Total inhibition of wall synthesis by 2-deoxyglucose and polyoxin D in protoplasts of Schizophyllum commune

The synthesis of the alkali-soluble (1 -»3)-a-glucan in the wall of Schizophyllum commune (s-glucan) is completely and specifically inhibited by the addition of 2-deoxyglucose to regenerating protoplasts. In the presence of this substance the protoplasts were still able to generate hyphae indicating that the (1 ->3)-ct-glucan does not play an essential role in hyphal morphogenesis. Specific inhibition of formation of chitin and alkali-insoluble wall glucan by polyoxin D prevented hyphal morphogenesis and led to osmotically stable cells containing walls essentially consisting of s-glucan only. Together, 2-deoxyglucose and polyoxin D prevented the protoplasts from forming any wall component.