Properties of catalase activity in vegetative and sporulating cells of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Properties of catalase activities have been examined in the intact cells of early stationary phase and cells 3 hr after transfer to sporulation medium in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The catalase activities of the two cells had a broad optimal pH from 6 to 8. Catalase activity in the intact cells increased throughout a 4-hr period of the observation following transfer to sporulation medium. Almost all the catalase activity in vegetative cells was lost by the treatment at 60 degrees C for 10 min. Catalase activities of both cells were inhibited by KCN, NaN3, o-phenanthroline, and PCMB. The catalase activity of the vegetative cells was slightly more inhibited and inactivated than that of the sporulating cells by the inhibitors and by the treatment with HCl or NaOH.