Reversal by Magnesium Ions of the Inhibition of Yeast Metabolism by a Cationic Detergent

Abstract

IT has been shown^1,2 that cationic detergents strongly inhibit the production of acid and of carbon dioxide by unbuffered suspensions of baker's yeast. It has also been found² that the addition to such suspensions of inhibitory concentrations of cationic detergents is followed by extensive lysis of the cells. The suggestion has been made² that interaction between detergent cations and anionic groups in the cell surface is an essential factor in the lytic and inhibitory action of cationic detergents on yeast. It seemed possible, therefore, that the inhibition of yeast metabolism by these compounds might be considerably modified in the presence of appropriate concentrations of univalent and bivalent metallic cations which have been shown³ to combine with at least two types of fixed anion in the yeast cell surface.