STATUS OF MEMBRANE-LIPIDS AND AMINO-ACID-TRANSPORT IN MORPHOLOGICAL MUTANTS OF CANDIDA-ALBICANS

The phospholipid composition of various morphological mutants of Candi da albicans revealed a complete absence of phosphatidylinositol (PI) f rom plasma membranes of those cells which completely lacked mycelial g rowth. No other phospholipid was found to be specific to morphogenesis . The plasma membrane fractions isolated from mutants were more rigid than its wild type as was evident from their unsaturation index and fl uorescence polarization measurements. The enhanced membrane rigidity o f mutant cells was noted regardless whether the cells could grow only as mycelia or in their budding forms. Although some amino acids are co nsidered to affect the morphological transition of C. albicans, this w as not reflected in the transport activities of L-proline, L-alanine, L-lysine and L-glutamic acid.