Structural Variations in Schistosomal Glycans

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease inflicted by the digenetic blood flukes. Over the last decade, significant advance has been made in understanding the developmentally regulated glycosylation pattern of this parasitic trematode. Accumulating data indicate that the initial steps in N-glycosylation result in core structures similar to those well defined for the mammalian systems but the schistosomal glycans are distinguished by distinctive core modifications and variations in terminal fucosylated sequences. For the O-glycans, novel core type has been identified beside the conventional types 1 and 2. Several unusually long and complex O-glycan chains were found which are multifucosylated. In addition, the glycosphingolipids of Schistosoma mansoni appear to be based on a distinctive schisto-core and extended by unique structures. These advances toward a complete glycomic map of the parasitic schistosome are reviewed here.