CHANGES IN THE CELL-WALL GLYCOPROTEIN COMPOSITION OF CANDIDA-ALBICANSASSOCIATED TO THE INHIBITION OF GERM TUBE FORMATION BY EDTA

Hyphal development in Candida albicans was blocked by EDTA. This effec t was not due to a general growth inhibition since the chelator did no t affect protein and DNA synthesis. Recovery of mycelial growth was ob served when EDTA-grown cells were incubated at 37 degrees C in EDTA-fr ee medium. High-molecular-weight mannoproteins (HMWM) that are myceliu m-specific wall components, and particularly a 260-kDa species (HMWM-2 60), were absent in the wall of cells grown under germination conditio ns in the presence of EDTA. Synthesis of the HMWM-260 species was not inhibited but its incorporation (secretion) into the wall structure se emed to be blocked in EDTA-treated cells.