reported here the characterization of two glycoproteins of A. fumigatus with an N-glycan containing galactofuranose. These proteins are a phospholipase C and a phytase. Chemical characterization of the N-glycan indicates that it is a mixture of Hex(5-13)HexNAc(2) oligosaccharides, the major molecular species corresponding to Hex(6-8)HexNAc(2). The N-glycan contained one galactofuranose unit that was in a terminal nonreducing position attached to the 2 position of Man. This single terminal nonreducing galactofuranose is essential for the immunoreactivity of the N-glycans assessed either with a monoclonal antibody that recognizes a tetra-beta-1,5-galactofuran chain of galactomannan or with Aspergillus-infected patient sera.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • 6-Phytase / chemistry
  • 6-Phytase / immunology
  • 6-Phytase / isolation & purification
  • Antibodies, Fungal / blood
  • Antibodies, Fungal / immunology
  • Antigens, Fungal / analysis
  • Antigens, Fungal / chemistry*
  • Antigens, Fungal / immunology
  • Antigens, Fungal / isolation & purification
  • Aspergillosis / diagnosis
  • Aspergillosis / microbiology
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / chemistry*
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / immunology
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / isolation & purification
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Humans
  • Hydrofluoric Acid / chemistry
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / chemistry*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / immunology
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / isolation & purification
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry
  • Polysaccharides / metabolism
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / methods
  • Type C Phospholipases / chemistry
  • Type C Phospholipases / immunology
  • Type C Phospholipases / isolation & purification
  • alpha-Mannosidase / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Fungal
  • Antigens, Fungal
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Polysaccharides
  • galactomannoprotein, Aspergillus fumigatus
  • 6-Phytase
  • Type C Phospholipases
  • alpha-Mannosidase
  • Hydrofluoric Acid