Saccharomyces cerevisiae: heat and gluculase sensitivities of starved cells.

Exponentially growing populations were abruptly shifted to media lacking a nitrogen source, a sulphur source or a phosphorus source. When proliferation ceased, cells were homogeneously arrested at the beginning of the cell cycle and were resistant to killing by exposure to 52 degrees C and to cell wall degrading enzymes. The results suggest that these two types of resistance represent a general response to nutrient limitation and are characteristic of resting cells.