Search for a novel killer toxin in yeast Pichia pastoris

Certain yeast strains secrete a protein toxin. which inhibits the growth of sensitive pathogens and yeasts. Studies have shown that production of the toxin is dependent on presence of linear, double-stranded DNA plasmids in t he killer yeasts. In the yeast Pichia pastoris, two linear double stranded DNA plasmids have been identified. In the present study, the search for tox in-producing capability in P. pastoris has been conducted. No killer activi ty could be detected when 14 different indicator strains were tested. (C) 2 000 Academic Press.