Analysis of Cell Wall Sugars in the Pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus and the Saprophyte Aspergillus nidulans

Sugars from cell walls of Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus nidulans were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. The walls of both fungi contain similar levels of glucose, galactose, and mannose. A. fumigatus walls contain 50% less N-acetylglucosamine than A. nidulans walls. In addition, N-acetylgalactosamine is present at low levels in the walls of A. fumigatus and absent in the walls of A. nidulans.