Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026
Exploring Protein-Glycan Interactions: Advances in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Published on: August 26, 2025
Molecular phenotyping of mannosyltransferases-deficient Candida albicans cells by high-resolution magic angle
Emmanuel Maes1, Céline Mille, Xavier Trivelli
1Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, UMR CNRS 8576, IFR 147, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille 1, 59655, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.
Abstract:
The yeast Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen that causes infections in immunocompromised individuals with a high morbidity and mortality levels. Recognition of yeasts by host cells is directly mediated by cell wall components of the yeast, including a wide range of abundantly expressed glycoconjugates. Of particular interest in C. albicans are the beta-mannosylated epitopes that show a complex expression pattern on N-glycan moiety of phosphopeptidomannans and are absent in the non-pathogenic species Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Being known as potent antigens for the adaptive immune response and elicitors of specific infection-protective antibodies, the exact delineation of beta-mannosides regulation and expression pathways has lately become a major milestone toward the comprehension of host-pathogen interplay. Using the newly developed HR-MAS NMR methodology, we demonstrate the possibility of assessing the general profiles of cell-surface-exposed glycoconjugates from intact living yeast cells without any prior purification step. This technique permitted to directly observe structural modifications of surface expressed phosphodiester-linked beta-mannosides on a series of deletion strains in beta-mannosyltransferases and phospho-mannosyltransferases compared with their parental strains.
Insights
Candida albicans beta-mannosides are key in host recognition. New NMR methods reveal how these yeast cell wall glycoconjugates change in different strains, aiding understanding of fungal infections.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen causing severe infections in immunocompromised individuals.
- Host cell recognition of yeasts involves cell wall glycoconjugates, particularly beta-mannosylated epitopes.
- These epitopes are differentially expressed in pathogenic C. albicans compared to non-pathogenic Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Purpose of the Study:
- To delineate the regulation and expression pathways of beta-mannosides in C. albicans.
- To understand the host-pathogen interplay involving yeast cell wall components.
- To investigate structural modifications of surface-exposed glycoconjugates.
Main Methods:
- High-resolution magic-angle spinning (HR-MAS) NMR methodology was employed.
- Analysis was performed on intact living yeast cells without prior purification.
- Deletion strains in beta-mannosyltransferases and phospho-mannosyltransferases were compared to parental strains.
Main Results:
- HR-MAS NMR successfully assessed general profiles of cell-surface-exposed glycoconjugates from intact yeast cells.
- The technique allowed direct observation of structural modifications in phosphodiester-linked beta-mannosides.
- Differences in beta-mannoside expression were noted between deletion and parental strains.
Conclusions:
- HR-MAS NMR is a viable method for studying yeast cell surface glycoconjugates in vivo.
- Understanding beta-mannoside pathways is crucial for comprehending C. albicans pathogenesis.
- This research provides insights into the molecular basis of host-pathogen interactions.
