Effect of growth temperature upon heat sensitivity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The resistance of exponentially growing yeast cells to killing by exposure to 52 degrees C increase markedly as the growth temperature was increased. Identical killing curves were obtained for cells suspended in growth medium or in 0.9% saline. Cells resistant to killing at 52 degrees C were quite sensitive to killing at slightly higher temperatures. These results suggest a primary role for membrane damage in the mechanism of heat killing.