Enzymes and germination of spores of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Enzymes in spores of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae were determined and compared with those in vegetative cells. The activities of phosphatase, oxidase and enzymes in the glycolytic bypass were high (about 3–10 fold) in spores, whereas those of dipeptidase, protease, DNase, RNase and TCA cycle enzymes were low in spores, being only 50% of the activities in vegetative cells. Enzymes in the glycolysis, glutathione and acetate metabolic pathways remained unchanged before and after sporulation. Germination of the yeast spores was repressed in the presence of d-aspartate, d-glutamate, d,l-methionine, d,l-cysteine, l-isoleucine, l-histidine and l-threonine, or bivalent metal ions such as Ni²⁺, Co²⁺ and Zn²⁺.