BEHAVIOR OF THE YEAST KLUYVEROMYCES-MARXIANUS VAR MARXIANUS DURING ITS AUTOLYSIS

The lactic yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus var.marxianus (formerly K. fr agilis) autolyzates at faster rate than Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Duri ng K. marxianus autolysis, quite similar release kinetics were observe d for intracellular space markers (potassium ions, nucleotides), cell- wall components (polysaccharides, N-acetyl-D-Glucosamine) and non spec ific products (amino nitrogen). By Scanning Electronic Microscopy exam ination, no cell burst was observed, but a variation in cell shape (fr om ellipsoidal to cylindrical), as well as a 43% decrease in the inter nal volume were observed. The mechanism proposed for S.cerevisiae auto lysis appeared also likely for K marxianus.