The heterogeneity of glucan preparations from the walls of various yeasts.

Previous studies have shown that the insoluble glucan from the walls of baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is heterogeneous. It consists of about 85 % of an insoluble branched β-(1→ 3)-glucan and about 15 % of a soluble branched β-(1→6)-glucan. Glucan preparations from the walls of the yeasts Kloeckera apiculata, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Saccharomyces fragilis and Saccharomyces fermentati have now been shown to be similarly heterogeneous. Quantitative periodate oxidation and enzymic degradation studies suggest that in these four yeasts, the amount of β-(1→ 6)-glucan is rather greater than in baker's yeast.