Effect of O2, ergosterol and sterol precursors on the mating ability of Kluyveromyces lactis

Jaime Mas, Esteban Celis, Enrique Piña, Aurora Brunner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

It was found that the difference in the partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) resulting from the distinct altitude over the sea level, between Baltimore, Md., USA and Mexico City, about 2,240 meters, is sufficient to cause variance in conjugation frequency in two haploid strains of Kluyveromyces lactis. Further studies confirm that sexual conjugation in K. lactis is highly sensitive to changes in the pO2. Ergosterol which depends on O2 for its biosynthesis, stimulates the mating process, as does the ergosterol precursor, squalene. Ergosterol and O2 effects were found to be additive, suggesting that O2 may influence conjugation in more than one way. Culture, storage and transfer frequency modify both, mating efficiency and the response to O2 and lipid supplement.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)613-620
Number of pages8
JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Volume61
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 27 1974

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Biophysics
  • Molecular Biology

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