title: Structural insights into Aspergillus fumigatus lectin specificity: AFL binding sites are functionally non-equivalent.
abstract: The Aspergillus fumigatus lectin AFL was recently described as a new member of the AAL lectin family. As a lectin from an opportunistic pathogen, it might play an important role in the interaction of the pathogen with the human host. A detailed study of structures of AFL complexed with several monosaccharides and oligosaccharides, including blood-group epitopes, was combined with affinity data from SPR and discussed in the context of previous findings. Its six binding sites are non-equivalent, and owing to minor differences in amino-acid composition they exhibit a marked difference in specific ligand recognition. AFL displays a high affinity in the micromolar range towards oligosaccharides which were detected in plants and also those bound on the human epithelia. All of these results indicate AFL to be a complex member of the lectin family and a challenging target for future medical research and, owing to its binding properties, a potentially useful tool in specific biotechnological applications.
authors.affiliation: Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Houser
authors.affiliation: Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Komarek
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Biologiques et des Procédés, Institut National des Sciences Appliquées, 31077 Toulouse CEDEX, France.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cioci
authors.affiliation: CERMAV-CNRS, UPR5301, affiliated with Université de Grenoble and ICMG, BP53, 38041 Grenoble CEDEX 9, France.
authors.forename: Annabelle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varrot
authors.affiliation: CERMAV-CNRS, UPR5301, affiliated with Université de Grenoble and ICMG, BP53, 38041 Grenoble CEDEX 9, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Imberty
authors.affiliation: Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wimmerova
mesh_terms: D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000737:chemistry*; D004848:Epithelium; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000737:chemistry*; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000737:chemistry*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D037102:Lectins; D009844:Oligosaccharides
keywords: Aspergillus fumigatus; SPR; lectin; pathogen; protein–saccharide complex