Identification of envelope proteins of Candida albicans by vectorial iodination

Intact Candida albicans yeast cells were radiolabelled with 125I, and cell wall, mixed membrane and soluble fractions prepared. The majority (67%) of the 125I was detected in the protein of the cell wall fraction at a specific activity 70-fold higher than that in the membrane or soluble fractions. SDS treatment of the cell wall fraction released 52% of the total protein but only 3% of the wall-bound 125I, and the extract was shown to be severely contaminated with cytosolic and membrane proteins. Zymolyase digestion of SDS treated walls liberated material which contained 93% of the 125I and on electrophoresis migrated as a single diffuse zone (average Mr 260 kD) typical of heterogenous mannoproteins. Protein (1.5%), GlcN (0.08%) and hexose (98.4%) content was measured and amino acid analysis showed enrichment in Ser (15.9%) and Thr (20.2%). These results indicate that the major iodinated protein(s) in the cell envelope is a 260 kD mannoprotein fraction containing both O-linked and Asn-linked oligosaccharides.