Influence of growth rate on the accumulation of ergosterol in yeast-cells

Summary The influence of growth rate on the accumulation of ergosterol inSaccharomyces cerevisiae was studied with glucose, maltose, ethanol and acetic acid as substrates under C- and N-limitations in chemostat experiments. In carbon limited cultures an decrease in ergosterol content with rising dilution rate was observed, whereas in nitrogen limited cells an quite opposite behaviour was attained. A maximum specific rate of ergosterol synthesis of about 2 mg per h per g dry cell mass was calculated for nitrogen limited cultures.