Biosynthesis of beta-glucans by cell-free extracts from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Cell-free extracts from Saccharomyces cerevisiae catalyzed the incorporation of glucosyl residues from UDP-[U-14C]glucose into beta-1,3-glucans which contained a significant proportion of beta-1,6-glycosidic linkages. When GDP-[U-14C]glucose was used as substrate only trace amounts of glucose were incorporated. Activity of beta-glucan synthetase was distributed among membrane and cell wall fractions, specific activity being higher in this latter. Beta-glucan synthesized by membrane and cell wall fractions contained 0.6% and 2.5% of beta-1,6-glycosidic linkages respectively. A marked decrease in the activity of beta-glucan synthetase occurred as the cells aged. Significant activity of glycogen synthetase was detected only in cells which had reached the stationary phase of growth.