PRELIMINARY CHARACTERIZATION OF THE MATERIAL RELEASED TO THE CULTURE-MEDIUM BY CANDIDA-ALBICANS YEAST AND MYCELIAL CELLS

Culture filtrate concentrates were obtained from Candida albicans yeas t and mycelial cells grown in the presence of C-14-protein hydrolysate for radioactive labeling of cellular polypeptides. Both growth forms released to the medium minor but significant amounts of proteinaceous materials. The analysis of culture filtrate concentrates by means of S DS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography revealed a simi lar and complex electrophoretic pattern, though some qualitative and q uantitative differences between samples obtained from yeast and myceli al cells were observed. Materials released, mostly composed of mannopr oteins as shown by their affinity towards concanavalin A, presented (i ) cross-reactivity (by Western immunoblotting and ELISA) against polyc lonal antisera to genuine cell wall components (among them the 58-kilo dalton fibrinogen-binding mannoprotein) and (ii) high affinity for pol ystyrene-latex microbeads. Results presented suggest a possible common identity for the molecules shed to the medium and the cell wall prote in and mannoprotein constituents.