Recent Advances in the Biosynthesis of Galactomannan in Filamentous Fungi: A Potential Target for Antifungal Drug Development

Abstract

Aspergillus fumigatus, a pathogenic filamentous fungus, possesses a distinctive surface polysaccharide known as galactomannan that comprises mannose and galactofuranose residues. Although galactomannan is less abundant than other polysaccharides, such as chitin and β-glucans, its functional importance is evident: deletion of genes encoding enzymes involved in galactomannan biosynthesis leads to pronounced growth defects. These findings underscore the critical role of galactomannan in maintaining cell wall integrity. In this review, we describe the recent advances in our understanding of galactomannan biosynthesis in filamentous fungi.