The structure of Cryptococcus neoformans galactoxylomannan contains β-d-glucuronic acid

The structure of galactoxylomannan, a capsular polysaccharide from the opportunistic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans, was re-examined by NMR spectroscopy and GC–MS. The residue that is 3-linked to the side chain galactose and was previously assigned as β-d-xylose [Vaishnav, V. V.; Bacon, B. E.; O’Neill, M.; Cherniak, R. Carbohydr. Res.1998, 306, 315–330] was determined to be β-d-glucuronic acid. A revised structure for this polymer is presented, along with a proposal that this compound be termed glucuronoxylomannogalactan (GXMGal).

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