A GENERAL-MODEL FOR AEROBIC YEAST GROWTH - CONTINUOUS CULTURE

A general model for the aerobic growth of yeast in continuous culture is presented. The model is capable of simulating the complete range of metabolic responses observed for yeast growth in continuous culture including respiratory repression, saturated respiratory capacity, and respiratory depression. It is postulated that respiratory depression is the result of the adaptation (increase in capacity of the respiratory intermediate transport proteins located at the mitochondrial membrane). Respiratory repression and subsequent saturated respiratory capacity is postulated to be the result of the gradual transfer of biosynthetic intermediates provision from the mitochondrion to the cytoplasm or, possibly, the adaptation (increase) in the capacity of the cell to excrete ethnol. It is difficult to provide a definitive experimental verification of these postulates. Irrespective of the biochemical basis of respiratory repression and depression, the model described is capable of simulating the complete range of metabolic responses obtained for yeast growth in continuous culture. It is the only model reported in the literature capable of achieving this. Copyright © 1990 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.