Catabolite inactivation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in spheroplasts from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Catabolite inactivation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase was studied in yeast spheroplasts using 0.9 M mannitol or 0.6 M potassium chloride as the osmotic support. In the presence of potassium chloride the rate of catabolite inactivation was nearly the same as that occurring in intact yeast cells under different conditions of incubation. However, in the presence of mannitol, catabolite inactivation in spheroplasts was prevented. The mannitol inhibition of catabolite inactivation was released by addition of ammonium or phosphate ions. At a concentration of 0.3 M ammonium or 0.06 M phosphate ions, the maximum rate of catabolite inactivation in spheroplasts suspended in mannitol was achieved and was comparable with that observed in spheroplasts incubated in 0.6 M potassium chloride as the osmotic stabilizer. Sodium sulfate (0.04 and 0.4 M) or potassium chloride (0.06 and 0.6 M) did not release the mannitol inhibition of catabolite inactivation in spheroplasts. In intact yeast cells, 0.9 M mannitol, 0.08 M ammonium or 0.1 M phosphate ions did not influence the rate of catabolite inactivation. The nature of the effect of mannitol, ammonium and phosphate ions on catabolite inactivation in yeast spheroplasts is discussed.