title: Relation between cell wall chitin content and susceptibility to amphotericin B in Kluyveromyces, Candida and Schizosaccharomyces species.
abstract: Yeast strains belonging to the genera Candida, Kluyveromyces and Schizosaccharomyces were tested for their susceptibility (or resistance) to amphotericin B (AmB) in relation to their cell wall chitin content. Results showed that membrane sterol contents did not enable us to explain resistance or susceptibility of these yeasts to AmB. Indeed, we noted that resistant strains were as rich in ergosterol as sensitive strains. The suppression of the wall of yeasts induced an increase in susceptibility to AmB. Strains with high cell wall chitin content were more sensitive to this polyenic antifungal agent than strains with low chitin content. Growth of the yeasts in the presence of chitin induced a resistance of the yeasts to AmB. Similar results were obtained after treatment of the cells by chitinase. In contrast, growth of the yeasts in the presence of chitin synthase activators induced high susceptibility to AmB. Yeast cell wall chitin is an aminopolysaccharide, usually at low concentrations. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe its presence was not established. This polymer is associated with glucans in the wall matrix of the lateral wall and in the budding scars. Even at low content, this polymer seems to play an essential role in the sensitivity (or resistance) of yeast cells to AmB.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Chimie Physique et Microbiologie pour l'Environnement, U.M.R. 7564 CNRS-Université Henri Poincaré, Nancy 1, 405, rue de Vandoeuvre, 54600 Villers-lès-Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bahmed
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bonaly
authors.forename: Joël
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coulon
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism; D002686:Chitin / Q000378:metabolism*; D002687:Chitin Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D002688:Chitinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004875:Ergosterol / Q000378:metabolism; D007716:Kluyveromyces / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D013104:Spheroplasts / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D002686:Chitin; D000666:Amphotericin B; D002687:Chitin Synthase; D002688:Chitinases; D004875:Ergosterol