Korean J Med Mycol.  2007 Sep;12(3):129-138.

The Molecular Structures and Function of the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cell Wall

• Chang MS
• Kim SC
• Choi SH
• Woo JH

Abstract

The main characteristics of molecular structures of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall are now elucidated. The cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is composed of inner layer and outer layer and is the structure that plays an important role of providing physical and chemical protection and deciding the morphology of the cell. The inner layer of the cell wall is responsible for the mechanical strength of the wall and also providing the attachment sites for the proteins that form the outer layer of the cell wall. The outer protein layer limits the permeability of the cell wall, therefore, shields the plasma membrane from perturbation stimuli by foreign material such as enzymes and other chemicals. The molecular composition and organization of the cell wall may vary according to the environmental circumstances. The formation and genetic control of the specific cell wall protein-polysaccharide complexes is influenced by external conditions and stimuli. Cell wall construction is tightly controlled and strictly coordinated with progression of the cell cycle. This is reflected in the usage of specific cell wall proteins during consecutive phases of the cell cycle and in the recent discovery of a cell wall integrity checkpoint.

Keyword

Cell wall; Molecular structures; Protein-polysaccharide; Saccharomyces cerevisiae

MeSH Terms

Cell Cycle
Cell Membrane
Cell Wall*
Molecular Structure*
Permeability
Saccharomyces cerevisiae*
Saccharomyces*
Yeasts*