DENSITY OF LECTIN-LIKE RECEPTORS IN THE FLO1 PHENOTYPE OF SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE

An improved lectin assay was recently developed to determine the densi ty of lectin sites present on the surface of a haploid strain 1209 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae exhibiting the Flo1 phenotype. The assay is b ased on the use of FITC-avidin which contains a mannose side chain whi ch functions as a binding site to the cell wall lectins termed zymolec tins. An examination of the effect of culture time on the zymolectin d ensity indicated no significant effect (P > 0.05) confirming other fin dings that Flo1 acts in a constitutive manner. Zymolectin densities fo r this strain averaged 5.4 x 10(6) sites cell(-1).