Growth, respiration and cytology of acetate-negative mutants of Candida albicans

A number of acriflavine-induced mutants of Candida albicans, characterized by their inability to grow on acetate as a source of energy, were screened for their cytochrome absorption spectra. Three mutants with different spectra, along with their parent, were selected for comparative studies of their growth, respiratory activities and cellular structure. The spectrum of one of the mutants was the same as that of the wild-type, but the growth rate and yield of cells on glucose medium were only about 60% of the wild-type's; those of a second mutant deficient in cytochromes aa3 were 50%, and those of a third mutant deficient in cytochromes aa3 and b were less than 5% of those of the wild-type. The cytochrome-complete mutant and the wild-type showed respiratory activity both on glucose and ethanol well above the endogenous, the cytochrome aa3-deficient mutant showed only endogenous respiration, and the cytochrome aa3, b-deficient mutant no respiration at all. Electron microscopy of the wild-type cells revealed discrete, regular ovoidal, cristate mitochondria spaced near the periphery of the protoplasm; the cytochrome-complete mutant showed an abundance of large, cristate, but morphologically irregular mitochondria; the cytochrome aa3-deficient mutant had fewer but still large, cristate, somewhat irregular mitochondria; and the cytochrome aa3, b-deficient mutant only a few simple vesicles without discernible cristae.