Structural study of a cell wall mannan-protein complex of the pathogenic yeast Candida glabrata IFO 0622 strain

Bioimmunological activities of Candida glabrata cellular mannan

Candida glabrata is a second most common human opportunistic pathogen which causes superficial but also life-threatening systemic candidosis. According to the localisation of mannans and mannoproteins in the outermost layer of the cell wall, mannan detection could be one of the first steps in the cell recognition of Candida cells by the host innate immune system. Mannans from the cell wall provide important immunomodulatory activities, comprising stimulation of cytokine production, induction of dendritic cells (DCs) maturation and T-cell immunity. The model of DCs represents a promising tool to study immunomodulatory interventions throughout the vaccine development. Activated DCs induce, activate and polarise T-cell responses by expression of distinct maturation markers and cytokines regulating the adaptive immune responses. In addition, they are uniquely adept at decoding the fungus-associated information and translate it in qualitatively different T helper responses. We find out, that C. glabrata mannan is able to induce proliferation of splenocytes and to increase the production of TNF-α and IL-4. Next, increased the expression of co-stimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 and the proportion of CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD28+ T cells during in vitro stimulation of splenocytes. Reported results provide C. glabrata mannan capability to modulate cytokine production, DCs activation and antigen presentation activity, influencing T-cell phenotype in response to stimulation.

Presence of O-glycosidically linked oligosaccharides in the cell wall mannan of Candida krusei purified with Benanomicin A

Cell wall mannan of the pathogenic yeast Candida krusei was prepared using the antibiotic Benanomicin A, which has a lectin-like function. The chemical structure of this molecule was found to be similar to that of mannan prepared from the same yeast by the conventional method using Fehling reagent. Only a few degradation products were detected when the mannan prepared using Fehling reagent was subjected to alkali treatment (β-elimination), but multiple α-1,2-linked oligosaccharides were detected when the mannan purified with Benanomicin A was treated with alkali. These results indicate that most of the O-linked sugar chains in mannan were lost under conventional conditions when exposed to the strongly alkaline Fehling reagent. In contrast, the O-glycosidic bond in mannan was not cleaved and the O-linked sugar chains were maintained and almost intact following treatment with the mild novel preparation method using Benanomicin A. Therefore, we argue that the new mannan preparation method using Benanomicin A is superior to conventional methods. In addition, our study suggests that some yeast mannans, whose overall structure has already been reported, may contain more O-linked sugar chains than previously recognized.

Immune Recognition of Fungal Polysaccharides

The incidence of fungal infections has dramatically increased in recent years, in large part due to increased use of immunosuppressive medications, as well as aggressive medical and surgical interventions that compromise natural skin and mucosal barriers. There are relatively few currently licensed antifungal drugs, and rising resistance to these agents has led to interest in the development of novel preventative and therapeutic strategies targeting these devastating infections. One approach to combat fungal infections is to augment the host immune response towards these organisms. The polysaccharide-rich cell wall is the initial point of contact between fungi and the host immune system, and therefore, represents an important target for immunotherapeutic approaches. This review highlights the advances made in our understanding of the mechanisms by which the immune system recognizes and interacts with exopolysaccharides produced by four of the most common fungal pathogens: Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Histoplasma capsulatum. Work to date suggests that inner cell wall polysaccharides that play an important structural role are the most conserved across diverse members of the fungal kingdom, and elicit the strongest innate immune responses. The immune system senses these carbohydrates through receptors, such as lectins and complement proteins. In contrast, a greater diversity of polysaccharides is found within the outer cell walls of pathogenic fungi. These glycans play an important role in immune evasion, and can even induce anti-inflammatory host responses. Further study of the complex interactions between the host immune system and the fungal polysaccharides will be necessary to develop more effective therapeutic strategies, as well as to explore the use of immunosuppressive polysaccharides as therapeutic agents to modulate inflammation.

Differential virulence of Candida glabrata glycosylation mutants

The fungus Candida glabrata is an important and increasingly common pathogen of humans, particularly in immunocompromised hosts. Despite this, little is known about the attributes that allow this organism to cause disease or its interaction with the host immune system. However, in common with other fungi, the cell wall of C. glabrata is the initial point of contact between the host and pathogen, and as such, it is likely to play an important role in mediating interactions and hence virulence. Here, we show both through genetic complementation and polysaccharide structural analyses that C. glabrata ANP1, MNN2, and MNN11 encode functional orthologues of the respective Saccharomyces cerevisiae mannosyltransferases. Furthermore, we show that deletion of the C. glabrata Anp1, Mnn2, and Mnn11 mannosyltransferases directly affects the structure of the fungal N-linked mannan, in line with their predicted functions, and this has implications for cell wall integrity and consequently virulence. C. glabrata anp1 and mnn2 mutants showed increased virulence, compared with wild-type (and mnn11) cells. This is in contrast to Candida albicans where inactivation of genes involved in mannan biosynthesis has usually been linked to an attenuation of virulence. In the long term, a better understanding of the attributes that allow C. glabrata to cause disease will provide insights that can be adopted for the development of novel therapeutic and diagnostic approaches.

Self-adjuvanting glycopeptide conjugate vaccine against disseminated candidiasis

Our research on pathogenesis of disseminated candidiasis led to the discovery that antibodies specific for Candida albicans cell surface β-1, 2–mannotriose [β-(Man)₃] protect mice. A 14 mer peptide Fba, which derived from the N-terminal portion of the C. albicans cytosolic/cell surface protein fructose-bisphosphate aldolase, was used as the glycan carrier and resulted in a novel synthetic glycopeptide vaccine β-(Man)₃-Fba. By a dendritic cell-based immunization approach, this conjugate induced protective antibody responses against both the glycan and peptide parts of the vaccine. In this report, we modified the β-(Man)₃-Fba conjugate by coupling it to tetanus toxoid (TT) in order to improve immunogenicity and allow for use of an adjuvant suitable for human use. By new immunization procedures entirely compatible with human use, the modified β-(Man)₃-Fba-TT was administered either alone or as a mixture made with alum or monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) adjuvants and given to mice by a subcutaneous (s.c.) route. Mice vaccinated with or, surprisingly, without adjuvant responded well by making robust antibody responses. The immunized groups showed a high degree of protection against a lethal challenge with C. albicans as evidenced by increased survival times and reduced kidney fungal burden as compared to control groups that received only adjuvant or DPBS buffer prior to challenge. To confirm that induced antibodies were protective, sera from mice immunized against the β-(Man)₃-Fba-TT conjugate transferred protection against disseminated candidiasis to naïve mice, whereas C. albicans-absorbed immune sera did not. Similar antibody responses and protection induced by the β-(Man)₃-Fba-TT vaccine was observed in inbred BALB/c and outbred Swiss Webster mice. We conclude that addition of TT to the glycopeptide conjugate results in a self-adjuvanting vaccine that promotes robust antibody responses without the need for additional adjuvant, which is novel and represents a major step forward in vaccine design against disseminated candidiasis.

Significant differences in the cell-wall mannans from three Candida glabrata strains correlate with antifungal drug sensitivity

Candida glabrata is often the second or third most common cause of candidiasis after Candida albicans. C. glabrata infections are difficult to treat, often resistant to many azole antifungal agents and are associated with a high mortality rate in compromised patients. We determined the antigenic structure of the cell-wall mannoproteins from three C. glabrata strains, NBRC 0005, NBRC 0622 and NBRC 103857. (1)H NMR and methylation analyses of the acetolysis products of these mannoproteins showed a significant difference in the amount of the β-1,2-linked mannose residue and side-chain structure. The C. glabrata NBRC 103857 strain contained up to the triose side chains and the nonreducing terminal of the triose was predominantly the β-1,2-linked mannose residue. By contrast, the mannans of the two former strains possessed up to the tetraose side chains and the amount of the β-1,2-linked mannose residue was very low. Larger oligosaccharides than tetraose in the acetolysis products of these mannans were identified as incomplete cleavage fragments by analyzing methylation, (1)H NMR spectra and the α1-2,3 mannosidase degradation reaction. Resistance to the antifungal drugs itraconazole and micafungin was significantly different in these strains. Interestingly, the NBRC 103857 strain, which involved a large amount of the β-1,2-linked mannose residues, exhibited significant sensitivity to these antifungal drugs.

Murine model of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis reveals Candida glabrata virulence and contribution of β-mannosyltransferases

Candida glabrata, like Candida albicans, is an opportunistic yeast pathogen that has adapted to colonize all segments of the human gastrointestinal tract and vagina. The C. albicans cell wall expresses β-1,2-linked mannosides (β-Mans), promoting its adherence to host cells and tissues. Because β-Mans are also present in C. glabrata, their role in C. glabrata colonization and virulence was investigated in a murine model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Five clustered genes of C. glabrata encoding β-mannosyltransferases, BMT2-BMT6, were deleted simultaneously. β-Man expression was studied by Western blotting, flow cytometry, and NMR analysis. Mortality, clinical, histologic, and colonization scores were determined in mice receiving DSS and different C. glabrata strains. The results show that C. glabrata bmt2-6 strains had a significant reduction in β-1,2-Man expression and a disappearance of β-1,2-mannobiose in the acid-stable domain. A single gavage of C. glabrata wild-type strain in mice with DSS-induced colitis caused a loss of body weight, colonic inflammation, and mortality. Mice receiving C. glabrata bmt2-6 mutant strains had normal body weight and reduced colonic inflammation. Lower numbers of colonies of C. glabrata bmt2-6 were recovered from stools and different parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Histopathologic examination revealed that the wild-type strain had a greater ability to colonize tissue and cause tissue damage. These results showed that C. glabrata has a high pathogenic potential in DSS-induced colitis, where β-Mans contribute to colonization and virulence.

Vasculitis and anaphylactoid shock in mice induced by the polysaccharide fraction secreted into culture supernatants by the fungus Candida metapsilosis

The biological effects of Candida metapsilosis water-soluble fraction (CMWS), prepared using a completely synthesized medium, were examined to determine whether CMWS induces vasculitis similar to that seen in Kawasaki disease, and anaphylactoid shock, in mice. It was found that intraperitoneal injection of CMWS induces coronary arteritis and i.v. injection induces acute anaphylactoid shock in mice, similar to Candida albicans water-soluble fraction (CAWS)-induced arteritis and anaphylactoid shock. The mannan structure of the polysaccharide fraction was then analyzed by performing antiserum reactivity tests and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The mannan structure was investigated because the present authors have recently found that the mannan moiety within the polysaccharide fraction might be responsible for these pathogenic activities. The structural analysis showed that the mannan structure within CMWS expresses α-mannan residues, but not β-mannan. In addition, the mannan structure of CMWS is quite similar to that of CAWS. The present findings indicate that the polysaccharide fraction from C. metapsilosis, which is mainly composed of mannan, contributes to coronary arteritis and acute shock, and that the mannan structure could be responsible for this pathogenicity.

C. albicans increases cell wall mannoprotein, but not mannan, in response to blood, serum and cultivation at physiological temperature

The cell wall of Candida albicans is central to the yeasts ability to withstand osmotic challenge, to adhere to host cells, to interact with the innate immune system and ultimately to the virulence of the organism. Little is known about the effect of culture conditions on the cell wall structure and composition of C. albicans. We examined the effect of different media and culture temperatures on the molecular weight (Mw), polymer distribution and composition of cell wall mannan and mannoprotein complex. Strain SC5314 was inoculated from frozen stock onto yeast peptone dextrose (YPD), blood or 5% serum agar media at 30 or 37°C prior to mannan/mannoprotein extraction. Cultivation of the yeast in blood or serum at physiologic temperature resulted in an additive effect on Mw, however, cultivation media had the greatest impact on Mw. Mannan from a yeast grown on blood or serum at 30°C showed a 38.9 and 28.6% increase in Mw, when compared with mannan from YPD-grown yeast at 30°C. Mannan from the yeast pregrown on blood or serum at 37°C showed increased Mw (8.8 and 26.3%) when compared with YPD mannan at 37°C. The changes in Mw over the entire polymer distribution were due to an increase in the amount of mannoprotein (23.8-100%) and a decrease in cell wall mannan (5.7-17.3%). We conclude that C. albicans alters the composition of its cell wall, and thus its phenotype, in response to cultivation in blood, serum and/or physiologic temperature by increasing the amount of the mannoprotein and decreasing the amount of the mannan in the cell wall.

Imidazolium cation supported solution-phase assembly of homolinear alpha(1-->6)-linked octamannoside: an efficient alternate approach for oligosaccharide synthesis

An efficient, simple convergent assembly of a homolinear alpha(1-->6)-linked octamannosyl thioglycoside was obtained starting from imidazolium cation-tagged mannosyl fluoride and thiomannoside using block couplings. During chain elongation glycosylation reactions no column chromatographic purifications were used.

Structural analysis of cell wall mannan of Candida sojae, a new yeast species isolated from defatted soybean flakes

We investigated the structural and immunochemical characteristics of cell wall mannan obtained from Candida sojae JCM 1644, which is a new yeast species isolated from defatted soybean flakes. The results of a slide-agglutination test and of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using anti-factor sera to the pathogenic Candida species indicated that the cells and the C. sojae mannan were cross-reactive to the specific anti-factor sera against Candida albicans serotype A (FAb 6) and Candida guilliermondii (FAb 9). Two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn analysis indicated that the mannan consisted of various linked oligomannosyl side chains containing alpha-1,2-, alpha-1,3-, alpha-1,6- and beta-1,2-linked mannose residues. However, although the determinants of antigenic factors 6 and 9 could be not found in this mannan, branched side chains, Manbeta1-2Manalpha1-3[Manalpha1-6]Manalpha1-(2Manalpha1-)n2Man and a linear alpha-1,6-linked polymannosyl backbone, which are cross-reacted by FAbs 6 and 9, respectively, were identified. The mannan was subjected to acetolysis in order to determine the polymerization length of the alpha-1,2-linked oligomannosyl residue in the side chains. The result of (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of the released oligosaccharides showed that the remarkable regularity in the length of alpha-1,2-linked oligomannosyl side chains, which were previously found in mannans of other Candida species, is not observed in this mannan.

Disappearance of antigenic factor 6 in Candida glabrata IFO 0622 strain cells cultured at high temperature

The Candida glabrata IFO 0622 strain cells obtained after cultivation at 27 degrees C and at 37 degrees C and then at 27 degrees C (37-27 degrees C) for 48 h in yeast extract-added Sabouraud liquid medium (YSLM) showed the same agglutination patterns against factor sera 1, 4, 6, and 34 in the commercially available factor serum kit 'Candida Check'. On the other hand, the cells of the strain cultured at 37 degrees C had completely lost its reactivity against the factor serum 6. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of the cell wall mannans obtained from the strain cells showed the same reactivity with the agglutination patterns against the factor sera. The 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) pattern of the mannan obtained from the strain cells cultured at 37 degrees C showed that the mannan had completely lost the non-reducing beta-1,2-linked mannopyranose unit in the mannotetraose Manbeta1-2Manalpha1-2Manalpha1-2Man, corresponding to the serum factor 6.

Syntheses of oligomannosides in solution and on a soluble polymer support: a comparison

The alpha-(1-->6)-linked and the alpha-(1-->2)-linked linear mannotetraose glycosides and, respectively, and the branched mannopentaoside [R=CH2(CH2)2CH2Cl] were synthesised by conventional methods in solution, using trichloroacetimidate donors, and the products were obtained in 39%, 42% and 40% overall yield, respectively. For comparative purposes, the same two linear tetrasaccharides were prepared by use of MPEG as a soluble polymer support, the yields being 34% and 14%, respectively. An attempted MPEG-supported synthesis of the branched pentasaccharide was unsuccessful. The merits and shortcomings of oligosaccharide syntheses on MPEG are discussed.

Surface glycans of Candida albicans and other pathogenic fungi: physiological roles, clinical uses, and experimental challenges

Although fungi have always been with us as commensals and pathogens, fungal infections have been increasing in frequency over the past few decades. There is a growing body of literature describing the involvement of carbohydrate groups in various aspects of fungal disease. Carbohydrates comprising the cell wall or capsule, or as a component of glycoproteins, are the fungal cell surface entities most likely to be exposed to the surrounding environment. Thus, the fungus-host interaction is likely to involve carbohydrates before DNA, RNA, or even protein. The interaction between fungal and host cells is also complex, and early studies using whole cells or crude cell fractions often produced seemingly conflicting results. What was needed, and what has been developing, is the ability to identify specific glycan structures and determine how they interact with immune system components. Carbohydrate analysis is complicated by the complexity of glycan structures and by the challenges of separating and detecting carbohydrates experimentally. Advances in carbohydrate chemistry have enabled us to move from the foundation of composition analysis to more rapid characterization of specific structures. This, in turn, will lead to a greater understanding of how fungi coexist with their hosts as commensals or exist in conflict as pathogens.

Existence of novel beta-1,2 linkage-containing side chain in the mannan of Candida lusitaniae, antigenically related to Candida albicans serotype A

The antigenicity of Candida lusitaniae cells was found to be the same as that of Candida albicans serotype A cells, i.e. both cell wall mannans react with factors 1, 4, 5, and 6 sera of Candida Check. However, the structure of the mannan of C. lusitaniae was significantly different from that of C. albicans serotype A, and we found novel beta-1,2 linkages among the side-chain oligosaccharides, Manbeta1-->2Manbeta1--> 2Manalpha1-->2Manalpha1-->2Man (LM5), and Manbeta1-->2Man-beta1-->2Manbeta1-->2Manalpha1-->2Manalpha1-->2Man (LM6). The assignment of these oligosaccharides suggests that the mannoheptaose containing three beta-1,2 linkages obtained from the mannan of C. albicans in a preceding study consisted of isomers. The molar ratio of the side chains of C. lusitaniae mannan was determined from the complete assignment of its H-1 and H-2 signals and these signal dimensions. More than 80% of the oligomannosyl side chains contained beta-1,2-linked mannose units; no alpha-1,3 linkages or alpha-1,6-linked branching points were found in the side chains. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent inhibition assay using oligosaccharides indicated that LM5 behaves as factor 6, which is the serotype A-specific epitope of C. albicans. Unexpectedly, however, LM6 did not act as factor 6.

Synthesis of a mannose heptasaccharide of the pathogenic yeast, Candida glabrata IFO 0622 strain

An effective synthesis of the mannose heptasaccharide existing in the pathogenic yeast, Candida glabrata IFO 0622 strain was achieved via TMSOTf-promoted condensation of a tetrasaccharide donor 13 with a trisaccharide acceptor 16, followed by deprotection. The tetrasaccharide 13 was constructed by coupling of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1-->3)-2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (7) with allyl 3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1-->2)-3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (10), followed by deallylation and trichloroacetimadation. The trisaccharide 16 was obtained by coupling of 6-O-acetyl-2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate with 10, and subsequent 6-O-deacetylation. The disaccharide 7 was prepared through coupling of perbenzoylated mannosyl trichloroacetimidate with 4,6-O-benzylidene-1,2-O-ethylidene-beta-D-mannopyranose, then simultaneous debenzylidenation and deethylidenation, and subsequent acetylation, selective 1-O-deacetylation, and trichloroacetimidation. The disaccharide 10 was obtained by self-condensation of 3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-1,2-O-allyloxyethylidene-beta-D-mannopyranose, followed by selective 2-O-deacetylation.

Overview of N- and O-linked oligosaccharide structures found in various yeast species

Yeast and most higher eukaryotes utilize an evolutionarily conserved N-linked oligosaccharide biosynthetic pathway that involves the formation of a Glc3Man9GlcNAc2-PP-dolichol lipid-linked precursor, the glycan portion of which is co-translationally transferred in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to suitable Asn residues on nascent polypeptides. Subsequently, ER processing glycohydrolases remove the three glucoses and, with the exception of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, a single, specific mannose residue. Processing sugar transferases in the Golgi lead to the formation of core-sized structures (Hex<15GlcNac2) as well as cores with an extended poly-alpha1,6-Man 'backbone' that is derivatized with various carbohydrate side chains in a species-specific manner (Hex50-200GlnNAc2). In some cases these are short alpha1,2-linked Man chains with (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) or without (Pichia pastoris) alpha1,3-Man caps, while in other yeast (S. pombe), the side chains are alpha1,2-linked Gal, some of which are capped with beta-1,3-linked pyruvylated Gal residues. Charged groups are also found in S. cerevisiae and P. pastoris N-glycans in the form of mannose phosphate diesters. Some pathogenic yeast (Candida albicans) add poly-beta1,2-Man extension through a phosphate diester to their N-glycans, which appears involved in virulence. O-Linked glycan synthesis in yeast, unlike in animal cells where it is initiated in the Golgi using nucleotide sugars, begins in the ER by addition of a single mannose from Man-P-dolichol to selected Ser/Thr residues in newly made proteins. Once transported to the Golgi, sugar transferases add one (C. albicans) or more (P. pastoris) alpha1,2-linked mannose that may be capped with one or two alpha1,3-linked mannoses (S. cerevisiae). S. pombe is somewhat unique in that it synthesizes a family of mixed O-glycans with additional alpha1,2-linked Man and alpha1,2- and 1, 3-linked Gal residues.

Definitive chemical evidence for the constitutive ability of Candida albicans serotype A strains to synthesize beta-1,2 linked oligomannosides containing up to 14 mannose residues

We have previously reported the presence of phosphate bound beta-1,2 linked oligomannosides with unusually high degrees of polymerization (DP > 7) in the mannan of Candida albicans strain VW32. To confirm this observation, we have prepared these oligomannosides from the mannan of C. albicans strain NIH A 207. Gel filtration chromatography and TLC analysis revealed DP up to 14. For both strains, NMR analysis confirmed the exclusive presence of beta-1,2 linkages in the pools of oligomannosides with a DP higher than 6 which presented an average DP of 10.6 (VW32) and 10.4 (NIH A 207). These results are important to consider in relation with the ability of these C. albicans derived oligomannosides to trigger TNFalpha synthesis according to their DP.

The use of dimethylsulfoxide for fixation of yeasts for electron microscopy

Conventional methods of chemical fixation are often inadequate for preserving yeast ultrastructure. The thick cell wall severely limits penetration of fixatives rendering poor detail of the cell wall, membranes, and overall anatomy. Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) enhances penetration of chemicals and has been added to fixatives to improve cell preservation. At high concentrations (5 to 50%), however, it affects ultrastructure unpredictably. We found that adding 0.1% DMSO to fixatives greatly improved retention of yeast ultrastructure. Candida albicans, C. glabrata and Aspergillus fumigatus were fixed for 3 hr in 3% paraformaldehyde, 1% glutaraldehyde, 1 mM MgCl2, 1 mM CaCl2, 0.1% DMSO in 0.1 M sodium cacodylate buffer followed by 1% OsO4, 1% K2Cr2O7, 0.85% NaCl, 0.1% DMSO in the same buffer. Thin epoxy sections were post-stained in uranyl acetate and lead citrate. The multilayered character of the cell wall was distinct and well structured. Addition of ruthenium red or alcian blue to the fixatives further enhanced the outer fibrillar layer. The plasma membrane was contiguous and tightly adjacent to the inner mannoprotein layer of the cell wall. The cytoplasm was well preserved and the overall preservation of the yeast ultrastructure was significantly improved.

Architecture of the yeast cell wall. Beta(1-->6)-glucan interconnects mannoprotein, beta(1-->)3-glucan, and chitin

In a previous study (Kollár, R., Petráková, E., Ashwell, G., Robbins, P. W., and Cabib, E. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 1170-1178), the linkage region between chitin and beta(1-->3)-glucan was solubilized and isolated in the form of oligosaccharides, after digestion of yeast cell walls with beta(1-->3)-glucanase, reduction with borotritide, and subsequent incubation with chitinase. In addition to the oligosaccharides, the solubilized fraction contained tritium-labeled high molecular weight material. We have now investigated the nature of this material and found that it represents areas in which all four structural components of the cell wall, beta(1-->3)-glucan, beta(1-->6)-glucan, chitin, and mannoprotein are linked together. Mannoprotein, with a protein moiety about 100 kDa in apparent size, is attached to beta(1-->6)-glucan through a remnant of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor containing five alpha-linked mannosyl residues. The beta(1-->6)-glucan has some beta(1-->3)-linked branches, and it is to these branches that the reducing terminus of chitin chains appears to be attached in a beta(1-->4) or beta(1-->2) linkage. Finally, the reducing end of beta(1-->6)-glucan is connected to the nonreducing terminal glucose of beta(1-->3)-glucan through a linkage that remains to be established. A fraction of the isolated material has three of the main components but lacks mannoprotein. From these results and previous findings on the linkage between mannoproteins and beta(1-->6)-glucan, it is concluded that the latter polysaccharide has a central role in the organization of the yeast cell wall. The possible mechanism of synthesis and physiological significance of the cross-links is discussed.

Characterization of beta-1,2-mannosyltransferase in Candida guilliermondii and its utilization in the synthesis of novel oligosaccharides

A particulate insoluble enzyme fraction containing mannosyltransferases from Candida guilliermondii IFO 10279 strain cells was obtained as the residue after extracting a 105,000 x g pellet of cell homogenate with 1% Triton X-100. Incubation of this fraction with a mannopentaose, Manalpha1-->3(Manalpha1-->6)Manalpha1-->2Manalpha1+ ++-->2Man, in the presence of GDP-mannose and Mn2+ ion at pH 6.0 gave a third type of beta-1,2 linkage-containing mannohexaose, Manbeta1-->2Manalpha1-->3(Manalpha1-->6)Manalpha1++ +-->2Manalpha1-->2Man , the structure of which was identified by means of a sequential NMR assignment. The results of a substrate specificity study indicated that the beta-1,2-mannosyltransferase requires a mannobiosyl unit, Manalpha1--> 3Manalpha1-->, at the nonreducing terminal site. We synthesized novel oligosaccharides using substrates possessing a nonreducing terminal alpha-1,3-linked mannose unit prepared from various yeast mannans. Further incubation of the enzymatically synthesized oligosaccharide with the enzyme fraction gave the following structure, Manbeta1-->2Manbeta1-->2Manalpha1-->3(Manalpha1- ->6)Manalpha1--> 2Manalpha1-->2Man, which has been found to correspond to antigenic factor 9. Incubation of Candida albicans serotype B mannan with the enzyme fraction gave significantly transformed mannan, which contains the third type of beta-1,2-linked mannose units.

Structure of a cell wall mannan from the pathogenic yeast, Candida catenulata: assignment of 1H nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shifts of the inner alpha-1,6-linked mannose residues substituted by a side chain

We performed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of the cell wall mannan purified from the pathogenic yeast, Candida catenulata, using antisera to factors of the genus Candida. The results suggest that mannan possesses a linear backbone consisting of alpha-1, 6-linked mannose residues and side chains possessing nonreducing terminal alpha-1,2- and alpha-1,3-linked mannose residues. The chemical structure of the mannan was analyzed by two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn and two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser enhancement and exchange spectroscopy. The sequential assignments of the cross-peaks caused by J-coupling and the nuclear Overhauser effect from these terminal mannose residues demonstrate that the H1 signal of an inner alpha-1,6-linked mannose residue substituted by an alpha-oligomannosyl side chain or a single mannose through the C-2 position in an alpha-anomer configuration undergoes a significant downfield shift (delta delta = 0.16 or 0.19 ppm, respectively) compared with that of unsubstituted residues. We therefore propose the exact overall structure of the antigenic mannan obtained from C. catenulata. The assignment data in the present study are useful for the determination of the exact overall structure of various yeast mannans using the two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance analysis without the need for harsh procedures.

Identification of the antigenic determinants of factors 8, 9, and 34 of genus Candida

We investigated the antigenic determinants of factors 8, 9, and 34 of the genus Candida among pathogenic yeasts by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using mannans of Saccharomyces cerevisiae wild type and mutant types, mnn 1-mnn 4 and mnn 2. Results of ELISA including antisera against the antigenic factors of genus Candida (Candida Check, latron; FAbs) indicated that these three types of mannan distinctly react with FAbs 34, 8 and 9, respectively. To identify the recognition sites of these FAbs, we compared the ability of various oligosaccharides to inhibit the binding of the mannans to FAbs. The results indicated that FAb 34 preferentially recognizes linear side chains containing a non-reducing terminal alpha-1,3-linked mannose residue, Man(alpha)1 --> 3Man(alpha)1 --> (2Man(alpha)1 --> )n(2Man) (n > or = 0), and that one of the recognition sites of FAb 9 is linear alpha-1,6-linked oligomannosyl series, Man(alpha)1 --> (6Man(alpha)1 --> )n(6Man) (n > or = 2). On the other hand, the recognition site of FAb 8 apparently consisted of two alpha-1,2-linked oligomannosyl side chains and an alpha-1,6-linked mannose residue that originated from the mannan backbone, Man(alpha)1 --> 2Man(alpha)1 --> 2(Man(alpha)1 -->2Man(alpha)1 --> 6)Man.

Structure of cell wall mannan of Candida kefyr IFO 0586

We conducted a structural analysis of the antigenic cell wall mannoprotein (mannan) isolated from Candida kefyr (formerly Candida pseudotropicalis) IFO 0586. The result of two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn analysis of this mannan indicates that the molecule is constructed from alpha-1,2- and alpha-1,6-linked mannopyranose residues. Upon alkali treatment (beta-elimination reaction), this mannan released two alpha-1,2-linked mannooligosaccharides, biose and triose. The structure of the alkali-stable mannan (outer chain) moiety was investigated by acetolysis. The structures of the resultant oligosaccharides, biose and triose, from the outer chain moiety were found to be the same as those of the alkali-released ones. Further, the treatment of the parent mannan with an Arthrobacter GJM-1 exo-alpha-mannosidase gave a linear mannan consisting solely of alpha-1,6-linked mannopyranose residues. These results indicate that the mannan forms the long backbone of the alpha-1,6 linkage, with a large number of short alpha-1,2-linked oligomannosyl side chains forming a comblike structure. Moreover, we investigated the serological properties of this mannan by performing an inhibition assay of a slide agglutination reaction with mannooligosaccharides and polyclonal factor sera (Candida Check; Iatron). The result indicates that the factor 1 serum preferentially recognizes the alpha-1,2-linked oligomannosyl side chains in this mannan. On the other hand, the fact that the mannan does not contain an antigenic determinant(s) corresponding to factor 8 suggests that the epitope(s) of this factor resides in other molecules on the cell surface of this strain.

Structural modification of cell wall mannans of Candida albicans serotype A strains grown in yeast extract-Sabouraud liquid medium under acidic conditions

The cell wall mannans of two Candida albicans serotype A strains, NIH A-207 and J-1012 (abbreviated as A and J strains, respectively), cultured in yeast extract-Sabouraud liquid medium at pH 2.0, contained neither a phosphate group nor a beta-1,2-linked mannopyranose unit (H. Kobayashi, P. Giummelly, S. Takahashi, M. Ishida, J. Sato, M. Takaku, Y. Nishidate, N. Shibata, Y. Okawa, and S. Suzuki, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 175:1003-1009, 1991). In this study, the mannans obtained from A and J strains grown in pH 2.0 medium (abbreviated as mannans A2 and J2, respectively) exhibited quite different reactivities against rabbit anti-C. albicans and anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae sera compared with those of mannans from the corresponding strains cultured in conventional medium at pH 5.9 (abbreviated as mannans A and J, respectively). Namely, mannans A2 and J2 lost reactivity against the former serum but reacted with the latter serum to a higher extent than mannans A and J. In order to account for these difference in more detail, mannans A2 and J2 were subjected to acetolysis. Elution profiles of the acetolysates were completely different from those of acetolysates obtained from mannans A and J reported in our previous papers. The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of the oligosaccharides from mannans A2 and J2 obtained by this procedure indicate that the side chains are composed of alpha-linked mannopyranose units densely linked to the alpha-1,6-linked backbone. The long side chains containing one alpha-1,3-linked mannopyranose unit are markedly increased.

Structures of cell wall mannans of pathogenic Candida tropicalis IFO 0199 and IFO 1647 yeast strains

We conducted a structural analysis of the cell wall mannans isolated from two Candida tropicalis strains, IFO 0199 and IFO 1647, exhibiting strong agglutinabilities against anti-Candida factor sera 5 and 6. The products released from these mannans by acid treatment were identified as the oligosaccharides, from biose to pentaose, consisting solely of beta-1,2-linked mannopyranose units corresponding to common epitopes of Candida albicans serotypes A and B (factor 5). Mild acetolysis of acid- and alkali-treated mannans produced large amounts of hexaose and heptaose, Man rho beta 1-2Man rho beta 1-2Man rho alpha 1-2Man rho alpha 1-2Man rho alpha 1-2Man and Man rho beta 1-2Man rho beta 1-2Man rho beta 1-2Man rho alpha 1-2 Man rho alpha 1-2Man, corresponding to the C. albicans serotype A-specific epitopes (factor 6). However, the homologous pentaose, Man rho beta 1-2Man rho alpha 1-2 Man, was not generated by this procedure. The oligosaccharides (biose to hexaose) obtained from the mannans by conventional acetolysis were composed exclusively of alpha-1,2-linked mannopyranose units. Therefore, the mannans of C. tropicalis IFO 0199 and IFO 1647 do not have the alpha-1,3-linked mannopyranose units previously observed in the mannans of C. albicans and Candida stellatoidea. The results of this study and previous findings indicate that the similarity of the antigenicities of three Candida species, C. albicans serotype A, C. stellatoidea type II, and C. tropicalis, reside in the beta-1,2 and alpha-1,2 linkages containing oligomannosyl side chain (factor 6) in the cell wall mannan.

Isolation and preliminary characterization of the 14- to 18-kilodalton Candida albicans antigen as a phospholipomannan containing beta-1,2-linked oligomannosides

Western blot (immunoblot) analysis of Candida albicans germ tube extracts has demonstrated the probable presence of beta-1,2-linked oligomannosides acting as epitopes distributed over a 14- to 18-kDa antigen unreactive to concanavalin A. These conclusions about the existence of these non-mannan-associated oligomannoside species were reinforced in the present study by the demonstration of reactivity of factor serum 5 (Iatron Laboratories) with the same antigen. A monoclonal antibody which reacted in an enzyme immunoassay with beta-1,2-linked oligomannosides converted into neoglycolipids and in Western blotting with the 14- to 18-kDa antigen from yeast and germ tubes, through metaperiodate-sensitive epitopes, was used for further characterization of the molecule. Reducing agents and strong protease digestion, which have deleterious effects on C. albicans proteins and mannoproteins, affected neither the antigenicity nor the relative molecular weight of the molecule. Western blots performed after migration of protease-treated extracts in polyacrylamide gels without sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) showed that the 14- to 18-kDa antigen could be negatively charged, whereas metabolic radiolabeling demonstrated that these charges could originate, at least in part, from the presence of phosphorus within the molecule. Chloroform-methanol-water extraction of protease-resistant material led to purification of the 14- to 18-kDa antigen, as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting. Metabolic radiolabeling with mannose confirmed the presence of these sugar residues within the purified 14- to 18-kDa antigen (despite its nonreactivity to concanavalin A), whereas radiolabeling with palmitic acid demonstrated its lipopolysaccharidic nature. Together, these results led to the conclusion that the 14- to 18-kDa antigen is a phospholipomannan.

Structural study of a cell-wall mannan of Saccharomyces kluyveri IFO 1685 strain. Presence of a branched side chain and beta-1,2-linkage

Acetolysis of the cell-wall mannan of Saccharomyces kluyveri under mild conditions, gave fragments with 1-6 mannose residues. The structures of mannopentaose and mannohexaose were determined to be [Formula; see text] respectively, by two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn spectroscopy and a sequential NMR assignment method that combines 1H-13C correlated spectroscopy, relayed coherence transfer spectroscopy, 1H-detected heteronuclear multiple-bond connectivity and methylation analysis. The H1 proton chemical shift of a neighboring alpha-1,2-linked mannose unit of the 3-O-substituted structure was shifted upfield by the addition of a mannose unit to the adjacent 3-O-substituted unit by an alpha-1,6 linkage. The characteristic H1--H2-correlated cross-peak of the alpha-1,3-linked mannose unit substituted by a beta-1,2 linkage, beta 1-->2Man alpha 1-->3, in the mannan of S. kluyveri, as also found by two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn spectroscopy in the mannan of Candida guilliermondii, a pathogenic yeast in man.