Autolytic Enzymes in Fungal Cell Walls

Abstract

SUMMARYAutolytic glucanase and protease activity was detected in cell walls of some pythium species prepared by ultrasonic treatment. The glucanase activity was correlated with mycelial development. Maximal glucose release was detected in growing cultures during the linear growth period of the fungus. Assays of glucanase activity in cell walls prepared from mycelium harvested at different times showed that the enzymic activity increased with the age of mycelium from which the cell walls were prepared. The relationship between autolytic enzymes and mycelial development is discussed.

Characterization of β-N-acetylhexosaminidase (LeHex20A), a member of glycoside hydrolase family 20, from Lentinula edodes shiitake mushroom)

“…Some mycoparasitic fungi such as Trichoderma species produce extracellular chitinolytic enzymes for degradation of host cell walls during their mycoparasitic attack (Carsolio et al 1994; Peterbauer et al 1996; Seidl et al 2006). On the other hand, some fungal chitinolytic enzymes act on their own cell walls during changes in morphology, which are an essential process in the fungal cell cycle (Mitchell and Sabar 1966; Seiler and Plamann 2003). For example, some chitinases (Rast et al 1991; Shin et al 2009) and β- N -acetylhexosaminidases (Cannon et al 1994; Kim et al 2002) from filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus and Mucor species are suggested to have roles in processes such as hyphal autolysis, growth and branching.…”

A Β-glucan endo-hydrolase fromSchizosaccharomyces pombe and its role in cell wall growth

“…The growth of the cell wall of bacteria (Shockman, 1965;Ghuysen, 1968) and fungi (Mitchell and Sabar, 1966;Mahadevan and Mahadkar, 1970), and of the primary wall of plant cells (Lamport, 1970) has been postulated to involve the concerted action of hydrolytic and biosynthetic enzymes, the hydrolytic enzymes creating regions within the existing polymeric system for the insertion of newly synthesised cell wall material. There is evidence that a similar mechanism may be operative in the cell wall g~owth of a number of yeasts.…”

In Vitro Autolysis of Plant Cell Walls

“…Atutolvtic (legradation of cell walls (lulring the coulrse of normal growth andl development of hacteria (1, 17), ftungi (11), anid higher plants (13) is well established. For activity.…”