Secretion of the 43 kDa glycoprotein antigen by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

Yeast forms of the pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis secrete into the culture supernatant a 43,000 daltons glycoprotein (Gp43) which can be immunoprecipitated specifically by sera from patients with paracoccidioidomycosis. We show here that following labelling of P. brasiliensis with (35S)methionine, Gp43 was detected as the major component in the culture supernatant fluid as early as 1 hour after addition of the radiolabel. The amount of Gp43, as determined by a competitive radioimmunoassay, or by staining total protein after sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, progressively increased in the culture supernatant until the culture reached the late exponential phase. It then decreased and continued to do so in the stationary phase. These results indicate that Gp43 is continuously produced and secreted in the medium by actively growing yeasts and that cultures in the exponential phase of growth should be used for a maximal yield of this exocellular antigen.