Media-induced departures from the usual, temperature-dependent cell shapes of Sporothrix schenckii and concomitant changes in the acid phosphatase isoenzyme patterns.
Sporothrix schenckii grew as mycelia at 20 degrees C or yeast at 35 degrees C on a common culture medium, YNG (yeast extract, neopeptone and glucose), in agreement with previous observations that standard media support the mycelial phase at the lower temperature and the yeast phase at the higher temperature. Special media, M-1 and M-2, were used to generate yeast at 20 degrees C and mycelia at 35 degrees C, respectively, i.e. the reverse of the typically-observed, temperature-dependent phases. In this context the M-1 induced (or forced) generation of yeast cells at 20 degrees C was judged to be abnormal yet these cells had a typical yeast ultrastructure including the definitive microfibrillar zone of the cell envelope. Electropherograms of extracts of these cells (M-1 at 20 degrees C) displayed the typical acid phosphatase isoenzyme pattern of yeast grown at 35 degrees C, and that is much more complicated than the typical pattern for extracts of mycelia grown at 20 degrees C on YNG. On the other hand the fungus was held in the mycelial phase on M-2 at 35 degrees C, at least for short term cultures, to complement the study and provide a departure from the cell shape which is expected at the higher temperature. These mycelia were judged to be ultrastructurally abnormal in that they had a thin microfibrillar zone not previously seen in S. schenckii mycelia produced on standard media at lower temperatures. The cell-free extract of these abnormal mycelia grown at 35 degrees C exhibited an isoenzyme pattern which was closer to that of yeast grown at 35 degrees C than to mycelia grown at 20 degrees C, although one isoenzyme showed intermediate electrophoretic mobility. The findings with M-2 medium at 35 degrees C were less meaningful because of the eventual conversion to yeast phase. Overall the results indicate an association between acid phosphatase isoenzyme pattern and cell shape, rather than simply an expression of the various acid phosphatases with growth temperature.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City 66103.
W N
WN
Arnold
L C
LC
Mann
R G
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Garrison
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement; D003470:Culture Media; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D013175:Sporothrix / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013696:Temperature
D003470:Culture Media; D007527:Isoenzymes; D000135:Acid Phosphatase