Hyphal tip growth in Achlya bisexualis. II. Distribution of cellulose in elongating and non-elongating regions of the wall

Abstract

Cellulose has been localized in the hyphal wall of elongating and non-elongating hyphae of Achlya bisexualis using a direct enzyme-colloidal-gold method. A number of controls, including several different types of fixation, support the idea that this labeling is specific for cellulose. Both TEM and SEM were used and they gave similar results. The apical area of an elongating hypha lacks cellulose, but the same area of a non-elongating hypha contains cellulose. We have used specific culture media and light microscopic measurements to ensure that we could distinguish between elongating and non-elongating hyphae. The lack of cellulose at the apex of elongating hyphae seems to require a reevaluation of the current concepts of hyphal tip growth in Achlya and related genera. A major question now is to determine whether or not the lack of a microfibrillar component is a universal pattern among all organisms having tip growth.

• 1,4-β-glucans
• cellulase-colloidal-gold labeling
• hyphal elongation

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, Electron Microscopy Core, Dr. G. W. Erdos, Director, Karen Kelley, and Scott Whittaker, for their technical assistance.