Chitin glucan, linkage

Aspergillus oryzae and Fusarium solani were lysed by a strepto-mycete enzyme-system containing chitinase and several j8-D-(l—>3)-glucanase components. The major, hyphal-wall components are chitin and a glucan having )8-d-(1— 3)-linkages, and solubilization occurred when the two enzymes were used in combination, but not when they were used separately. 

In 1990, Wessels et al. proposed that chitin and p-glucan chains initially accumulate individually in the fungal cell wall and thereafter form an interpolymer linkage [34], A highly schematic view of p-glucan chains linked to chitosan is given in Fig. 6. 

Sietma JH, Wessels JGH (1979) Evidence for covalent linkages between chitin and P-glucan in a fungal wall. J Gen Microbiol 114 99-108... 

Surarit R, Gopal PK, Shepherd MG (1988) Evidence for a glycosidic linkage between chitin and glucan in the cell wall of Candida albicans. J Gen Microbiol 134 1723-1730... 

Kollar R, Petrakova E, Ashwell G, Robbins PW, Cabib E (1995) Architecture of the yeast cell wall, the linkage between chitin and P-l,3-glucan. J Biol Chem 270 1170-1178... 

Sietma JFI, Wessels JGH (1981) Solubility of (l-3)-P-D/(l-6)-P-D-glucose in fungal walls importance of presumed linkage between glucan and chitin. J Gen Microbiol 125 209-212... 

Fibrous j6-l,3 glucan is insoluble in water, acetic acid and alkali. It has very few branches. The branch points involved are yS-1,6 linkages. Its degree of polymerization is 1500. Under the electron microscope, this glucan appears fibrous. It ensures the shape and the rigidity of the cell wall. It is always connected to chitin. 

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