title: Emerging themes in cryptococcal capsule synthesis.
abstract: Cryptococcus neoformans, a basidiomycete yeast and opportunistic pathogen, expends significant biosynthetic effort on construction of a polysaccharide capsule with a radius that may be many times that of the cell. Beyond posing a stimulating challenge in terms of defining biosynthetic pathways, the capsule is required for this yeast to cause fatal disease. This combination has focused the attention of researchers on this system. Here we briefly review two aspects of the rapidly advancing field of capsule synthesis: the extensive variation that occurs in capsule polymers and the regulation of capsule biosynthesis.
authors: Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University Medical School, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors: Pardeep
authors: P
authors: Kumar
authors: Meng
authors: M
authors: Yang
authors: Brian C
authors: BC
authors: Haynes
authors: Michael L
authors: ML
authors: Skowyra
authors: Tamara L
authors: TL
authors: Doering
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011108:Polymers / Q000378:metabolism; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D037521:Virulence Factors
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D011108:Polymers; D011134:Polysaccharides; D037521:Virulence Factors; C027478:glucuronoxylomannan