FIG. 1.

Chitin and chitosan measurements of vegetatively growing wild-type C. neoformans strain H99, S. cerevisiae strain BY4741, and C. albicans strain CAI4. YPD cultures were grown and assayed for chitin and chitosan content when cultures reached various absorbance values. Absorbance measurement at 600 nm is indicated at the bottom of the panel. Chitin and chitosan content are indicated at the left of the panel. A. Chitin content of both S. cerevisiae and C. albicans remains virtually constant throughout growth, with no chitosan found for either species during vegetative growth (data not shown). B. Both chitin and chitosan are synthesized by C. neoformans during vegetative growth, the levels of each increasing as culture density increases.