Glucomannan from Candida utilis. Structural investigation.

Structure of the glucomannan isolated from the cell walls of Candida utilis has been investigated using acetolysis fragmentation, methylation analysis and NMR spectroscopy. The structure of the glucomannan resembles that of the cellular mannans of other Candida species, except that the longer tetra- and pentassacharide side-chains are terminated with a glucosyl residue. Presence of the nonreducing glucosyl groups at the ends of the side-chains caused the C. utilis not to cross-react in a double immunodiffusion test with other Candida species that possess mannan antigens and cross-react with Hansenula species with glucomannan antigens.