Effect of the petite mutation on maltose and alpha-methylgucoside fermentation inSaccharomyces cerevisiae.

Several hundred petite mutants were isolated from yeast strains of different genotype to examine the effect of the petite mutation on maltose and alpha-methylglucoside fermentation. In most cases petite mutants isolated retain the ability to ferment maltose and alpha-methylglucoside, although at a slower rate. In one strain (1403-7A), however, the ability to ferment alpha-methylglucoside is completely lost in all petite mutants isolated from this strain. It is suggested that mitochondrial factors may be involved in the utilization of alpha-methylglucoside in strain 1403-7A.