Search for a novel killer toxin in yeast Pichia pastoris.

Certain yeast strains secrete a protein toxin, which inhibits the growth of sensitive pathogens and yeasts. Studies have shown that production of the toxin is dependent on presence of linear, double-stranded DNA plasmids in the killer yeasts. In the yeast Pichia pastoris, two linear double-stranded DNA plasmids have been identified. In the present study, the search for toxin-producing capability in P. pastoris has been conducted. No killer activity could be detected when 14 different indicator strains were tested. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.