title: Analysis of glycosylinositol phosphorylceramides expressed by the opportunistic mycopathogen Aspergillus fumigatus.
abstract: Acidic glycosphingolipid components were extracted from the opportunistic mycopathogen Aspergillus fumigatus and identified as inositol phosphorylceramide and glycosylinositol phosphorylceramides (GIPCs). Using nuclear magnetic resonance sppectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and other techniques, the structures of six major components were elucidated as Ins-P-Cer (Af-0), Manp(alpha1-->3)Manp(alpha1-->2)Ins-P-Cer (Af-2), Manp(alpha1-->2)Manp(alpha1-->3)Manp(alpha1-->2)Ins-P-Cer (Af-3a), Manp(alpha1-->3)[Galf(beta1-->6)]Manp(alpha1-->2)-Ins-P-Cer (Af-3b), Manp(alpha1-->2)-Manp(alpha1-->3)[Galf(beta1-->6)]Manp(alpha1-->2)Ins-P-Cer (Af-4), and Manp(alpha1-->3)Manp(alpha1-->6)GlcpN(alpha1-->2)Ins-P-Cer (Af-3c) (where Ins = myo-inositol and P = phosphodiester). A minor A. fumigatus GIPC was also identified as the N-acetylated version of Af-3c (Af-3c*), which suggests that formation of the GlcNalpha1-->2Ins linkage may proceed by a two-step process, similar to the GlcNalpha1-->6Ins linkage in glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors (transfer of GlcNAc, followed by enzymatic de-N-acetylation). The glycosylinositol of Af-3b, which bears a distinctive branching Galf(beta1-->6) residue, is identical to that of a GIPC isolated previously from the dimorphic mycopathogen Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (designated Pb-3), but components Af-3a and Af-4 have novel structures. Overlay immunostaining of A. fumigatus GIPCs separated on thin-layer chromatograms was used to assess their reactivity against sera from a patient with aspergillosis and against a murine monoclonal antibody (MEST-1) shown previously to react with the Galf(beta1-->6) residue in Pb-3. These results are discussed in relation to pathogenicity and potential approaches to the immunodiagnosis of A. fumigatus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, 04023-900 São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Toledo
authors.forename: Steven B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Levery
authors.forename: Beau
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bennion
authors.forename: Luciana L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Guimaraes
authors.forename: Sherry A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Castle
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lindsey
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Momany
authors.forename: Chaeho
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Anita H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Straus
authors.forename: Helio K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000378:metabolism*; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D006028:Glycosphingolipids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009005:Monosaccharides / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006028:Glycosphingolipids; D009005:Monosaccharides; C025524:inositolphosphoceramides