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Biosynthesis of β-glucans in fungi

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Abstract

Glucans are the most abundant polysaccharides present in fungi. The present review provides updated information on the structure and synthesis of β-glucans in fungal cells. Synthesis of these polymers made up of B1,3 chains with a variable degree of B1,6 branching involves several reactions: initiation, chain elongation and branching, of which the most studied one is the elongation step. This reaction, catalyzed by the so-called glucan synthetases, utilizes UDPG as sugar donor. Properties of glucan synthetases are extremely variable depending on the fungal species, and their developmental stage. Because of the importance of these polysaccharides it is anticipated that comprehension of their mechanism of synthesis, is important for the understanding of cell wall assembly and cell growth and morphogenesis, as well as for the design of specific antifungal drugs.

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Abbreviations

UDPG:

uridine-diphospho-glucose

GDPG:

guanosine-diphospho-glucose

ADPG:

adenosine-diphospho-glucose

MW:

molecular weight

mic:

minimal inhibitory concentration

d.p.:

degree of polymerization

PAGE:

polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

SDS:

sodium dodecyl sulfate

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  1. Departamento de Genética y Biologia Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Irapuato, Gto., México

    José Ruiz-Herrera

  2. Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Irapuato, Gto., México

    José Ruiz-Herrera

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Ruiz-Herrera, J. Biosynthesis of β-glucans in fungi. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 60, 73–81 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00572695

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