Catalase biosynthesis in yeast: formation of catalase A and catalase T during oxygen adaptation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Catalase A from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its biosynthetic precursors can specifically be immunoprecipitated from extracts obtained from yeast cells grown in the presence of L-[3H]leucine or 59FeCl3. The enzyme and its precursors recognized by a specific antiserum are absent from anaerobic cells. During oxygen adaptation of yeast pre-grown on 0.3% glucose under anaerobic conditions catalase A is formed via a heme-less precursor, probably the apomonomer of the protein, and a heme-containing intermediate. When cells are grown in the presence of Tween 80 the amount of catalase A, but not of catalase T, increases 4-fold. Comparison of the mode of synthesis of catalase T and A shows that no precursor-product relationship exists between the two proteins.