The membrane fluidity of reduced-amphotericin B (AmB)-sensitivity Kluyveromyces lactis mutant strain is higher than that of the wild-type K. lactis strain. After culture of the K. lactis and K. lactis mutant cells in the presence of subinhibitory doses of AmB (10 and 125 mg/liter, respectively), the plasma membranes of both yeast strains also showed a higher fluidity than did those of control cells. High membrane fluidity was associated with changes in the structural properties of the membranes. Culture of the K. lactis and K. lactis mutant cells in the presence of AmB induced changes in membrane lipid contents. In particular, phospholipid contents were increased in both strains treated with AmB, compared with their corresponding counterparts. As a result, the sterol/phospholipid ratio decreased. The relative proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids also increased after AmB treatment. The saturated fatty acid/monounsaturated fatty acid ratio decreased in K. lactis and K. lactis mutant cells treated with AmB but also in K. lactis mutant control cells compared to that in the K. lactis wild strain. These changes in lipid composition explain the higher fluidity, which could represent a process of metabolic resistance of the yeasts to AmB.Antifungal heptaen amphotericin B (AmB) is presently considered the "gold standard" for the intravenous chemotherapy of deep fungal infections in spite of its secondary effects (24). This antibiotic has been a therapeutic agent since 1956, but its mode of action at the molecular level has not been totally elucidated. Various interaction models with membrane sterols have been proposed. However, the most recent models are based on the formation of stable complexes not only with sterols but also with membrane phospholipids whose interactions induce pore formation (1, 6).AmB was isolated from Streptomyces nodosus cultures by Gold et al. (9). It is a polyene belonging to the macrolide family, and its molecular conformation is closed to phospholipid molecules. This antifungal agent possesses a hydrophobic part (hydrocarbon chain) and a hydrophilic part (polyhydroxyl chain); its amphipathic properties allow interactions with the membrane after diffusion through the yeast cell wall. Its interaction with membrane constituents (14,16,18) provokes the formation of pores responsible for several reactions, such as lipid oxidations and peroxidations, inhibition of membrane enzymes (3, 4), osmotic shocks, and, finally, cell death (32).Yeast resistance to antifungal agents, mainly azol derivatives, is a well-known phenomenon. Yeast cells with reduced sensitivity to AmB have been isolated from patients (24, 29). Horsburgh et al. (13) and Hakkou et al. (11) also isolated a Candida lusitaniae strain and a Kluyveromyces lactis strain, respectively, with reduced sensitivity to AmB. The reduced sensitivity of the strains either may stem from changes in the membrane chemical properties which may result from mutations or may be induced by the antifungal agent itself. The alterations of the membrane may al...