Quantitative Estimation of Chitin in Fungi

Blumenthal, Harold J.; Roseman, Saul

doi:10.1128/jb.74.2.222-224.1957

Cited by 100 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…One of the major differences between H. capsulatum YP and MP centered around chitin, its content and its structural relationship with glucose in the walls. As expected, the chitin content of S. cerevisiae was very low; unexpectedly, the chitin content of H. capsulatum MP was quite low compared to that of the YP, contrary to what one would have anticipated from previous work with yeasts and mycelial forms of other fungi (2,6,21,22,24,27). In the MP, in contrast to the YP, part of the glucose was intimately associated with chitin, since enzymatic hydrolysis of residues after acid hydrolysis caused the release of glucose as well as of acetylglucosamine.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 45%

Comparative Study of the Cell Walls of the Yeastlike and Mycelial Phases ofHistoplasma capsulatum

1967

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Cell walls were prepared from the yeastlike and mycelial phases (YP and MP) of Histoplasma capsulatum and from Saccharomyces cerevisiae by mechanical disruption and washing. Lipids were extracted with methanol-ether, chloroform, and acidified methanol:ether; a final extraction was made with ethylenediamine. The lipid contents of H. capsulatum YP and MP walls were about the same. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were made of the products obtained from treatment of the cell walls, or fractions from them, with weak acid or with enzymatic preparations containing glucanase and chitinase activities. YP walls contained much larger quantities of chitin and smaller quantities of mannose and amino acids than the MP walls. H. capsulatum MP was shown to resemble S. cerevisiae by low chitin content and by the presence of a mannose polymer, soluble in ethylenediamine and water. H. capsulatum MP chitin appeared to be intimately associated with glucose in the wall, since enzymatic hydrolysis of the residue after mild acid hydrolysis of cell walls or fractions from them resulted in the release of glucose and acetylglucosamine; only acetylglucosamine was released from YP walls with such treatment. By electron microscopic observations, the unextracted MP cell walls were much thinner than the YP, and neither wall appeared laminated.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 45%

Comparative Study of the Cell Walls of the Yeastlike and Mycelial Phases ofHistoplasma capsulatum

1967

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“…Purification of the samples and hydrolysis of the chitin was performed according to the procedure used by BLUMENTHAL and ROSEMAN (1957) with a few small modifications.…”

Section: Estimation Of Chitinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphogenesis and Biochemical Processes in Schizophyllum Commune Fr.

Wessels

1965

Wentia

142

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The investigation concerns a first attempt to unravel biochemical patterns of significance for morphogenesis in S. commune. The results derive from two different stocks: one with wild morphology, the other exhibiting an impairment of pileus formation. Some morphological and genetical features of the stocks are discussed. A special culture technique allowed fair synchronization and control of development via the medium. This technique is based on the fact that differentiation can be prevented by cultivation in a thiamine‐free medium. Measured changes in protein, RNA, DNA, and soluble cell constituents during thiamine‐induced primordia formation yielded some information concerning the first steps of differentiation. Primordial growth was found to depend upon transport of nitrogenous compounds from the mycelium and the presence of a carbon source in the medium. Most of the assimilated glucose is deposited as polysaccharides in the cell walls of the primordia. Chemical analysis of the cell walls demonstrated that they are mainly composed of two different glucans, called here S‐ and R‐glucan, some properties of which were investigated. Pileus formation was shown to occur without the uptake of nutrients from the medium and to depend upon the withdrawal of substances from stunted fructifications and stroma in particular. Comparison of the two investigated stocks provided strong support for a causal relationship between degradation of the cell‐wall glucans and pileus formation. An analysis was made of respiration and fermentation during development; some findings probably bearing upon the problem of morphogenesis are discussed.

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“…Cell Wall.--Exteusive chemical and structural studies of N. crassa cell wall have not been made. Such information as is available indicates that chitin is a significant constituent (15,16). N. crassa cell walls are strongly positive with the periodic acid-Schiff test for polysaccharides and the chitosan test for chitin.…”

Section: Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%