Structural heterogeneity of the plasmalemma of the yeast,Schwanniomyces occidentalis,induced by substrate

The growth of the yeast Schwanniomyces occidentalis on hydrocarbons (C₁₂?C₂₀) is followed by the formation of spherical invaginations. They are inwardly directed and border the ‘canals’ of the cell wall forming with them a single complex. The invaginations differ from the rest (smooth) part of the plasmalemma in the density of intramembrane particles. There is also a significant difference in the distribution of intramembrane particles in the plasmalemma of S. occidentalis grown on hydrocarbons and glucose. Invaginations and ‘canals’ are considered as a manifestation of the structural heterogeneity of the yeast cell envelope induced by a hydrocarbon substrate and, evidently, conditioned by adaptive processes.