INFLUENCE OF MONENSIN ON COMPOSITION OF THE WALLS OF SOME FILAMENTOUS FUNGI

Walls of young hyphae of Achlya bisexualis, Botrytis cinerea, and Sclerotium rolfsii growing in the presence or the absence of monensin were isolated and their chemical content was determined. Monensin induced modified proportions of various monomers resulting in a reduction of the (neutral sugars + uronic acid)/amine sugar ratio of B. cinerea and S. rolfsii (species of group chitin-glucans), and of cellulose in A. bisexualis (species of group cellulose-glucans). The walls of hyphae grown in presence of monensin also contained less total lipids and proteins. These modifications in chemical composition are related to changes in cytological structure.