Chitin Synthesis in Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)

Abstract

Chitin is a major structural component of fungal cell walls (Bartnicki-Garcia 1968; Cabib and Shematek 1981). In filamentous fungi, it contributes to the structure of both lateral walls and septa. In the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, it is mainly found in the primary septum, although a small amount appears to be dispersed throughout the cell wall (Molano et al. 1980; Horisberger and Vonlanthen 1977; Mol and Wessels 1987). This localization suggested that the formation of chitin and of the chitinous septum would make a good model for the study of mechanisms of morphogenesis. We approached this problem by investigating the synthesis of chitin at the molecular level in the hope that the mechanisms by which chitin synthetase activity is controlled would also be operative in regulating in vivo the formation of the structure supported by the polysaccharide.