[Nonspecific stress in Candida utilis under growth inhibition by a specific inhibitor]

The physiological state of Candida utilis chemostat cultures was studied when the growth was limited with glycerol at D from 0.047 to 0.35 hr-1, and compared with the same cultures inhibited with cycloheximide. This compound at a concentration of 1 mg/litre almost did not inhibit the growth, but the value of the growth yield decreased from 0.45 to 0.38; the content of protein fell, on the average, from 44 to 35% of the dry biomass weight; the content of polysaccharides increased from 22 to 30%; the content of nucleic acids and lipids did not change; the liberation of keto and amino acids into the medium slightly increased. The population became heterogeneous, the cells increased in size, the separation of daughter cells from the parent ones became complicated, and the number of vacuoles in the cells increased. All of these changes, apart from a significant decrease in the content of protein, are also typical of the action of various nonspecific growth inhibitors.