USE OF FLOW-CYTOMETRY FOR RAPID ESTIMATION OF INTRACELLULAR EVENTS INBREWING YEASTS

A flow cytometric method based on staining with fluorescein diacetate (FDA) for rapid measurement of the fluorescence intensity (FI) of indi vidual brewing yeast cells is reported. Distinct changes in the pi of yeast populations during the course of both laboratory scale and brewe ry fermentations were observed. The changes followed a characteristic pattern defined as the FI-profile. The pi-profile was related to the r ate of attenuation as well as changes in yeast glycogen and ergosterol contents. The results obtained suggest that flow cytometry can be app lied for estimation of intracellular events in brewing yeasts and pred iction of their performance.