Effects of Inositol Deficiency on Respiratory and Fermentative Activities of Inositol-exacting Yeast,Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Inositol deficiency of Schizosaccharomyces pombe did not induce significant change of contents of various cellular components except for phospholipids and inositol. The most remarkable decrease in inositol content by the deficiency occurred in the mitochondrial fraction. Electronmicroscopic observation of the inositol-deficient cells of Sch. pombe showed no remarkable thickening of cell wall as occurred in the inositol-exacting mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strain A–21–20.

Marked loss of fermentative activity under the aerobic condition was caused from inositol deficiency without significant change of activities of respiration and anaerobic fermentation. This seemed to indicate elevated regulatory control of the fermentative activity by oxygen in the inositol-deficient Sch. pombe.

Phosphorylative activities of intact cells and the isolated mitochondria coupled with oxidation was also remarkably suppressed by inositol deficiency.