Molecular architecture of chitin and chitosan-dominated cell walls in zygomycetous fungal pathogens by solid-state NMR

Abstract

Zygomycetous fungal infections pose an emerging medical threat among individuals with compromised immunity and metabolic abnormalities. Our pathophysiological understanding of these infections, particularly the role of fungal cell walls in growth and immune response, remains limited. Here we conducted multidimensional solid-state NMR analysis to examine cell walls in five Mucorales species, including key mucormycosis causative agents like Rhizopus and Mucor species. We show that the rigid core of the cell wall primarily comprises highly polymorphic chitin and chitosan, with minimal quantities of β-glucans linked to a specific chitin subtype. Chitosan emerges as a pivotal molecule preserving hydration and dynamics. Some proteins are entrapped within this semi-crystalline chitin/chitosan layer, stabilized by the sidechains of hydrophobic amino acid residues, and situated distantly from β-glucans. The mobile domain contains galactan- and mannan-based polysaccharides, along with polymeric α-fucoses. Treatment with the chitin synthase inhibitor nikkomycin removes the β-glucan-chitin/chitosan complex, leaving the other chitin and chitosan allomorphs untouched while simultaneously thickening and rigidifying the cell wall. These findings shed light on the organization of Mucorales cell walls and emphasize the necessity for a deeper understanding of the diverse families of chitin synthases and deacetylases as potential targets for novel antifungal therapies.

Pathogenic Mucorales fungi are common in immunocompromised. Here, Cheng et al. determine the molecular architecture of their chitin/chitosan-rich cell walls and the restructuring that occurs in response to the chitin inhibitor nikkomycin.