The Influence of Some Hexitols and Sugars on CO2 Production by Starved and X-Irradiated, Starved Yeast Cells

摘要

Incubation of irradiated and unirradiated yeast cells in solutions of mannitol, ribose, methyl glucose or cellobiose maintained equivalent rates of CO2 production by the two cell types when output was measured with glucose as substrate. This result is in contrast with a relatively higher rate of CO2 output by irradiated cells after a 21 hour incubation in water (starved). Incubation of the cells with the above compounds also eliminated a lag period in CO2 output and preserved a high capacity to produce CO2. On the other hand, incubation with glucose or fructose, though it eliminated the lag, lowered the rate of CO2 output and did not eliminate the difference in output between irradiated and unirradiated cells. Conversion of cells to spheroplasts also eliminated the radiation-induced difference in the rate of CO2 production, and, because sorbitol was used as a stabilizing agent for the spheroplasts, suggested first that sorbitol and other hexitols and sugars be examined. Reincubation, after a 21 hour starvation in water, with any of the compounds tested removed the lag period, though CO2 output was reduced. (Author)