Studies of the spore coats of fungi I. Isolation and composition of the spore coats of Aspergillus oryzae

Spore coats of Aspergillus oryzae have been mechanically isolated. They exhibited a complex chemical composition consisting of polysaccharide (mannose, glucose, galactose and glucosamine), phosphate, protein and nucleic acid. Spore coats were partially hydrolyzed by the lytic enzyme from Bacillus circulans, and glucose, laminaribiose and other unknown sugars were detected in the hydrolyzate. No qualitative differences were found between the cell walls and the spore coats. The major quantitative difference was in protein content, which was higher in the spore coats.