Separation of chitosomal chitin synthetase from cell-free extracts ofNeurospora crassa “Slime” variant agglutinated with concanavalin A

Stability of chitin synthetase in cell-free preparations of a wild-type strain and a 'slime' variant of Neurospora crassa

Chitin synthetase activity in cell-free preparations from a wild-type strain and a 'slime' variant of Neurospora crassa was monitored over many days in samples stored at 0 degrees C. Total activity in whole-cell-free extracts and low-speed supernatants from both organisms was very unstable, losing more than 90% of the initial activity on storage at 0 degrees C for 96 h. Chitin synthetase detection was not masked by chitinase activity present in the preparations. Gel-filtration chromatography of these preparations increased the stability of the activity from the 'slime' variant, whereas removal of particulate structures by high-speed centrifugation stabilized the chitin synthetase activity in the supernatant, particularly in the wild type. These results suggest that factor(s) involved in the regulation of chitin synthetase may be differentially located or altered in 'slime' cells.