Anomalous cell wall synthesis in Mucor mucedo (L.) Fres. induced by some fungicides and other compounds related to the problem of dimorphism.

An anomalous cell wall thickening in Mucor mucedo is induced already within 60-120 min by some fungicides (etridiazol, chloroneb, pentachloronitrobenzene, dicloran, drazoxolon, biphenyl) as well as with a N2-atmosphere or high concentrations of glucose, but not with 2,4-dinitrophenol, chlorinated phenols, dichlofluanid and antimycin A. This effect seems to be identical to the change from the mycelial (M-) to the yeast (Y-) form in dimorphic fungi, which can be achieved by culture conditions as well as by addition of chemicals. The cause seems to be a specific, complex change in the metabolic state. A scheme of regulation is presented which explains most of the experimental results described till now.