PROTEIN-SYNTHESIS PATTERNS OF PARACOCCIDIOIDES-BRASILIENSIS ISOLATES IN STAGE-SPECIFIC FORMS AND DURING CELLULAR-DIFFERENTIATION

In this paper we compared the protein synthesis patterns of Paracoccid ioides brasiliensis isolates. The protein profiles were compared for b oth yeast and mycelial forms and similarity analysis among them was pe rformed by calculating similarity matrices and grouping the isolates i n dendrograms. The examined isolates exhibited highly variable cellula r morphology at 36 degrees C, when typical yeast cells were expected. On the other hand, at 26 degrees C all the isolates showed mycelial mo rphology. The analysis of protein synthesis profiles made it possible to cluster the P. brasiliensis isolates into groups that correlated wi th the morphological data. Interestingly, growth at 36 degrees C stron gly decreased the heterogeneity of protein synthesis patterns seen in mycelial isolates. It was possible to cluster the isolates grown at 36 degrees C in three groups based on their two-dimensional protein synt hesis analysis. The similarity index observed among the mycelial isola tes was lower than that obtained with yeast cells, suggesting a more h omogeneous gene expression pattern in the host-adapted form than in th e saprobic phase.