Structure of a complex phosphoglycan epitope from gp72 of Trypanosoma cruzi

Abstract

Background: Trypanosoma cruzi expresses a highly immunogenic carbohydrate epitope in glycoprotein gp72. Results: The epitope structure was solved usingNMRand mass spectrometry and shown to be a phosphosaccharide, containing L-rhamnopyranose, L-fucopyranose, D-galactopyranose, D-galactofuranose, D-xylopyranose, and N-acetylglucosamine. Conclusion: This is one of the most complex eukaryotic protein-linked carbohydrate structures yet described. Significance: gp72 has been implicated in parasite differentiation, flagellar adhesion, and insect infectivity. © 2013 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.