Enhanced production of glycerol in an alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH I) deficient mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Summary A partial alcohol dehydrogenase, ADH I, deficient mutant, GRF 18-2 of S. cerevisiae has been isolated. The mutant is resistant to allyl alcohol and the spec. activity of ADH I is 15-fold reduced in the mutant. In a batch fermentation the mutant overproduces glycerol. The production is enhanced 6–7 fold compared with the wildtype strain and it amounts to about 40 per cent of the ethanol produced. The yield of ethanol and glycerol is 56 and 24 per cent respectively. Another mutant possibly defect in the gene for ADH II has a reduced capacity to oxidize ethanol.