The isolation of protoplasts of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces by Trichoderma viride and snail enzymes.

The formation of protoplasts of the fission yeasts Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Schizosaccharomyces versatilis after the combined application of snail enzymes and Trichoderma viride enzymes in an osmotic stabilizer (0.4M KCl, pH 5.5) was studied by light and electron microscopy. The effect of the enzymes used leads during 30 min to the formation of 100% protoplast population. Using electron microscopy no original walls or wall remnants were detected in the suspension of protoplasts. Protoplasts are viable and in liquid nutrient medium they regenerate cell walls and revert into normal cells. Such a protoplast population may be useful for biochemical study of protoplast metabolism by quantitative methods as well as for the chemical study of regenerating cell walls.