GALACTOFURANOSE-CONTAINING GLYCOCONJUGATES IN TRYPANOSOMATIDS

Galactofuranose has been characterized in glycoinositolphospholipid (G IPL) anchor-like structures having a glycerolipid or a ceramide, as in lipopeptidophosphoglycan (LPPG) of Trypanosoma cruzi, in the oligosac charide core of lipophosphoglycan (LPG) of Leishmania species, and als o modifying high-mannose chains of trypanosomatid glycoproteins, Galac tofuranose is usually present linked beta 1-->3 to Man, either as a te rminal non-reducing unit, like in LPPG, or in the middle of the oligos accharide core, as in LPG, The presence in protozoan parasites of gala ctose in the furanose configuration is a feature which deserves furthe r attention since the mammalian hosts do not appear to produce glycoco njugates containing this structural unit For that reason, hosts produc e antibodies against galactofuranose, which may turn out to be importa nt in understanding the pathogenesis and in the development of diagnos tic methods, The metabolic pathways involved in the attachment to or r emoval of galactofuranose from glycoconjugates have not yet been eluci dated, This is an area of incipient research, but of growing importanc e, since it will foster the design of inhibitors which may prove to be useful for the treatment of disease.