DEFINITIVE CHEMICAL EVIDENCE FOR THE CONSTITUTIVE ABILITY OF CANDIDA-ALBICANS SEROTYPE-A STRAINS TO SYNTHESIZE BETA-1,2 LINKED OLIGOMANNOSIDES CONTAINING UP TO 14 MANNOSE RESIDUES

We have previously reported the presence of phosphate bound beta-1,2 l inked oligomannosides with unusually high degrees of polymerization (D P > 7) in the mannan of Candida albicans strain VW32, To confirm this observation, we have prepared these oligomannosides from the mannan of C. albicans strain NIH A 207. Gel filtration chromatography and TLC a nalysis revealed DP up to 14. For both strains, NMR analysis confirmed the exclusive presence of beta-1,2 linkages in the pools of oligomann osides with a DP higher than 6 which presented an average DP of 10.6 ( VW32) and 10.4 (NIH A 207), These results are important to consider in relation with the ability of these C. albicans derived oligomannoside s to trigger TNF alpha synthesis according to their DP. (C) 1997 Feder ation of European Biochemical Societies.