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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Formation of l(-)malate by Saccharomyces cerevisiae during fermentation

subject

description

When grown in a synthetic medium most of the 51 strains of the genera Saccharomyces, Saccharomycodes, Zygosaccharomyces and Schizosaccharomyces investigated formed l-malate during fermentation. The quantity varied between 0.1 and 2.6 g malate per liter. Two strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae synthesized malate at a rate of about 1.5 g/l. Malate was liberated during the growth phase and not metabolized during the stationary phase. Optimum malate formation was observed at a sugar concentration of about 20% (w/v), at pH 5 and at suboptimal nitrogen concentrations of less than 300 mg N/liter. Of the amino acids aspartate and glutamate were most favourable. If ammonium salts were used as the nitrogen source, significant amounts of malate were formed when the pH was kept constant by buffering. Trace metals had no or only little influence on malate synthesis. Biotin and pantothenate were essential for growth. Added 14CO2 led to the formation of approximately equal quantities of labelled malate and succinate by S. cerevisiae strain 52, whereas about ten times more malate than succinate was formed by Saccharomyces uvarum. Avidin strongly inhibited the formation of malate while the inhibiton of succinate synthesis and of growth was comparatively much less. Malate is obviously formed by reduction of oxalacetate, the synthesis of which is catalysed by a biotin-dependent pyruvate carboxylase.