Comparison of the Mannan Structure from the Cell‐Wall Mutant Candida sp. M‐7002 and Its Wild Type

Abstract

The cell‐wall mutant of a hydrocarbon‐assimilating yeast, Candida sp. M‐7002 and its wild type have shown a significant difference in mannose content. Each mannan was isolated from the mutant and the wild‐type cells by fractionation with Cetavlon and copper reagent. Both mannans contain d‐mannose, d‐glucose and phosphate. The mutant mannan has a relatively high content of protein (18% in weight bases) whereas the wild‐type mannan has a low protein content (5.1%) with a high amount of carbohydrate (O‐glycosidic linkage. The chemical properties of the mannan of the Candida mutant indicates that the mutation might occur not only in the side chain structure but also in the (α1‐6)‐linked mannan back bone.