The receptors of yeast killer toxins

This review is the second part of a previous work on the molecular structures and physiological features of yeast killer toxins [Guyard et at., Journal de Mycologie Medicale 2000;10:9-20]. Our knowledge concerning the biochemical nature of yeast killer toxin receptors at the surface of sensitive yeast strains is summarized. This review underlines the antifungal processes of yeast killer toxins encoded by nuclear genes or extra-chromosomal genomes after fixation on specific yeast killer toxin receptors, Different mechanisms can explain the yeast killer phenomenon such as modification of the plasma membrane permeability, inhibition of the DNA synthesis, chitinase activity and arrest of the life cell cycle, or inhibition of the beta -glucan components synthesis into the yeast cell wall. These mechanisms are specific for each killer toxin and not related to the species of the yeast killer strain.