Susceptibilities of Yeasts to Yeast Cell Wall Lytic Enzyme of Arthrobaeter luteus

The susceptibilities of various strains of yeast to a yeast cell wall lytic enzyme produced by Arthrobacter luteus were examined. Twenty six strains of yeasts, mainly in the genera Saccharoinyces and Candida were tested. They were tested after growth attained to the logarithmic or to the resting stage in different media (malt extract medium or n-paraffin medium) and various culture conditions (shaking or stationary liquid cultures or agar slopes). The effects of various treatments, such as heating, or treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol or sodium dodecylsulfate on their susceptibility were also examined. These various conditions and treatments greatly influenced the susceptibilities of the yeast cells, suggesting that they affected the composition and/or structure of the yeast cell walls.