Naslov
Biotechnology aspects of fungal cell wall

Autori
Mrša, V

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica: 1st Central European Forum for Microbiology / Marialigeti, K ; Sipos, R - Budimpešta : Akadémiai Kiadó, 2005

Skup
1st Central European Forum for Microbiology

Mjesto i datum
Keszthely, Mađarska, 26.10.2005. - 28.10.2005

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Pozvano predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
yeast; cell wall; cell wall proteins

Sažetak
Yeast cell wall is a complex biological structure consisting of a strong rigid polysaccharide network to which a number of different proteins are attached. Although its firmness allows osmotic pressures of up to 15 bar, fungal cell wall still possesses remarkable flexibility during growth, division, mating, or sporulation. The rigidity of the wall is due to properties of the major structural component  -1, 3-glucan which makes long unbranched chains with high hydrogen bonding potential. This moiety also serves to anchor two other polysaccharides,  -1, 6-glucan and chitin present in much smaller amounts, and up to 50 different proteins. Unusual versatility of cell wall proteins implies different roles and reactions taking place in the wall. Some are important for building up and maintaining the wall itself, while the others are required for the communication of the cell with its surrounding. Different proteins apparently require different ways of attachment to wall glucan. Some are attached to glucan noncovalently and can be extracted from the wall by hot SDS. The second group comprises proteins bound covalently to  -1, 6-glucan through GPI-anchors and they can be released from the wall by glucanases while the third group, so called Pir-proteins, is attached also covalently by a so far unexplained mechanism. Understanding targeting signals and biochemical reactions by which proteins are directed to and embedded into the cell wall provides tools for exposure of heterologous proteins at the yeast cell surface which can have different interesting biotechnological applications. Exact biochemical role of most cell wall proteins is still not known. Different mutants lacking individual wall proteins or groups of proteins are constructed and their phenotype was studied. All mutants were viable and did not require osmotic stabilization but some showed increased mortality, particularly in stationary cells. Among noncovalently bound proteins which are believed to be involved in expanding and changing the wall some were found to act synergistically, while others show antagonistic functions. Equilibrium of these activities could explain the flexibility of the cell wall and agents interfering with it could act as potential antifungals.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biotehnologija

POVEZANOST RADA