Transmembrane ferricyanide reduction by cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Both respiratory-competent and respiratory-deficient yeast cells reduce external ferricyanide. The reduction is stimulated by ethanol and inhibited by the alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor, pyrazole. The reduction of ferricyanide is not inhibited by inhibitors of mitochondrial or microsomal ferricyanide reduction. Cells in exponential-phase growth show a much higher rate of ferricyanide reduction. The reduction of ferricyanide is accompanied by increased release of protons by the yeast cells. We propose that the ferricyanide reduction is carried out by a transmembrane NADH dehydrogenase.