Biochemical, morphological and cytochemical studies of enhanced autolysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 1. Biochemical studies.

Biochemical aspects of induced autolysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were observed in the presence of various physical and chemical enhancers of autolysis (increased temperature, changes of pH, NaCl, ethanol, fresh autolyzate). Direct assays of proteinases, nucleases, glucanases and acid phosphatases in homogenized autolyzed cells were performed. In addition, the degradation products of proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides and phosphate from phosphorylated compounds were determined in the supernatant of autolyzate after centrifugation. These results suggested that the inducers affected transport processes and that they had mostly negative effects on the activities of the above-mentioned enzymes.