Catabolite repression in yeasts is not associated with low levels of cAMP

Abstract

The relationship between levels of cAMP and catabolite repression in yeasts has been investigated. Strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Kluyieromyces fragilis were used. The yeasts were grown on different carbon sources to attain various degrees of repression. Galactose repressed as much as glucose, while maltose was less effective. Full derepression was achieved with ethanol. The enzymes tested were fructose-bisphosphatase, malate dehydrogenase, glutamate dehydrogenase (NAD dependent), cytochrome oxidase and isocitrate lyase (this last enzyme was found to be absent in Schizosaccharomyces). The levels of cAMP were 2–3 times higher in the repressed conditions than in the derepressed ones. It is therefore concluded that in yeasts catabolite repression is not mediated by a lowering of the intracellular concentration of cAMP.