Mag fura staining of fungi

Mag fura is a fluorescent stain that can be used to identify those parts of filamentous fungi that have active cell membranes. As the stain is held wi thin the chitin of the cell wall, where it responds to locally high concent rations of divalent ions being transported across the cell membrane. This h as now been tested on a broad range of fungi, including four filamentous sp ecies and three yeasts. The characteristic response of the stain appeared i n areas of the cell wall where chitin might be localised. This supports the hypothesis, as well as extending the range of use of this stain.