Studies on the Structure of Yeast Mannan

FimH-mannose noncovalent bonds survive minutes to hours under force

The adhesin FimH is expressed by commensal Escherichia coli and is implicated in urinary tract infections, where it mediates adhesion to mannosylated glycoproteins on urinary and intestinal epithelial cells in the presence of a high-shear fluid environment. The FimH-mannose bond exhibits catch behavior in which bond lifetime increases with force, because tensile force induces a transition in FimH from a compact native to an elongated activated conformation with a higher affinity to mannose. However, the lifetime of the activated state of FimH has not been measured under force. Here we apply multiplexed magnetic tweezers to apply a preload force to activate FimH bonds with yeast mannan, then we measure the lifetime of these activated bonds under a wide range of forces above and below the preload force. A higher fraction of FimH-mannan bonds were activated above than below a critical preload force, confirming the FimH catch bond behavior. Once activated, FimH detached from mannose with multi-state kinetics, suggesting the existence of two bound states with a 20-fold difference in dissociation rates. The average lifetime of activated FimH-mannose bonds was 1000 to 10,000 s at forces of 30-70 pN. Structural explanations of the two bound states and the high force resistance provide insights into structural mechanisms for long-lived, force-resistant biomolecular interactions.

Structural study and antimicrobial and wound healing effects of lectin from Solieria filiformis (Kützing) P.W.Gabrielson

The SfL-1 isoform from the marine red algae Solieria filiformis was produced in recombinant form (rSfL-1) and showed hemagglutinating activity and inhibition similar to native SfL. The analysis of circular dichroism revealed the predominance of β-strands structures with spectra of βI-proteins for both lectins, which had Melting Temperature (Tm) between 41 °C and 53 °C. The three-dimensional structure of the rSfL-1 was determined by X-ray crystallography, revealing that it is composed of two β-barrel domains formed by five antiparallel β chains linked by a short peptide between the β-barrels. SfL and rSfL-1 were able to agglutinate strains of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and did not show antibacterial activity. However, SfL induced a reduction in E. coli biomass at concentrations from 250 to 125 μg mL-1, whereas rSfL-1 induced reduction in all concentrations tested. Additionally, rSfL-1 at concentrations from 250 to 62.5 μg mL-1, showed a statistically significant reduction in the number of colony-forming units, which was not noticed for SfL. Wound healing assay showed that the treatments with SfL and rSfL-1 act in reducing the inflammatory response and in the activation and proliferation of fibroblasts by a larger and fast deposition of collagen.

Palm Kernel Cake Oligosaccharides Acute Toxicity and Effects on Nitric Oxide Levels Using a Zebrafish Larvae Model

One of the beneficial effects of non-digestible oligosaccharides (NDOs) is their anti-inflammatory effects on host animals. While conventional animal studies require that analysis be done after samples have been taken from the host, zebrafish larvae are optically transparent upon hatching and this provides an opportunity for observations to be made within the living zebrafish larvae. This study aimed to take advantage of the optical transparency of zebrafish larvae to study the nitric oxide (NO) reducing effects of NDOs through the use of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Salmonella enterica serovar (ser.) Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) to induce cardiac NO production. Prior to running the above experiment, an acute toxicity assay was conducted in order to determine the appropriate concentration of oligosaccharides to be used. The oligosaccharides tested consisted of oligosaccharides which were extracted from palm kernel cake with a degree of polymerization (DP) equal to or less than six (OligoPKC), commercial mannanoligosaccharide (MOS) and commercial fructooligosaccharide (FOS). Acute toxicity test results revealed that the OligoPKC has a LC₅₀ of 488.1 μg/ml while both MOS and FOS were non-toxic up to 1,000 μg/ml. Results of the in vivo NO measurements revealed that all three NDOs were capable of significantly reducing NO levels in LPS stimulated zebrafish embryos. In summary, at 250 μg/ml, OligoPKC was comparable to MOS and better than FOS at lowering NO in LPS induced zebrafish larvae. However, at higher doses, OligoPKC appears toxic to zebrafish larvae. This implies that the therapeutic potential of OligoPKC is limited by its toxicity.

In vitro fermentation of copra meal hydrolysate by human fecal microbiota

Copra meal hydrolysate (CMH) is obtained by hydrolyzing defatted copra meal with β-mannanase from Bacillus circulans NT 6.7. In this study, we investigated the resistance of CMH to upper gastrointestinal tract digestion and the fecal fermentation profiles of CMH. Fecal slurries from four healthy human donors were used as inocula, and fructooligosaccharides (FOS) were used as a positive prebiotic control. Fecal batch cultures were performed at 37 °C under anaerobic conditions. Samples were collected at 0, 10, 24 and 34 h for bacterial enumeration via fluorescent in situ hybridization and organic acid (OA) analysis. In vitro gastric stomach and human pancreatic α-amylase simulations demonstrated that CMH was highly resistant to hydrolysis. Acetate was the main fermentation product of all the substrates. The proportions of acetate production of the total OAs from FOS, CMH and yeast mannooligosaccharides (MOS) after 34 h of fermentation did not significantly differ (69.76, 65.24 and 53.93%, respectively). At 24 h of fermentation, CMH promoted the growth of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium groups (P < 0.01) and did not significantly differ from the results obtained using FOS. The results of in vitro fecal fermentation of CMH indicate that CMH can promote the growth of beneficial bacteria.

In vitro fermentation of copra meal hydrolysate by chicken microbiota

The aim of this study was to carry out preliminary investigations on the in vitro fermentation selectivity of copra meal hydrolysate (CMH) by chicken gut microbiota. The ileum and cecum contents from three 35-day-old birds were used as inocula. Yeast mannooligosaccharide (yeast-MOS) or α-mannan was selected as a positive control. Batch culture fermentation with fecal bacteria was performed at 42 °C for 24 h in an anaerobic chamber. Samples were collected at 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h of fermentation and evaluated using real-time PCR and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) analysis. Results showed that the medium containing ileum and both CMH and yeast-MOS substrates led to an increase in the growth of the dominant groups as Lactobacillus, Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus spp. compared with 0-h fermentation. Campylobacter spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. were not detected in any samples. A significant decrease in Acinetobacter was observed in all substrates tested after 6 h of fermentation (P < 0.05). Only the sample from CMH fermentation showed a significantly greater reduction in the population of Pseudomonas after 18-h fermentation with ileum content (P < 0.05). Propionate was the main fermentation product found in both ileum and cecum fermentation followed by lactate and acetate. CMH can be utilized by ileum and cecum microbial of chickens, and CMH has a generally desirable effect on the microbiota. CMH has the potential for use as a supplementary diet with similar or improved benefits and lower costs compared to commercial prebiotics. Further experiments in animal trials would seem to be justified.

Prebiotic Oligosaccharides Potentiate Host Protective Responses against L. Monocytogenes Infection

Prebiotic oligosaccharides are used to modulate enteric pathogens and reduce pathogen shedding. The interactions with prebiotics that alter Listeria monocytogenes infection are not yet clearly delineated. L. monocytogenes cellular invasion requires a concerted manipulation of host epithelial cell membrane receptors to initiate internalization and infection often via receptor glycosylation. Bacterial interactions with host glycans are intimately involved in modulating cellular responses through signaling cascades at the membrane and in intracellular compartments. Characterizing the mechanisms underpinning these modulations is essential for predictive use of dietary prebiotics to diminish pathogen association. We demonstrated that human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) pretreatment of colonic epithelial cells (Caco-2) led to a 50% decrease in Listeria association, while Biomos pretreatment increased host association by 150%. L. monocytogenes-induced gene expression changes due to oligosaccharide pretreatment revealed global alterations in host signaling pathways that resulted in differential subcellular localization of L. monocytogenes during early infection. Ultimately, HMO pretreatment led to bacterial clearance in Caco-2 cells via induction of the unfolded protein response and eIF2 signaling, while Biomos pretreatment resulted in the induction of host autophagy and L. monocytogenes vacuolar escape earlier in the infection progression. This study demonstrates the capacity of prebiotic oligosaccharides to minimize infection through induction of host-intrinsic protective responses.

The Biology of Pichia membranifaciens Killer Toxins

The killer phenomenon is defined as the ability of some yeast to secrete toxins that are lethal to other sensitive yeasts and filamentous fungi. Since the discovery of strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae capable of secreting killer toxins, much information has been gained regarding killer toxins and this fact has substantially contributed knowledge on fundamental aspects of cell biology and yeast genetics. The killer phenomenon has been studied in Pichia membranifaciens for several years, during which two toxins have been described. PMKT and PMKT2 are proteins of low molecular mass that bind to primary receptors located in the cell wall structure of sensitive yeast cells, linear (1→6)-β-d-glucans and mannoproteins for PMKT and PMKT2, respectively. Cwp2p also acts as a secondary receptor for PMKT. Killing of sensitive cells by PMKT is characterized by ionic movements across plasma membrane and an acidification of the intracellular pH triggering an activation of the High Osmolarity Glycerol (HOG) pathway. On the contrary, our investigations showed a mechanism of killing in which cells are arrested at an early S-phase by high concentrations of PMKT2. However, we concluded that induced mortality at low PMKT2 doses and also PMKT is indeed of an apoptotic nature. Killer yeasts and their toxins have found potential applications in several fields: in food and beverage production, as biocontrol agents, in yeast bio-typing, and as novel antimycotic agents. Accordingly, several applications have been found for P. membranifaciens killer toxins, ranging from pre- and post-harvest biocontrol of plant pathogens to applications during wine fermentation and ageing (inhibition of Botrytis cinerea, Brettanomyces bruxellensis, etc.).

A β-mannanase from Paenibacillus sp.: Optimization of production and its possible prebiotic potential

A thermotolerant bacterium Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus with an ability to produce extracellular β-mannanase was isolated from a soil sample. Bacterium produced 45 U/mL β-mannanase at 50 °C. The culture conditions for high-level production of β-mannanase were optimized. Optimized MS medium [wheat bran 2% (w/v), ammonium sulfate 0.3% (w/v), yeast extract, and peptone (0.025% each) pH 6.5] was inoculated with 2% of 16 H old culture.  The culture was incubated at 50 °C for 48 H resulting in 24-folds higher β-mannanase production (1,100 ± 50 U/mL). Optimum pH and temperature for enzyme activity of the crude enzyme was 6.0 and 60 °C, respectively. The enzyme demonstrated 65% relative enzyme activity at 37 °C. The hydrolytic activity of the crude enzymatic preparation was assessed on various agro residues. Thin-layer chromatographic analysis showed that the enzyme activity to saccharify heteromannans resulted in production of a mixture of manno-oligosaccharides (MOS) and enzyme exhibited classic endo-activity. To evaluate the possible prebiotic potential of the MOS thus obtained, initial screening for their ability to support the growth of probiotics was carried out by the pure culture method. Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus sp. responded positively to the addition of enzymatically derived oligosaccharides and their numbers increased significantly.

Blocking of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Ralstonia solanacearum Lectins by plant and microbial branched polysaccharides used as food additives

Pseudomonas aeruginosa antibiotic resistance prompted the search for glycodecoys that would block its lectin-dependent adhesion to human cells. We have used the lectins of this pathogen, PA-IL (galactophilic LecA) and PA-IIL (fucophilic LecB), and two additional pathogenic bacterial lectins, CV-IIL (fucophilic, of Chromobacterium violaceum) and RS-IIL (mannophilic, of Ralstonia solanacearum), for assaying the pathogenic lectin-blocking abilities of some plant and microbial polysaccharidic food additives, adding the mannophilic plant lectin Con A as a reference. Locust-bean and guar galactomannans and acacia gum very strongly inhibited PA-IL. The other lectins, excluding CV-IIL, were very strongly inhibited by yeast mannan. Xanthan and inulin were weak inhibitors. The differential blocking of these lectins by galactosylated branches of plant polysaccharides and by mannan matched their inhibition by avian egg whites, human milk, and royal jelly (protecting animal embryos and neonates from infections). The nondigestability and nontoxicity of the food additives are advantageous for curing gastrointestinal and external infections.

Oligomannoside mimetics by glycosylation of 'octopus glycosides' and their investigation as inhibitors of type 1 fimbriae-mediated adhesion of Escherichia coli

The glycocalyx of eukaryotic cells is composed of glycoconjugates, which carry highly complex oligosaccharide portions. To elucidate the biological role and function of the glycocalyx in cell-cell communication and cellular adhesion processes, glycomimetics have become targets of glycosciences, which resemble the composition and structural complexity of the glycocalyx constituents. Here, we report about the synthesis of a class of oligosaccharide mimetics of a high-mannose type, which were obtained by mannosylation of spacered mono- and oligosaccharide cores. These carbohydrate-centered cluster mannosides have been targeted as inhibitors of mannose-specific bacterial adhesion, which is mediated by so-called type 1 fimbriae. Their inhibitory potencies were measured by ELISA and compared to methyl mannoside as well as to a series of mannobiosides, and finally to the polysaccharide mannan. The obtained results suggest a new interpretation of the mechanisms of bacterial adhesion according to a macromolecular rather than a multivalency effect.

The production, purification and characterisation of two novel α-d-mannosidases from Aspergillus phoenicis

1,6-alpha-D-Mannosidase from Aspergillus phoenicis was purified by anion-exchange chromatography, chromatofocussing and size-exclusion chromatography. The apparent molecular weight was 74 kDa by SDS-PAGE and 81 kDa by native-PAGE. The isoelectric point was 4.6. 1,6-alpha-D-Mannosidase had a temperature optimum of 60 degrees C, a pH optimum of 4.0-4.5, a K(m) of 14 mM with alpha-D-Manp-(1-->6)-D-Manp as substrate. It was strongly inhibited by Mn(2+) and did not need Ca(2+) or any other metal cofactor of those tested. The enzyme cleaves specifically (1-->6)-linked mannobiose and has no activity towards any other linkages, p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside or baker's yeast mannan. 1,3(1,6)-alpha-D-Mannosidase from A. phoenicis was purified by anion-exchange chromatography, chromatofocussing and size-exclusion chromatography. The apparent molecular weight was 97 kDa by SDS-PAGE and 110 kDa by native-PAGE. The 1,3(1,6)-alpha-D-mannosidase enzyme existed as two charge isomers or isoforms. The isoelectric points of these were 4.3 and 4.8 by isoelectric focussing. It cleaves alpha-D-Manp-(1-->3)-D-Manp 10 times faster than alpha-D-Manp-(1-->6)-D-Manp, has very low activity towards p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside and baker's yeast mannan, and no activity towards alpha-D-Manp-(1-->2)-D-Manp. The activity towards (1-->3)-linked mannobiose is strongly activated by 1mM Ca(2+) and inhibited by 10mM EDTA, while (1-->6)-activity is unaffected, indicating that the two activities may be associated with different polypeptides. It is also possible that one polypeptide may have two active sites catalysing distinct activities.

Characterization of a mannan-like oligosaccharide from Mycobacterium smegmatis

A nitrogen-free neutral mannooligosaccharide, similar in structure to the polysaccharide component of yeast mannoproteins, has been isolated from Mycobacterium smegmatis ATCC-356. It has a molecular weight of 3200 and is terminated at the reducing end by mannose. nuclear magentic resonance spectroscopy, methylation analysis, selective enzymic degradation and acetolysis indicates that the molecule consists of an alpha1 --> 6-linked backbone to which single mannose units are attached in alpha1 --> 2 linkage as sidechains.

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.

alpha-Mannosidase from Trichoderma reesei participates in the postsecretory deglycosylation of glycoproteins

The 160 kDa alpha-mannosidase (E.C. 3.2.1.24) isolated from culture filtrate of Trichoderma reesei has wide aglycon specificity but cleaves the alpha1 --> 2 and alpha1 --> 3 mannosidic bonds with higher rate than alpha1 --> 6 bond and slowly hydrolyses yeast mannan and 1,6-alpha-mannan. The specific activity of the enzyme and rate constant in the reaction with p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside were 0.15 U/mg and 1.62 x 10(-4) microM/min/microg, respectively, at optimal pH 6.5. We have found that in vitro enzyme is able to cleave off 30% of total alpha-mannopyranosyl residues from N- and O-linked glycans of secreted glycoproteins. The activity of the alpha-mannosidase toward glycoproteins in vivo was studied comparing the structures of O- and N-linked glycans of glycoproteins isolated from the cultures growing with and without 1-deoxymannojirimycin, an inhibitor of alpha-mannosidases. Difference in structures of these glycans may be explained by postsecretory deglycosylation catalysed by the alpha-mannosidase.

The action of alpha-mannosidase from Oerskovia sp. on the mannose-rich O-linked sugar chains of glycoproteins

Alpha-mannosidase was isolated from the culture liquid of Oerskovia sp. The purified enzyme had a molecular mass of 480 kDa and comprises four identical subunits. The enzyme cleaves bonds in side chains of yeast mannan (Km = 0.08 mM, k(cat) = 1.02 micromol x min(-1) x mg(-1)) and reveals a low activity towards p-nitrophenyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside. The alpha-mannosidase is a Ca2+-dependent enzyme and is inhibited by EDTA. The enzyme possess no endo-mannosidase activity releasing only mannose in the reaction with the inversion of anomeric configuration and could be classified as exo-alpha-mannanase. The enzyme revealed a high deglycosylating activity towards the short mannose-rich O-linked carbohydrate chains of glycoproteins.

Purification and characterization of alpha-D-mannosidase from Aspergillus sp

alpha-D-Mannosidase from Aspergillus sp. was purified to homogeneity by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The native enzyme of molecular mass 412 kDa (gel filtration) is made up of six identical subunits of molecular mass 69.2 kDa (SDS-PAGE) The enzyme is acidic (pI 4.5) and a glycoprotein with a carbohydrate content of 3.8%. The pH and temperature optima of the enzyme were in the range 6.0-6.5 and 50-55 degrees C, respectively. At pH 6.0 the enzyme was stable for 30 min at 50 degrees C. The Km and Vmax for p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside were 83 microM and 0.2 mumol/min per mg of the enzyme, respectively. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by 1 mM Hg2+ and Cu2+ and partially by 30 mM glucose and mannose. The enzyme hydrolysed Man-alpha-(1-3)Man at a very high rate followed by Man-alpha-(1-2)Man, while the rate of hydrolysis was low for Man-alpha-(1-6)Man. The rate of hydrolysis for high mannose oligosaccharide Man-6 was higher than for Man-9 and yeast mannan was not hydrolysed at all.

A 1,2-alpha-D-mannosidase from a Bacillus sp.: purification, characterization, and mode of action

A 1,2-alpha-D-mannosidase was purified to homogeneity from the culture supernatant of Bacillus sp. M-90, which was isolated from soil by enrichment culture on baker's yeast mannan. The purified enzyme had M(r) 380,000 Da, and was comprised of two apparently identical 190,000 Da subunits. It had a neutral optimum pH (7.0) and an isoelectric point of 3.6. The enzyme was highly specific for alpha 1,2-linked D-mannose oligosaccharides. An N-linked high-mannose type oligosaccharide, Man9GlcNAc2, was a good substrate, yielding Man5GlcNAc2, and the alpha 1,2-linked side chains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mannan were also specifically hydrolyzed by the enzyme. p-Nitrophenyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside and 1,2-alpha-D-mannobiitol were not hydrolyzed at all. Calcium ion, 1-deoxyman-nojirimycin, and swainsonine had no effect on the enzyme, but the activity was completely inhibited by EDTA. The mode of action on alpha 1,2-linked mannotetraose indicated that the enzyme is an exo-1,2-alpha-D-mannanase.

Separation of yeast asparagine-linked oligosaccharides by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography

Oligosaccharides obtained from Saccharomyces cerevisiae mannoproteins by digestion with endo-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase H were fractionated by anion-exchange chromatography, by elution with 50-100mM NaOH without or with a sodium-acetate gradient, and detected with a pulsed amperometric detector (PAD). The elution times of homologous oligosaccharides fell on a straight line having a slope characteristic of the structural type. The response of the PAD detector per mole of oligosaccharide increased about 2-fold going from Man3GlcNAc to Man13GlcNAc, and appeared to depend primarily on the oxidation of the reducing-end N-acetylglucosamine unit common to all the oligosaccharides. The digestion of a Man10GlcNAc with jack-bean alpha-mannosidase was monitored by injecting portions of the crude reaction mixture, and the intermediates were characterized by their elution positions and n.m.r. spectra in the anomeric proton region. One commercial jack-bean alpha-mannosidase preparation contained a novel endolytic activity that released N-acetylglucosamine from the reducing ends of the oligosaccharides and was shown to convert P----6 alpha Man----6 alpha Man----6 beta Man----4 alpha beta GlcNAc to P----6 alpha Man----6 alpha Man----6 alpha beta Man plus free N-acetylglucosamine. Another commercial jack-bean alpha-mannosidase converted the Man10GlcNAc to a Man3GlcNAc having the structure alpha Man----6 beta Man----4 alpha beta GlcNAc, [formula: see text] whereas the Oerskovia sp. alpha-mannosidase converted the same oligosaccharide to a Man4GlcNAc having the structure alpha Man----6 alpha Man----6 beta Man----4 alpha beta GlcNAc. [formula: see text]

Size distribution and general structural features of N-linked oligosaccharides from the methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris

The secreted glycoproteins of Pichia pastoris contain more than 35% of their N-linked oligosaccharides as structures smaller than Man14GlcNAc2 (Man = mannose; GlcNAc = N-acetylglucosamine). On heterologous invertase produced in P. pastoris, approximately 85% of the oligosaccharides are in the size range Man8-14GlcNAc2. The structures appear to contain alpha-linked mannose. In addition, one-third of the structures contain net negative charge and can be radio-labelled in vivo with 32P. The largest oligosaccharides isolated from P. pastoris are significantly shorter than the hypermannosylated structures typical of S. cerevisiae, indicating that the factors which influence the processing of N-linked oligosaccharides in P. pastoris are different from those which influence processing in S. cerevisiae. The smaller N-linked oligosaccharides synthesized by P. pastoris resemble high-mannose oligosaccharides synthesized by animal cells, and this finding increases the utility of P. pastoris as a host for the production of heterologous glycoproteins.

[Arthrobacter globiformis - a new yeast-lysing bacterium]

A bacterium capable to lyse viable yeast cells was isolated from compost enriched with baker's yeast cells and was identified as Arthrobacter globiformis. The yeast lytic enzyme complex produced by shaking culture was precipitated with ammonium sulfate, dialyzed and lyophilized. The crude residue contained beta-glucanase and alpha-mannanase, yet not chitinase. Optimale carbon sources in the culture medium for a high enzyme synthesis were 0.5% beta-glucan for the production of beta-glucanase, resp., 3% alpha-mannan for the production of alpha-mannanase. Addition of 10% whole died baker's yeast cells to the culture medium effected similar results. The crude enzyme residue released among other things spheroplasts from cells of the yeast Pichia membranaefaciens, Metschnikowia pulcherrima, Hansenula anomala and Candida guilliermondii "H". However, it did not or only weakly lyse viable cells of the yeasts Rhodotorula rubra, Rhodosporidium toruloides and Sporobolomyces roseus. The mutants of Candida guilliermondii "H" with modified glucan, resp., mannan concentrations in the cell walls did not indicate differences in their susceptibility to lysis.

Comparison of the mannan structure from the cell-wall mutant Candida sp. M-7002 and its wild type. I. Characterization of the proteo-mannan from the mutant and the wild-type cells

The cell-wall mutant of a hydrocarbon-assimilating yeast, Candida sp. M-7002 and its wild type have shown a significant difference in mannose content. Each mannan was isolated from the mutant and the wild-type cells by fractionation with Cetavlon and copper reagent. Both mannans contain D-mannose, D-glucose and phosphate. The mutant mannan has a relatively high content of protein (18% in weight bases) whereas the wild-type mannan has a low protein content (5.1%) with a high amount of carbohydrate (greater than 90%). Structural analyses by enzymatic and chemical methods showed that both mannans had a mannosidic (alpha 1--6)-linked back bone substituted at O-2 by side chains of varying length. The side chains of the mutant mannan were shown to consist of single mannose units and disaccharide units whose linkages were predominantly alpha 1--2, while the wild-type mannan had two additional side chains of disaccharides. These additional side chains had alpha 1--3 linkages which were scarcely found in the mutant mannan. beta-Elimination reaction demonstrated that the mannans also contain mannosyl oligosaccharides linked to protein through O-glycosidic linkage. The chemical properties of the mannan of the Candida mutant indicates that the mutation might occur not only in the side chain structure but also in the (alpha 1--6)-linked mannan back bone.

Comparison of the mannan structure from the cell-wall mutant Candida sp. M-7002 and its wild type. II. Immunochemical properties of the mannans

The structure of the proteomannans from the cell-wall mutant Candida sp. and its parent strain was further studied by immunochemical methods. Alkaline titration showed that the phosphate is present in the form of diester and mild acid treatment released mannose from both of the mannans. In the wild-type mannan, the phosphorylated side-chain oligosaccharides gave 85% inhibition and a mannopentaose side chain having alpha 1--3 linkage in the nonreducing terminal also gave 40% inhibition in the homologous precipitin reaction. This indicates that the immunodominant side chain of the Candida sp. wild type mannan is the phosphorylated mannopentaose which has an (alpha 1--3)-linked nonreducing terminal. In the mutant system, a significant reactivity in the cross reaction between the mutant antiserum and Kloeckera brevis mannan indicates that the immunodeterminant of the mutant mannan may be a structural analogue of the side-chain oligosaccharide from K. brevis, which has phosphorylated (alpha 1--3)-linked mannotriose. However, no definite results were obtained in the inhibition studies. On the basis of the results from chemical, enzymatical and immunological experiments, the side-chain structure and macromolecular models of Candida sp. wild-type and mutant mannans are proposed.

Purification of an acidic alpha-D-mannosidase from Aspergillus saitoi and specific cleavage of 1,2-alpha-D-mannosidic linkage in yeast mannan

An acidic alpha-D-mannosidase (alpha-D-mannoside mannohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.24) has been isolated from culture filtrate of Aspergillus saitoi. The extracellular alpha-mannosidase was homogeneous in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight of the enzyme was 51 000 and the isoelectric point pH 4.5. The purified enzyme has a pH optimum of 5.0, a Km of 0.45 mM with baker's yeast mannan and has no activity towards p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-mannoside. The mode of action of the enzyme has been studied with baker's yeast mannan and saké yeast mannan. The enzyme cleaves specifically the 1,2-alpha-linked side chain, producing free mannose.