Glucosylceramides in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides are involved in the differentiation of conidia into mycelial cells

Abstract Glucosylceramides (GlcCer) were extracted from the plant pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and purified by several chromatographic steps. By using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance, GlcCer from C. gloeosporioides were identified as N -2′-hydroxyoctadecanoyl-1-β- D -glucopyranosyl-9-methyl-4,8-sphingadienine and N -2′-hydroxyoctadecenoyl-1-β- D -glucopyranosyl-9-methyl-4,8-sphingadienine. Monoclonal antibodies against these structures were produced and used as tools for the evaluation of the role of GlcCer in the morphological transition of C. gloeosporioides . In the presence of antibodies to GlcCer, the differentiation of conidia into mycelia was blocked. Since GlcCer is present in several plant pathogens, the inhibitory activity of external ligands recognizing these structures may be applicable in other models of fungal infections.