Regenerating spheroplasts of Candida albicans formed organized glucan nets in liquid culture. The nets consisted of interwoven microfibrils about 50 nm wide, but of an undetermined length. Partial acid hydrolysis of the polysaccharide showed the presence of chains of β(1→3)- and β(1→6)-linked glucose residues, but no intrachain β(1→3) andβ(1→6) linkages. Periodate oxidation and GLC of the methylated glucan indicated a highly branched polymer (9·5% branch points). Sequential enzymic degradation of the isolated nets confirmed the presence of chains of β(1→3)- and β(1→6)-linked glucose residues. Degradation by β(1→3) and β(1→6)β-glucanase released 23% (w/w) and 30% (w/w) respectively of the carbohydrate as glucose equivalents. The residual material was degraded by chitinase. Equal amounts of N-acetylglucosamine and glucose equivalents were detected in the chitinase hydrolysate, suggesting a possible linkage between glucan and chitin. Our data indicate that the cell wall of C. albicans contains at least two highly branched glucans with predominantly β(1→3) or β(1→6) linkages.
AspinallG. O., FerrierR. J.1957; A spectro-photometric method for the determination of periodate consumed during the oxidation of carbohydrates. Chemistry and Industry1216
BishopC. T., BlankF., GardnerP. E.1960; The cell wall polysaccharides of Candida albicans: glucan, mannanand chitin. Canadian Journal of Chemistry 38:869–881
CassoneA., KerridgeD., GaleE. F.1979; Ultrastructuralchanges in the cell wall of Candida albicans following cessation of growth and their possible relationship to the development of polyene resistance. Journal of General Microbiology 110:339–349
ConradH. E.1972; Methylation of carbohydrates with methylsulfinyl anion and methyl iodide in dimethylsulfoxide. Methylation of Aerobacter aerogenesA3(S1) capsular polysaccharide and 3-O-α-d-glucopyranosyluronic acid-d-mannose. Methods in Carbohydrate Chemistry 6:361–364
DuboisM., GillesK. A., HamiltonJ. K., RebersP. A., SmithF.1956; Colorimetric method for determination of sugars and related substances. Analytical Chemistry 28:350–356
FleetG. H., MannersD. J.1977; The enzymic degradation of an alkali-soluble glucan from the cell walls of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Journal of General Microbiology 98:315–327
GopalP., SullivanP. A., ShepherdM. G.1984; Metabolism of [14C]glucose by regenerating spheroplasts of Candida albicans. Journal of General Microbiology 130:325–335
HakomoriS.-I.1964; A rapid permethylation of glycolipid and polysaccharide catalyzed by methylsulfinyl carbanion in dimethylsulfoxide. Journal of Biochemistry 55:205–208
KitamuraK., YamamotoY.1972; Purification and properties of an enzyme, Zymolyase, which lyses viable yeast cells. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 153:403–406
KregerD. R., KopeckÁM.1975; On the nature and formation of the fibrillar nets produced by protoplasts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in liquid media: an electronmicroscopic, X-ray diffraction and chemical study. Journal of General Microbiology 92:207–220
MannersD. J., MassonA. J., PattersonJ. C., BjorndalH., LindbergB.1973b; The structure of a β-(1→6)-d-glucan from yeast cell walls. Biochemical Journal 135:31–36
RamS., BeyerR., ShepherdM. G., SullivanP. A.1981; Isolation and analysis of neutral glucans from Eckloniaradiata and Cystophora scalaris. Carbohydrate Research 96:95–104
ReesD. A.1973; Polysaccharide conformation. In Carbohydrates (MTP International Review of Science: Organic Chemistry, series I 7 pp. 251–283AspinallG. O. Edited by London:: Butterworths.;
ReissigJ. L., StromingerJ. L., LeloirL. F.1955; A modified colorimetric method for the estimation of A-acetylamino sugars. Journal of Biological Chemistry 217:959–966
ShepherdM. G., SullivanP. A.1976; The production and growth characteristics of yeast and mycelial forms of Candida albicansin continuous culture. Journal of General Microbiology 93:361–370
ShepherdM. G., TongC. C., ColeA. L.1981; Substrate specificity and mode of action of the cellulases from the thermophilic fungus Thermoascus aurantiacus. Biochemical Journal 193:67–74
SietsmaJ. H., WesselsJ. G. H. 1981; Solubility of (1→3)-β-d/(1→6)-β-d-glucan in fungal walls: importance of presumed linkage between glucan and chitin. Journal of General Microbiology 125:209–212
SullivanP. A., ChiewY. Y., MolloyC., TempletonM. D., ShepherdM. G.1983; An analysis of the metabolism and cell wall composition of Candida albicans during germ-tube formation. Canadian Journal of Biochemistry 29:1514–1525
YuR. T., BishopC. T., CooperF. P., HasencleverH. F., BlankF.1967; Structural studies of mannans from Candida albicans (Serotypes A and B), Candida parapsilosis, Candida stellatoidea and Candida tropicalis. Canadian Journal of Chemistry 45:2205–2211