INTERACTIONS OF PROTEINS WITH OTHER WALL COMPONENTS - A PIVOTAL STEP IN FUNGAL CELL-WALL CONSTRUCTION

Following synthesis of its individual components, the cell wall of Can dida albicans is assembled extracellularly in two steps. First, a visc oelastic composite is formed by noncovalent interactions between manno proteins and other wall components. Second, the initial network is con solidated by formation of covalent cross-linkages among the wall polym ers. In both processes, specific proteins may regulate the final yeast or mycelial morphology. These proteins might carry out part of what c ould be called a morphogenetic code. Experimental results have shown t hat some mannoproteins form supramolecular complexes. They are secrete d independently, but released together from cell walls by hydrolases. In C. albicans cell walls a transglutaminase activity has been detecte d that could be responsible for the formation of covalent bonds betwee n structural proteins.