Integrative studies put cell wall synthesis on the yeast functional map.

The fungal cell wall field, traditionally focused on polysaccharide composition and synthesis, retains a certain static architectural imagery of structural rigidity and integrity, with the wall offering protection from a harsh environment. This picture of the wall is increasingly changing to that of a bustling construction site, as research uncovers the organizational complexity of its assembly. With recent molecular and genomic studies on Saccharomyces cerevisiae, cell wall synthesis and biology appear increasingly to be dynamic and adaptable processes that are fully integrated with the underlying cytoskeletal and polarity machinery that drive cell cycle progression.