Li + effect on the cell wall of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as probed by FT-IR spectroscopy

Abstract

The effect of Li + ions as a transformation inducing agent on the yeast cell wall has been studied. Two Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, p63-DC5 with a native cell wall, and strain XCY42-30D(mnn1) which contains structural changes in the mannan-protein complex, were used. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy has been used for the characterization of the yeast strains and for determination of the effect of lithium cations on the cell wall. A comparison of the carbohydrate absorption band positions in the 970-1185 cm -1 range, of Na + and Li + treated yeast cells has been estimated. Absorption band positions of the cell wall carbohydrates of p63-DC5 were not influenced by the studied ions. On the contrary, the treatment of XCY42-30D(mnn1) cells with Li + ions shifted glucan band positions, implying that the cell wall structure of strain XCY42-30D(mnn1) is more sensitive to Li + ion treatment. © 2013 Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Wien.