Understanding Aspergillus fumigatus galactosaminogalactan biosynthesis: A few questions remain

Mauff, François Le; Sheppard, Donald C.

doi:10.1016/j.tcsw.2023.100095

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural adaptation of fungal cell wall in hypersaline environment

Fernando,

Pérez-Llano,

Dickwella Widanage

et al. 2023

Nat Commun

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Halophilic fungi thrive in hypersaline habitats and face a range of extreme conditions. These fungal species have gained considerable attention due to their potential applications in harsh industrial processes, such as bioremediation and fermentation under unfavorable conditions of hypersalinity, low water activity, and extreme pH. However, the role of the cell wall in surviving these environmental conditions remains unclear. Here we employ solid-state NMR spectroscopy to compare the cell wall architecture of Aspergillus sydowii across salinity gradients. Analyses of intact cells reveal that A. sydowii cell walls contain a rigid core comprising chitin, β-glucan, and chitosan, shielded by a surface shell composed of galactomannan and galactosaminogalactan. When exposed to hypersaline conditions, A. sydowii enhances chitin biosynthesis and incorporates α-glucan to create thick, stiff, and hydrophobic cell walls. Such structural rearrangements enable the fungus to adapt to both hypersaline and salt-deprived conditions, providing a robust mechanism for withstanding external stress. These molecular principles can aid in the optimization of halophilic strains for biotechnology applications.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural adaptation of fungal cell wall in hypersaline environment

Fernando,

Pérez-Llano,

Dickwella Widanage

et al. 2023

Nat Commun

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The surface layer has a reduced amount of GM but an increased content of α-1,3-glucan and GAG with an enriched fraction of cationic GalN (GalNH3 + ). This chemical change is crucial for facilitating its adherence to anionic surfaces, including human cells, and promoting the adhesion between mycelia, which helps the entire colony withstand unfavorable conditions 47,[62][63][64] . Compared to 0.5 M condition, the cell wall in 2.0 M NaCl exhibits 1) increased thickness, 2) enhanced biosynthesis of crystalline chitin resulting in higher cell wall rigidity and restricted local motions in the inner domain, 3) reduced water retention due to lower β-glucan content, 4) chitosan aggregation and reduced interactions with other components, 5) inclusion of α-glucan in the mobile phase, 6) enriched content of cationic GalN units in GAG on the surface, 7) increased protein content and rigidity, dehydration of protein, and reshuffled secondary structure, and 8) elevated content of rigid lipids.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The enrichment of GalN units should have modified the physicochemical properties of GAG and made it more cationic. This is crucial for facilitating its adherence to anionic surfaces, including human cells, and promoting the adhesion between mycelia, which helps the entire colony withstand unfavorable conditions 38,39 .…”

Section: Influence Of Nacl Environment On a Sydowii Carbohydrate Profilementioning

confidence: 99%

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Structural Adaptation of Fungal Cell Wall in Hypersaline Environment

Fernando

Pérez-Llano

Widanage

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Halophilic fungi, which thrive in hypersaline habitats and face a range of extreme conditions, have gained considerable attention for their potential applications in harsh industrial processes. However, the role of the cell wall in surviving these environmental conditions remains unclear. Here we employ solid-state NMR spectroscopy to compare the cell wall architecture of Aspergillus sydowii and other halophilic and halotolerant fungi across salinity gradients. Analyses of intact cells reveal that A. sydowii cell walls contain a rigid core comprising chitin, β-glucan, and chitosan, shielded by a surface shell composed of galactomannan and galactosaminogalactan. When exposed to hypersaline conditions, A. sydowii enhances chitin biosynthesis and incorporates α-glucan to create thick, stiff, and hydrophobic cell walls. Such structural rearrangements enable the fungus to adapt to both hypersaline and salt-deprived conditions, providing a robust mechanism for withstanding external stress. These molecular principles can aid in the optimization of halophilic strains for biotechnology applications.

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“…The polysaccharide composition of cell walls of important fungal pathogens such as Rhizopus oryzae , the main etiological agent of mucormycosis, or Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis , responsible for the mass extinction of amphibians, remain largely uncharacterized (Lecointe et al., 2019). Even defining the composition of the cell walls and biofilms of the top two medically relevant fungi, Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus , remain areas of ongoing research (Le Mauff & Sheppard, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification and Quantification of Monosaccharides from Fungal Cell Walls and Exopolysaccharides by Gas Chromatography Coupled to Mass Spectrometry

Millette,

Chabot,

Sheppard

et al. 2023

Current Protocols

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The fungal cell wall and secreted exopolysaccharides play an important role in the interactions between fungi and their environment. Despite their central role in fungal biology, ecology, and host‐pathogen interactions, the composition of these polymers and their synthetic pathways are not well understood. The protocols presented in this article describe an approach to isolate fungal cell wall polysaccharides and to identify and quantify the monosaccharide composition of these polymers by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). © 2023 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.Basic Protocol: O‐methyl trimethylsilyl monosaccharide derivatives composition analysis by GC‐MSSupport Protocol: Fungal cell wall extraction

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Understanding Aspergillus fumigatus galactosaminogalactan biosynthesis: A few questions remain

Cited by 6 publications

References 18 publications

Structural adaptation of fungal cell wall in hypersaline environment

Structural adaptation of fungal cell wall in hypersaline environment

Structural Adaptation of Fungal Cell Wall in Hypersaline Environment

Identification and Quantification of Monosaccharides from Fungal Cell Walls and Exopolysaccharides by Gas Chromatography Coupled to Mass Spectrometry

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