[Synthesis and localization of L-lactate oxidase in yeasts]

Conditions for L-lactate oxidase synthesis by the yeast Yarrowia lpolytica were investigated. The enzyme was found to be synthesized during growth on L-lactate in the exponential growth phase. L-lactate oxidase synthesis was observed, also on glucose after adaptation to stress conditions (oxidative or thermal stress) r during the stationary growth phase after glucose consumption. The cells grown on L-lactate exhibited high levels of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and glutathione reductase), which exceeded those of glucose-grown cells. The ultrastructure of L-lactate-grown cellsand of those grown on glucose and adapted to various stress.conditions was also found to besimilar, with increased mitochondria, elevated number and size ofperoxisomes, and formation of lipid and polyphosphate inclusions. In order to determine the intracellular localization of L-lactate oxidase, the cells were disintegrated by the lytic enzyme complex from Helix pomatia. Centrifugation of the homogenate in Percoll gradient resulted in the isolation of purified fractions of the native mitochondria and peroxisomes. L-Lactate oxidase was shown to be localized in peroxisomes.