Enzymatic Release of Invertase from Cell Ghosts of Candida utilis

1. The liberation of invertase (β-fructofuranosidase, EC 3.2.1.26) from Candida utilis at autolysis of the cells was found to begin after the autolysis was almost completed. The autolysis residue at this stage consisted mainly of cell walls (ghosts). A suspension of washed cell ghosts released invertase on further incubation and this liberation was stimulated by the addition of reducing agents such as mercaptoethanol, or proteolytic enzymes such as papain, as has been known in the release of the invertase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

2. The invertase activity of the cell ghosts was not lost when the suspension was heated at 60°C. However, the invertase of the heated cell ghosts was not liberated even if the above stimulative agents were added.

3. Several commercial enzymes were shown to stimulate the liberation of invertase from the heated cell ghosts and “Zymolyase,? one of the effective enzymes, was fractionated. One fraction isolated from the preparation showed a striking effect on the liberation of invertase but this fraction did not show lytic activity on brewer’s yeast cells.