Stabilization of the yeast desaturase system by low levels of oxygen.

The stability of particulate palmitoyl-CoA desaturase preparations from anaerobically grown yeast cells was increased by exposure to low levels of oxygen. The stabilizing effect of oxygen may be based upon the increased amounts of palmitoleic acid and ergosterol that become available to the cells. These results suggest the evolutionary appearance of this system at a time when atmospheric oxygen was at a low level.