CHANGES IN THE STARVATION RESPONSE THROUGH COVALENT CELL ATTACHMENT

Covalent attachment of Candida utilis cells, possibly simulating natur al microbial immobilizations, stimulated stable and significant enhanc ement of extracellular production of alkaline protease, specifically i nduced by four different starvation conditions. The enzyme analysis co nfirmed the identity of the proteases released under all conditions of starvation and no parallel production of other proteolytic enzyme. Th e enhancement phenomenon as a uniform and stable effect of the whole c ell immobilization is discussed in relation to the effect of multipoin t, cell-solid surface contact, potentially bringing positive modulatio ns of complex, cellular functions.