Unraveling the nanoscale surface properties of chitin synthase mutants of Aspergillus fumigatus and their biological implications.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the surface properties of the human opportunistic pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus conidia is essential given the important role they play during the fungal interactions with the human host. Although chitin synthases with myosin motor-like domain (CSM) play a major role in cell wall biosynthesis, the extent to which deletion of the CSM genes alter the surface structural and biophysical-biological properties of conidia is not fully characterized. We used three complementary atomic force microscopy techniques-i.e., structural imaging, chemical force microscopy with hydrophobic tips, and single-molecule force spectroscopy with lectin tips-to gain detailed insights into the nanoscale surface properties (ultrastructure, hydrophobicity) and polysaccharide composition of the wild-type

SUBMITTER: Alsteens D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3714923 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature