[Production of Candida lipolytica protoplasts]

Optimal conditions were found for the production and isolation of the protoplasts of Candida lipolytica. The maximum amount of the protoplasts was produced after 90 minutes of the incubation with a crude preparation of the enzyme from Helix pomatia (100 mg/g wet biomass). Longer incubation results in lysis of the protoplasts and structural damages of the intracellular components. The yield of the protoplasts does not depend on the nature of stabilizing agent. A decrease in the stabilizer concentration increases the yield of the protoplasts four times. Preliminary treatment of the yeast cells with a 0.1 M solution of SH compounds (cysteine, beta-mercaptoethanol) does not increase the yield of the protoplasts; and 0.2 M solution of these compounds decreased the yield of the protoplasts.