Acid phosphatase localization in the fungus Whetzelinia sclerotiorum

Abstract

Acid phosphatase was localized by light and electron microscopy in chains of vacuoles in hyphal tip cells of Whetzelinia sclerotiorum. The enzyme was present in these vacuoles whether or not conditions favored extracellular acid phosphatase secretion. Apical vesicles, microbodies, Woronin bodies, and lipid bodies did not contain acid phosphatase. The implications regarding terminology of organelles in filamentous fungi are discussed with special reference to the fungal spherosome concept.

Enzymology of Tip Growth in Fungi

“…In contrast, Hänssler et al (1975), with Scierotium rolfsii, report subapical localization of staining, concentrated 30-200 μιη from the hyphal apex, as does Nagasaki (1968) for Aspergillus niger. Electron-microscopic cytochemical studies by Hänssler et al (1975), Armentrout et al (1976), and Maxwell et al (1978) with S. rolfsii, Whetzelinia scierotiorum (= Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) and Pythium parvecandrum, respectively, report lack of acid phosphatase in apical vesicles, it being present instead in subapical vacuoles of diameter -0.5 μπι, usually occurring in longitudinal chains. In contrast, studies by Dargent and Denisse (1976) and Hill and Mullins (1980b) with Achlya bisexualis and Achlya ambisexualis, respectively, report distinct staining of some of the apical vesicles.…”

Isolation and characterization of vesicles involved in hyphal tip growth of Achlya / by Terry William Hill.

“…Acid phosphatase has traditionally been considered a lysosomal enzyme (Wattiaux, 1969); and it is found in various fungal vesicles, which may be lysosomes (Armentrout et al_. , 1976), though in many fungi it seems to be an enzyme of larger cellular vacuoles (Matile, 1971).…”