Chemical and enzymatic changes in the cell walls of Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae by scanning electron microscopy.

Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells were examined by scanning scanning electron microscopy before and after extraction of the mannans of the cell wall. The surfaces of control cells were smooth; after mannan extraction they were rough and showed erosions which were particularly striking within the area of the scars. Helicase digested irregular holes through the cell wall within 20 min; these increased in size during an additional 40 min of digestion. These holes were not localized in or on the bud scars, which remained intact even after the long digestion period. The results were used to construct a model for yeast cell wall structure.