α-glucan remodeling by GH13-domain enzymes shapes fungal cell wall architecture.

ABSTRACT: Cell walls are critical structures of fungi, bacteria, and plants, providing mechanical strength, maintaining shape, and protecting cells from environmental stress. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the α-glucan synthase Ags1 produces α-1,3-glucan chains essential for cell wall integrity, but how these chains are further assembled into mature polymers is not understood. Here, we identify two conserved glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored α-amylase-like enzymes, Aah1 and Aah3, which act redundantly as key contributors to α-glucan network formation. Cells lacking both enzymes exhibit severe growth and morphological defects, including rounded shape, delayed division, and cell clumping. Using solid-state NMR spectroscopy of intact cells, we show that the double mutant cel

SUBMITTER: Jacob A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12305055 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature