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Membrane Permeability and the Loss of Germination Factor from Neurospora crassa at Low Water Activities

¹ Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91109

ABSTRACT

Neurospora crassa conidia incubating in buffer at low water activities (a_w) release a germination-essential component as well as 260-nm absorbing and ninhydrin-positive materials, regardless of whether an electrolyte or non-electrolyte is used to reduce a_w. Chloroform and antibiotics known to increase cell-membrane permeability have a similar effect. This suggests that membrane damage occurs in media of low a_w and that an increase in permeability is responsible for the release of cellular components. The damage caused in media of low a_w is nonlethal in most cases, and the conidia recover when transferred to nutrient medium.