title: Galactofuranose in eukaryotes: aspects of biosynthesis and functional impact.
abstract: Galactofuranose (Galf) is the five-membered ring form of galactose. It is widely distributed among several branches of the eukaryotic kingdom. This review highlights recent advances in our understanding of the biosynthesis and function of Galf-containing glycoconjugates in fungal Aspergillus spp. and the protozoan trypanosomatid parasites. We give an overview of the biosynthetic pathways leading to the production of glycolipids, glycoproteins and polysaccharides containing Galf in these species and their biological relevance. Remarkably, modification of the cell surface caused by Galf absence often results in morphological abnormalities and an impaired cell wall function in these organisms. Galf-deficient mutants are generally hypersensitive to drugs, exhibit a constitutive osmotic stress phenotype and/or have an attenuated virulence. Since Galf has never been found in mammals and higher plants, Galf-biosynthetic pathways have raised much interest as targets for drug development to combat microbial infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, VU University Medical Center, van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. b.tefsen@vumc.nl
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tefsen
authors.forename: Arthur F J
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Ram
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: van Die
authors.forename: Françoise H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Routier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways; D002236:Carbohydrate Conformation; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D005663:Furans / Q000378:metabolism; D005690:Galactose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D005663:Furans; D006017:Glycolipids; D006023:Glycoproteins; D011134:Polysaccharides; D005690:Galactose