The Biosynthetic Pathway of 1,6-Branched β-(1,3)-Glucan, the Biopolymer That Constitutes the Core Structure of Fungal Cell Walls

Abstract

The cell wall is the outermost layer of the fungal cell. The fungal cell wall, which is primarily composed of polysaccharides, is a structure that plays important roles in proliferation and morphogenesis, which are essential for the survival of fungi. Furthermore, the molecular patterns of these cell wall polysaccharides are unique to fungi; accordingly, these biopolymers are used as molecular targets in the development of antimycotic drugs with minimal adverse effects. Nonetheless, the fact that the biosynthetic pathways and mechanisms by which fungal cell walls are constructed remain unclear is a barrier to the rational design of antimycotics. This review is focused on the biosynthesis of 1,6-branched β-(1,3)-glucan, the polysaccharide that constitutes the core structure of fungal cell walls.