The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae stress response protein Hsp12p decreases the gel strength of agarose used as a model system for the β-glucan layer of the cell wall

Incorporation of the cell wall LEA-like stress response protein Hsp12p from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae into the carbohydrate polymer agarose was found to reduce the gel strength of the agarose matrix. Solutes known to stimulate Hsp12p production in yeast were found to increase the gelation temperature, the turbidity and the gel strength of the agarose matrix. Increased gel strength brought about by solute incorporation was found to be reversed by co-incorporation of Hsp12p or by the chaotropic solute urea. These results suggested a mode of action for Hsp12p, assuming that agarose is a reasonable macroscopic model system for investigating the effects of cell wall proteins on the properties of the yeast cell wall.