title: The N-glycans of Trichomonas vaginalis contain variable core and antennal modifications.
abstract: Trichomonad species are widespread unicellular flagellated parasites of vertebrates which interact with their hosts through carbohydrate-lectin interactions. In the past, some data have been accumulated regarding their lipo(phospho)glycans, a major glycoconjugate on their cell surfaces; on the other hand, other than biosynthetic aspects, few details about their N-linked oligosaccharides are known. In this study, we present both mass spectrometric and high-performance liquid chromatography data about the N-glycans of different strains of Trichomonas vaginalis, a parasite of the human reproductive tract. The major structure in all strains examined is a truncated oligomannose form (Man(5)GlcNAc(2)) with α1,2-mannose residues, compatible with a previous bioinformatic examination of the glycogenomic potential of T. vaginalis. In addition, dependent on the strain, N-glycans modified by pentose residues, phosphate or phosphoethanolamine and terminal N-acetyllactosamine (Galβ1,4GlcNAc) units were found. The modification of N-glycans by N-acetyllactosamine in at least some strains is shared with the lipo(phospho)glycan and may represent a further interaction partner for host galectins, thereby playing a role in binding of the parasite to host epithelia. On the other hand, the variation in glycosylation between strains may be the result of genetic diversity within this species.
authors: Department für Chemie, Universität für Bodenkultur, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Katharina
authors: K
authors: Paschinger
authors: Alba
authors: A
authors: Hykollari
authors: Ebrahim
authors: E
authors: Razzazi-Fazeli
authors: Pamela
authors: P
authors: Greenwell
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Leitsch
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Walochnik
authors: Iain B H
authors: IB
authors: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000606:Amino Sugars / Q000737:chemistry*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000737:chemistry*; D006031:Glycosylation; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D010429:Pentoses / Q000737:chemistry*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000606:Amino Sugars; D004983:Ethanolamines; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D010429:Pentoses; D011134:Polysaccharides; C000458:N-acetyllactosamine; C058642:mannosyl(5)-N-acetyl(2)-glucose; C005448:phosphorylethanolamine