PRODUCTION OF YEAST AND MOLD PROTOPLASTS BY TREATMENT WITH THE STREPZYME OF MICROMONOSPORA AS

Abstract

Using phase microscopy, the authors made studies of the formation and properties of spherical protoplasts of the organisms Candida utilis, Oospora suaveolens, and Geotrichum lactis, produced by digestion of the cell walls in isotonic medium with a lytic preparation obtained from the filtrates of the growth medium of Micromonospora AS. The susceptibility of various species of yeast and molds to cell wall digestion and further liberation of protoplasts was variable. MgSO4 (0.8 to 1.0 M final concentration) was a satisfactory stabilizer for producing osmotically sensitive spherical bodies. On dilution, these fragile structures lysed immediately. The naked protoplasts were able to grow, as indicated by changes in morphology. On prolonged incubation abnormal cells were formed. Reversion to normal cells was observed but was very rare. Details of the emergence of the Oospora suaveolens protoplasts were described. Protoplasts were also prepared from a variety of bacteria.