The biochemical nature of the cell envelope of a high cellulase-secreting mutant differs from that of the Trichoderma reesei wild type

The main chemical components of the cell envelopes of a natural cellulase-producing fungus, T reesei, and its high-yielding mutant were analysed. It was shown that the cell walls of the high cellulase-producing mutant contain less chitin than the wild type. There was also a notable difference in the response of the alkali-soluble protein content of the mutant walls to cellulase-inducing conditions. In addition, while the amount of C18 : 2 fatty acid relative to total fatty acid was the same in the cell envelopes of the mutant and wild type, there was a marked difference in the relative amounts of the isomers of this fatty acid in the two strains. These differences obtained may contribute to the improved ability of the mutant strain to secrete enzyme proteins into the culture medium.