Biosynthesis of protein and reserve substances by yeasts growing on different substrates with limited sources of mineral nutrition

• Published in: Mikrobiologija (Moskva. 1932) Vol. 53; no. 4; p. 540
• Main Authors: Ermakova, I T, Mel'nikova, O F, Mandeva, R D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Russia (Federation) 01-07-1984
• Subjects: Amino Acids - metabolism; Candida - growth & development; Candida - metabolism; Carbohydrates - biosynthesis; Culture Media - metabolism; Fungal Proteins - biosynthesis; Lipids - biosynthesis; Nitrogen - metabolism; Phosphorus - metabolism; Potassium - metabolism; Sulfur - metabolism
• ISSN: 0026-3656

The content of protein and reserve compounds was studied in yeast cells growing on glucose, hexadecane and ethanol in a complete medium and in media limited with a source of nitrogen, phosphorus or sulfur. It was shown that the proportion between these components characterises the direction of biosynthetic processes in the cell depending on cultivation conditions. This is strongly shifted towards protein synthesis in the period of exponential growth when constructive processes are active. When the growth is limited with the sources of mineral nutrition, the content of protein drops down abruptly while that of the reserve compounds, lipids and carbohydrates, rises. Glycogen prevails in cells grown on glucose whereas lipids are the major component of cells cultivated on hexadecane. Nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur deficiency causes quantitative and qualitative changes in the composition of free and bound amino acids in yeast biomass. The degree of these changes depends on the nature of the growth--limiting factor.