ISSN:
1432-072X
Keywords:
Precursor incorporation
;
Fluorescein-conjugated lectins
;
Lichen fungus cultures
;
Cell wall components
;
Chitin
;
Xanthoria parietina
;
Tornabenia intricata
;
Sarcogyne sp.
;
Trichoderma viride
;
Phytophthora citrophthora
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract The hyphal walls of three mycobionts, isolated from the lichens Xanthoria parietina, Tornabenia intricata and Sarcogyne sp. were investigated by two techniques: microautoradiography of fungal colonies exposed to radioactive carbohydrate precursors; and binding, in vivo, of fluorescein conjugated lectins to hyphal walls of such colonies. N-[3H] acetylglucosamine was readily incorporated into tips, young hyphal walls and septa of the three mycobionts and the free-living fungus Trichoderma viride, but not into Phytophthora citrophthora, indicating that chitin is a major component of the mycobionts' hyphal walls. All three mycobionts, but neither of the free-living fungi, incorporated [3H] mannose and [3H] mannitol into their hyphal walls. Fluorescein-conjugated wheat germ agglutinin was bound to the hyphal walls of the three mycobionts and T. viride, but not to the walls of P. citrophthora; the binding pattern was similar to the grain pattern obtained in autoradiographs after short N-[3H] acetylglucosamine labelling. As wheat germ agglutinin binds specifically to chitin oligomers, the lectin binding tests further confirmed that chitin is a mycobiont hyphal wall component. Binding characteristics of several fluorescein-conjugated lectins to the three mycobionts indicated that this technique can yield useful information concerning the chemical composition of hyphal wall surfaces.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00425087
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