THE INFLUENCE OF SOME HEXITOLS AND SUGARS ON CO2PRODUCTION BY STARVED AND X-IRRADIATED, STARVED YEAST CELLS

Abstract

The rates of CO2production from glucose by irradiated and unirradiated yeast cells (incubated 21 hours in solutions of mannitol, ribose, methyl glucose, or cellobiose) were the same; but in a similar experiment, involving a 21-hour incubation in water, irradiated cells produced CO2at a higher rate than did unirradiated cells. Incubation of the cells with the above compounds also eliminated a lag period in CO2output and preserved a high capacity to produce CO2. On the other hand, incubation with glucose or fructose, though it eliminated the lag, lowered the rate of CO2output and did not eliminate the difference in output between irradiated and unirradiated cells. Conversion of cells to spheroplasts also eliminated the radiation-induced difference in the rate of CO2production, and, because sorbitol was used as a stabilizing agent for the spheroplasts, suggested first that sorbitol and other hexitols and sugars be examined. Reincubation, after a 21-hour starvation in water, with any of the compounds tested removed the lag period, though CO2output was reduced.