The qualitative analysis of the cell walls of selected species of fungi

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Abstract
The mechanically isolated cell walls from 16 species of fungi have been hydrolysed and examined for their qualitative composition. A range of 6 neutral sugars (glucose, galactose, mannose, fucose, xylose and ribose) and 2 amino sugars (glucosamine and galactosamine) have been found. Polyols and uronic acids were not detected. The amino acids found were those typical of protein hydrolysates. In addition to these, however, 2 spp. of Phycomycetes, Saprolegnia ferax and Phytophthora cactorum, contained hydroxyproline, and 2 yeasts, Sporobolomyces roseus and Rhodotorula aurantiaca, contained gamma-aminobutyric acid. The occurrence of neutral sugars, hexosamines and amino acids suggests that the walls are of a protein-carbohydrate nature. The definition of "cell-wall" material used in this study is discussed together with the usefulness of cytochemical, X-ray and selective-extraction techniques used in work on fungal cell walls. The results are discussed in relation to the type of constituents found in the cell walls of some other organisms.

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