What are fungal cell walls made of?5 answersFungal cell walls are primarily composed of a polysaccharide network, including glucans, chitin, and glycoproteins. These components provide structural support, rigidity, and protection to the fungal cells, allowing them to interact with the environment and withstand various stresses. Additionally, triglycerides, polyaromatics, chitosan, dityrosine, and melanin are identified as basic building blocks used in stress-resistant cell walls of different fungal species. The cell wall structure also includes galactosaminogalactan, galactomannan, and α-1,3-glucan, forming a rigid core with functional diversity. This unique composition of fungal cell walls not only supports fungal growth and survival but also presents an excellent target for antifungal therapy.
Are there different types of fungal cell walls?5 answersFungal cell walls exhibit different types of composition and organization. The cell walls of fungi are primarily composed of polysaccharides such as glucans, chitin, and glycoproteins. These components are cross-linked together to form a cell wall matrix, which provides rigidity and protection to the fungal cell. Different types of fungal cell walls have been identified based on their carbohydrate composition and structure. For example, oomycetes, a class of devastating plant and animal pathogens, have been found to possess three distinct cell wall types with varying levels of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) and other carbohydrates. The diversity in fungal cell wall composition and organization highlights the potential for targeting these structures in the development of antifungal therapies.
What are the papers that describe the types of cancer cells?5 answersDifferent papers describe the types of cancer cells. One paper presents a new approach for detecting and classifying colon cancer cells using a progressive division of image dimensions and morphological parameters. Another paper discusses the molecularly defined subclasses of tumors that have been revealed through gene expression analysis, which can predict clinical behavior and guide therapeutic development. A third paper highlights the existence of specific subtypes of neoplasias within groups of tumors based on their histology, immunohistochemistry, and genetic features. However, one paper does not provide any information about cancer cell types.
What is fungi?5 answersFungi are eukaryotic organisms that play a major role in various industries, including food and fermentation. They are characterized by having chitin in their cell walls and being heterotrophs, obtaining their nutrients from other organisms. Fungi can reproduce sexually and asexually and have the ability to form dormant structures under unfavorable conditions. They exhibit tremendous diversity in nutritive mode and have essential roles in industrial processes, drug production, and ecological systems. Fungi can be beneficial, such as in the production of food and feed products, as well as harmful, causing diseases in animals, plants, and humans. They are also used in biological control for nematode pest management. Fungi are one of the oldest and least studied groups of living organisms, with an estimated 1.5 to 10 million species currently existing on Earth.
Any intersting papers on the Evolution of multicellularity in fungi: current thoughts and hypotheses?4 answersThe evolution of multicellularity in fungi is a topic of interest in current research. Several papers provide insights into this area. Yunker et al. conducted a long-term evolution experiment with snowflake yeast and observed the evolution of macroscopic multicellularity in anaerobic conditions. Merényi et al. analyzed the transcriptome across fruiting body development in two clades of fungi and found convergent evolution of complex multicellularity, suggesting an evolutionary predisposition for this trait in ancestral fungal genomes. Nagy et al. reviewed the challenges and unique features of fungal multicellularity, highlighting the filamentous growth form and discussing key aspects such as apical growth, compartmentalization, and cell-to-cell communication. Lamża provided a critical review of eukaryotic multicellularity, identifying 45 independent multicellular lineages in fungi and introducing functional criteria for classification. Nagy et al. further discussed the evolution of complex multicellularity in fungi, emphasizing the patchy distribution of this trait and the genetic mechanisms underlying its development.
Does mycelium have neurons?14 answers