Direct observation of cell wall glucans in whole cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by magic-angle spinning 13C-nmr

Intact cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were examined as an aqueous paste by ¹³C-nmr spectroscopy with direct polarization and magic-angle spinning. The spectra obtained were highly resolved, showing numerous resonances in the 60-105 ppm range that were assigned to carbons of a liquid-like domain of the cell wall glucan. Assignments were confirmed by running the spectrum of S. cerevisiae in which the cell wall glucans were labeled with [¹³C] by feeding the cell [¹³C ] galactose. The spectra indicate that the glucan in the cell wall of intact S. cerevisiae assumes a helical conformation and suggest that strain 17A fed with galactose preferentially incorporates the resulting glucose into β(1 → 3)-linkages. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.