This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Scherrer, R. Articles by Gerhardt, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Scherrer, R. Articles by Gerhardt, P.

Porosity of the Yeast Cell Wall and Membrane¹

^a Department of Microbiology and Public Health, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824

ABSTRACT

The limiting sizes of molecules that can permeate the intact cell wall and protoplast membrane of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were determined from the inflection points in a triphasic pattern of passive equilibrium uptake values obtained with a series of inert probing molecules varying in molecular size. In the phase identified with the yeast protoplast, the uptake-exclusion threshold corresponded to a monodisperse ethylene glycol of molecular weight = 110 and Einstein-Stokes hydrodynamic radius (r_ES) = 0.42 nm. In the cell wall phase, the threshold corresponded to a polydisperse polyethylene glycol of number-average molecular weight ({macron}M_n) = 620 and average radius (r_ES) = 0.81 nm. The third phase corresponded to complete exclusion of larger molecules. The assessment of cell wall porosity was confirmed by use of a second method involving analytical gel chromatographic analyses of the molecular weight distribution for a single polydisperse polyglycol before and after uptake by the cells, which indicated a quasi-monodisperse threshold for the cell wall of M_n = 760 and r_ES = 0.89 nm. The results were reconciled with two situations in which much larger protein molecules previously have been reported able to penetrate the yeast cell wall.

² Present address: 49 Sandy Lane, Walnut Creek, Cal. 94596.

³ Present address: Kellogg Biological Station, Hickory Corners, Mich. 49060.

¹ Journal article no. 6318 of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Zhang, M., Liang, Y., Zhang, X., Xu, Y., Dai, H., Xiao, W. (2008). Deletion of Yeast CWP Genes Enhances Cell Permeability to Genotoxic Agents. Toxicol Sci 103: 68-76 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Simoes, T., Mira, N. P., Fernandes, A. R., Sa-Correia, I. (2006). The SPI1 Gene, Encoding a Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-Anchored Cell Wall Protein, Plays a Prominent Role in the Development of Yeast Resistance to Lipophilic Weak-Acid Food Preservatives. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72: 7168-7175 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Weig, M., Jansch, L., Gross, U., De Koster, C. G., Klis, F. M., De Groot, P. W. J. (2004). Systematic identification in silico of covalently bound cell wall proteins and analysis of protein-polysaccharide linkages of the human pathogen Candida glabrata. Microbiology 150: 3129-3144 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Russell, A. D. (2003). Similarities and differences in the responses of microorganisms to biocides. J Antimicrob Chemother 52: 750-763 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Jensen, K. A. Jr., Houtman, C. J., Ryan, Z. C., Hammel, K. E. (2001). Pathways for Extracellular Fenton Chemistry in the Brown Rot Basidiomycete Gloeophyllum trabeum. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 67: 2705-2711 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Kerem, Z., Bao, W., Hammel, K. E. (1998). Rapid polyether cleavage via extracellular one-electron oxidation by a brown-rot basidiomycete. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95: 10373-10377 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• O'Connor, C. J., Singh, R. M.D., Walde, P., Spedding, D. J. (1986). Effect of Temperature on the Uptake of 35S(-II) by Wine Yeasts. Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers 1: 335-347 [Abstract]  
• O'Connor, C. J., Singh, R. M.D., Walde, P., Spedding, D. J. (1986). The Effect of pH on the Uptake of 35S(-II) by Wine Yeasts. Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers 1: 181-197 [Abstract]