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The Action of Acriflavine on Brewers’ Yeasts
Abstract
SUMMARY: The absorption of acriflavine by strains of Saccharomyces carlsbergensis and S. cerevisiae occurred at approximately the same rate and extent and was greatest in the range pH 4–5. In this range, the proportion of respiration-deficient cells produced by acriflavine treatment was also maximal. Furthermore, under more alkaline conditions, the acriflavine exerted a pronounced toxic effect. At pH 4–5, the proportion of mutant cells produced was about 50 times greater in strains of S. cerevisiae than in those of S. carlsbergensis, while fewer cells were killed. With S. cerevisiae the production of mutants was rapid and in certain strains exposure for 1 hr. to 50 μg. acriflavine/ml. led to about one-third of the cells mutating, while after 4 hr., all the cells were respiration-deficient. In contrast, exposure of strains of S. carlsbergensis for 24 hr. at this concentration of acriflavine induced only about one-tenth of the cells to mutate. The mutants took up no measurable amount of oxygen when examined in Warburg respirometers. As compared with the parent cultures, there was no difference in the ability of the cells to utilize carbohydrates and to undergo flocculation.
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© Society for General Microbiology 1961