Evolutionary Overview of Molecular Interactions and Enzymatic Activities in the Yeast Cell Walls.

Renata Teparić,Vladimir Mrša,Mateja Lozančić

doi:10.3390/ijms21238996

Renata Teparić, Vladimir Mrša + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21238996

Copy DOI

Abstract

Fungal cell walls are composed of a polysaccharide network that serves as a scaffold in which different glycoproteins are embedded. Investigation of fungal cell walls, besides simple identification and characterization of the main cell wall building blocks, covers the pathways and regulations of synthesis of each individual component of the wall and biochemical reactions by which they are cross-linked and remodeled in response to different growth phase and environmental signals. In this review, a survey of composition and organization of so far identified and characterized cell wall components of different yeast genera including Saccharomyces, Candida, Kluyveromyces, Yarrowia, and Schizosaccharomyces are presented with the focus on their cell wall proteomes.

Highlights

Fungal cell walls are composed of glucans (β-1,3, β-1,6, β-1,4- and α-1,3-glucans), chitin, and glycoproteins
Fungal cell walls are composed of a polysaccharide network that serves as a scaffold in which different glycoproteins are embedded
The cell wall of Kluyveromyces lactis is similar to this of S. cerevisiae with the outer layer formed of mannoproteins and the inner of glucan [15]. β-1,3-glucan builds up to 50% of cell wall dry weight, while chitin contributes with only 1–3% [16]

Summary

Introduction

Fungal cell walls are composed of glucans (β-1,3-, β-1,6-, β-1,4- and α-1,3-glucans), chitin, and glycoproteins. The same glucose, mannose, galactose pattern was found in Sz. pombe [1] It is not clear what additional physico-chemical or structural properties have been acquired by the incorporation of galactose in the cell wall but it should be noted that it requires additional enzymes. The yeast genomes contain a number of genes coding for glucanases and chitinases, often having overlapping functions [2] The glycosyltransferases have both synthetic and lytic activities, enabling them to cut molecules and attach them back, building polymers in an environment in which no external source of energy is present. An overview of enzymes and enzymatic activities that synthesize the carbohydrate part of cell walls of different yeasts is presented. An overview of current knowledge on wall proteomes of various yeasts is given

Composition and Synthesis of Carbohydrate Parts of Yeast Cell Walls

Enzymatic Activities Involved in Chitin Synthesis

Yeast Cell Wall Proteomes

Cell Wall Proteins with Enzyme Activities

Adhesins

Cell Wall Proteins with still Unidentified Functions

Findings

Conclusions