Inactivation of chitin synthase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The activity of chitin synthase extracted from whole cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae shows reproducible changes during the course of batch cultivation. During exponential growth 5–10% of the enzyme occurs in the active form, whereas in the stationary phase no active enzyme can be detected. Of three yeast proteinases, A, B and C, only B is able to activate pre-chitin synthase and inactivate chitin synthase. A new model of the regulation is presented which accounts for the specific location as well as for termination of chitin synthesis during the budding cycle.These results were reported at the 4th International Symposium on Yeasts in Vienna, July 1974, and are part of doctoral thesis by A.H., University Freiburg (1974).