The glycobiology of eukaryotes presents a tremendous diversity of structures and functions, which is well-exemplified within the fungal kingdom. Glycans of fungi include a broad variety of protein-linked structures, extensive polymers that comprise cell walls, molecules for energy storage and elaborate surface structures that help pathogens evade the host immune response. Many of these molecules and the processes they mediate are essential to the survival of the organism. This chapter addresses the biosynthesis of these fascinating compounds. The most detailed studies of glycan and glycoconjugate biosynthesis in fungi have been performed in the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae; many of the discoveries made in this yeast have provided insight into related mechanisms in other fungi as well as eukaryotes in general. These studies serve as the core of this chapter, with attention drawn to known variations on the biosynthetic processes as they occur in other fungal species. Significant differences in glycan biosynthesis between fungi and mammals are also highlighted, as these provide clues to potential drug targets in the case of fungal pathogens.
capsule, glucan, glycogen, Trehalose, O-linked glycosylation, N-linked glycosylation, fungi, chitin, yeast, Glycosylinositol phosphorylceramide, Glycophosphatidylinositol, Glycosylceramide
Publication DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-374546-0.00022-5Publisher: San Diego USA: Elsevier
Editors: Moran AP, Holst O, Brennan P, Von Itzstein M
Institutions: Washington University, Sch Med, St Louis, Missouri, USA
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