ATOMIC COMPOSITION OF THE HYDROPHOBIC AND HYDROPHILIC MEMBRANE SIDES OF SELF-ASSEMBLED SC3P HYDROPHOBIN

The hydrophobin SC3p of Schizophyllum commune self-assembles into a 10 -nm-thick amphipathic membrane at hydrophilic-hydrophobic interfaces. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the hydrophobic membrane side of S C3p, assembled in vitro, showed an atomic composition similar to the c alculated composition of SC3p when glycosylation was taken into accoun t. The atomic composition measured at the hydrophilic membrane side de viated from that at the hydrophobic side and indicated the presence of a lower number of peptide bonds. High levels of S and N were detected only on mycelia carrying hydrophobic aerial hyphae, as expected with assembled SC3p present at the surface of these hyphae.