Assimilation of xylose, mannose, and mannitol for synthesis of glucuronoxylomannan of Cryptococcus neoformans determined by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

• Published in: Infection and immunity Vol. 66; no. 6; pp. 2996 - 2998
• Main Authors: CHERNIAK, R, O'NEILL, E. B, SHUQUN SHENG
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for Microbiology 01.06.1998
• Series: Note
• Subjects: Acetylation; Biological and medical sciences; Carbon Isotopes; Cryptococcus neoformans - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungal and Parasitic Infections; Glucuronates - analysis; Glucuronic Acid; Growth, nutrition, metabolism, transports, enzymes. Molecular biology; Mannitol - metabolism; Mannose - metabolism; Microbiology; Mycology; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; Polysaccharides - biosynthesis; Xylose - metabolism; Fungi; Substrate; Xylose; Yeast; Cryptococcus neoformans; Mannitol; Biosynthesis; Mannose; Fungi Imperfecti; Metabolism; Mannan; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0019-9567; 1098-5522

Cryptococcus neoformans NIH 409 was cultured in a defined medium containing D-[1-13C]xylose (Xyl), D-[1-13C]mannose (Man), or D-[1-13C]mannitol as the sole carbon source. The distribution of 13C in the Man, Xyl, glucuronic acid (GlcA), and O-acetyl constituents of native and de-O-acetylated glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) was determined by one-dimensional 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The carbon chain of Man was incorporated intact into GXM since 13C was observed only in carbon 1 of Man, GlcA, and Xyl. The carbon chain of mannitol was incorporated intact into GXM since 13C was observed only in carbons 1 and 6. This was expected since mannitol has an axis of symmetry. The carbon chain of Xyl was identified only in carbons 1 and 3 of Man, GlcA, and Xyl. This pattern of labeling is consistent with the assimilation of Xyl through the pentophosphate pathway.