Lysis of Yeast Cell Walls Induced by 2-Deoxyglucose at Their Sites of Glucan Synthesis

Abstract

Six sites of 2-deoxyglucose (2DG)-induced lysis on 3 yeasts (Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Pichia farinosa, and Saccharo-myces cerevisiae) coincided with the regions of growth of their glucan layers. Identification of the glucan layer as the site of lysis suggests a mechanism of attack by 2DG or by its derivatives. The glucan layer grows by addition of glucose into internal breaks of polysaccharide molecules. 2DG inhibited resynthesis (insertion of glucose) of the broken glycosidic linkage.