[Enzymatic degradation of cell walls of yeast cells at different growth phases]

The enzymes of Actinomyces cellulosae were fractionated by precipitation with ammonium sulphate and gel filtration on Sephadex G-75. Fractionation yielded protease, beta-1,3-glucanase and an enzyme of a low molecular weight and unknown nature involved in lysis by 70% of yeast cells at early exponential growth phase without the participation of the other two enzymes. The protease did not accomplish lysis of the cells; beta-1,3-glucanase was involved in degradation of the cell walls of old yeast cells.