The kinetics of enzyme changes in yeast under conditions that cause the loss of mitochondria.

1. Aerobically grown yeast having a high activity of glyoxylate-cycle, citric acid-cycle and electron-transport enzymes was transferred to a medium containing 10% glucose. After a lag phase of 30min. the yeast grew exponentially with a mean generation time of 94min. 2. The enzymes malate dehydrogenase, isocitrate lyase, succinate-cytochrome c oxidoreductase and NADH-cytochrome c oxidoreductase lost 45%, 17%, 27% and 46% of their activity respectively during the lag phase. 3. When growth commenced pyruvate kinase, pyruvate decarboxylase, alcohol dehydrogenase, glutamate dehydrogenase (NADP(+)-linked) and NADPH-cytochrome c oxidoreductase increased in activity, whereas aconitase, isocitrate dehydrogenase (NAD(+)- and NADP(+)-linked), alpha-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, fumarase, malate dehydrogenase, succinate-cytochrome c oxidoreductase, NADH-cytochrome c oxidoreductase, NADH oxidase, NADPH oxidase, cytochrome c oxidase, glutamate dehydrogenase (NAD(+)-linked), glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase, isocitrate lyase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase decreased. 4. During the early stages of growth the loss of activity of aconitase, alpha-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, fumarase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase could be accounted for by dilution by cell division. The lower rate of loss of activity of isocitrate dehydrogenase (NAD(+)- and NADP(+)-linked), glutamate dehydrogenase (NAD(+)-linked), glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase, NADPH oxidase and cytochrome c oxidase implies their continued synthesis, whereas the higher rate of loss of activity of malate dehydrogenase, isocitrate lyase, succinate-cytochrome c oxidoreductase, NADH-cytochrome c oxidoreductase and NADH oxidase means that these enzymes were actively removed. 5. The mechanisms of selective removal of enzyme activity and the control of the residual metabolic pathways are discussed.