Respirofermentative metabolism in Kluyveromyces lactis: insights and perspectives

Yeasts do not form a homogeneous group as far as energy-yielding metabolism is concerned and the fate of pyruvate, a glycolytic intermediate, determin es the type of energy metabolism. Kluyveromyces lactis has become an altern ative to the traditional yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae owing to its indust rial applications as well as to studies on mitochondrial respiration. In th is review we summarize the current knowledge about the K. lactis respirofer mentative metabolism, taking into account the respiratory capacity of this yeast and the molecular mechanisms controlling its regulation, giving an up -to-date picture. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.