INITIAL STEPS OF WALL PROTOPLAST REGENERATION IN CANDIDA-ALBICANS

Cell wall regeneration of individual Candida albicans yeast and myceli al protoplasts was studied with confocal and electron microscopy using polyclonal antibodies and lectins. Quantitative measurements of the f luorescence emitted by individual protoplasts during the process of re generation indicate that chitin is the first polymer to be laid down, whereas beta(1,3)- and beta(1,6)glucan are incorporated at a later sta ge. Mannoproteins were found on the surface of fresh protoplasts and t hose newly synthesized were then deposited with time. During the first steps of wall regeneration, the proteins that interacted covalently w ith chitin or glucan were different, but the same species were found l inked to each polymer in yeast and mycelial regenerating forms. The ag gregates formed by regenerating protoplasts were shown to be due to th e chitin and mannoprotein network initially laid.