Control of dimorphism in Mucor by hexoses: inhibition of hyphal morphogenesis

Abstract

In anaerobic cultures of Mucor rouxii, morphogenesis was strongly dependent on hexose concentration as well as pCO(2). At low levels of hexose or CO(2), or both, hyphal development occurred; at high levels, the fungus developed as yeast cells. Other dimorphic strains of Mucor responded similarly to hexose and CO(2) but differred in their relative sensitivity to these agents. Glucose was the most effective hexose in eliciting yeast development of M. rouxii; fructose and mannose were next; and galactose was last. The fungus may be grown into shapes covering its entire dimorphic spectrum simply by manipulating the hexose concentration of the medium. Thus, at 0.01% glucose, hyphae were exceedingly long and narrow; at higher sugar concentrations, the hyphae became progressively shorter and wider; finally, at about 8% glucose, almost all cells and their progeny were isodiametric (spherical budding cells). Such yeast development occurred without a manifested requirement for exogenous CO(2). The stimulation of yeast development by hexose is not an artifact due to increased production of metabolic CO(2) (hyphae or yeast cells released metabolic CO(2) at similar rates). Presumably, the effect was caused by some other hexose catabolite which interfered with hyphal morphogenesis (apical growth); deprived of its polarity, the fungus grew into spherical yeastlike shapes. Although 10% glucose inhibited the development of hyphae from germinating spores, it did not prevent the elongation of preformed hyphae. This suggests that hexose inhibits hyphal morphogenesis not by blocking the operation of the enzyme complex responsible for apical growth but by preventing its initiation; such inhibition may be regarded as a repression of hyphal morphogenesis.