K. Bramono et al., A CARBOHYDRATE-DEGRADING ENZYME FROM CANDIDA-ALBICANS - CORRELATION BETWEEN ALPHA-GLUCOSIDASE ACTIVITY AND FUNGAL GROWTH, Mycoses, 38(9-10), 1995, pp. 349-353
Attempts to detect inducible carbohydrate-degrading enzymes from C. al
bicans were performed using carbohydrate-restricted media. Although al
pha-amylase (polysaccharide hydrolase) was not induced from media cont
aining starch or dextrin, alpha-glucosidase (disaccharide hydrolase) w
as induced from maltose-containing medium. alpha-Glucosidase activity
was detected from the intact cells in suspension and from the supernat
ant of both spheroplasted and mechanically broken cells, but not from
the media. Enzyme activity in intact cells was pH independent and incr
eased during logarithmic growth phase and in media containing lower co
ncentrations of maltose. The addition of 5 mM 1-deoxynojirimycin, a co
mpetitive inhibitor of alpha-glucosidase, suppressed fungal growth by
more than 50%. These results suggest that alpha-glucosidase activity i
s crucial for fungal growth in medium containing maltose as a sole car
bon source.