Polyphosphates in the Cell Envelopes of Eukaryotes

PolyPs are present in the cell envelopes of the lower eukaryotes, where their contents may vary depending on the cultivation conditions. PolyP was found at first in the cell envelope of Neurospora crassa (Krascheninnikov et al., 1967 Kulaev et al., 1970) and domycesmagnusii (Kulaev etal, 1967 Kulaev and Afanasieva, 1970). This high-molecular-weight PolyP was located outside of the cell, adjacent to the outer side of the cytoplasmic membrane. 

The PolyP content in cell envelopes affects the extent of cytoplasmic membrane damage induced by different ionic compounds, in particular, a cationic surfactant - cetyltrimethy-lammonium bromide (CTAB). It was observed that the higher the PolyP content of the cell envelope, then the more CTAB is concentrated there, thus resulting in an intensification of its damaging effect on the cell (Ivanov et al., 1996). 

It cannot be excluded that PolyPs, located on cell surfaces of the lower eukaryotes, may play a certain role in cell-cell interactions and especially in the interactions of fungi and plant cells during mycorrhiza development. 

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