α-glucan remodeling by GH13-domain enzymes shapes fungal cell wall architecture.
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Aah1 and Aah3 are GPI-anchored GH13-family transglycosylases that act redundantly to remodel alpha-glucan chains synthesized by Ags1 into a properly organized matrix.
"...Aah1 and Aah3 function as GH13-family transglycosylases that collaborate nonredundantly with the α-glucan synthase to build a properly organized α-glucan matrix."
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aah1/aah3 double mutant shows severe growth defects, rounded cell shape, delayed division, cell clumping, and dramatically altered cell wall composition.
"Cells lacking both enzymes exhibit severe growth and morphological defects, including rounded shape, delayed division, and cell clumping."
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Solid-state NMR shows alpha-1,3-glucan decreases from 44% to 11% in rigid phase of double mutant, with compensatory beta-glucan increase from 54% to 89%.
"...the double mutant cell walls have dramatically reduced α-1,3-glucan and galactomannan content, with a compensatory increase in β-glucans driven by the activation of the cell integrity pathway."
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Cell wall thickness increases approximately 4-fold in the double mutant, with increased rigidity and reduced polymer mobility.
"These changes correlate with cell wall thickening, increased rigidity, and reduced polymer mobility and hydration."