Open AccessGlycosyltransferases and their products: cryptococcal variations on fungal themes
Author(s) -
Klutts James Stacey,
Yoneda Aki,
Reilly Morgann C.,
Bose Indrani,
Doering Tamara L.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
fems yeast research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.991
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1567-1364
pISSN - 1567-1356
DOI - 10.1111/j.1567-1364.2006.00054.x
Subject(s) - glycosyltransferase , cryptococcus neoformans , biology , glycolipid , glycoconjugate , context (archaeology) , biochemistry , enzyme , cryptococcosis , organism , cryptococcus , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , paleontology
Glycosyltransferases are specific enzymes that catalyse the transfer of monosaccharide moieties to biological substrates, including proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. These enzymes are present from prokaryotes to humans, and their glycoconjugate products are often vital for survival of the organism. Many glycosyltransferases found in fungal pathogens such as Cryptococcus neoformans do not exist in mammalian systems, making them attractive potential targets for selectively toxic agents. In this article, we present the features of this diverse class of enzymes, and review the fungal glycosyltransferases that are involved in synthesis of the cell wall, the cryptococcal capsule, glycoproteins and glycolipids. We specifically focus on enzymes that have been identified or studied in C. neoformans , and we consider future directions for research on glycosyltransferases in the context of this opportunistic pathogen.