Killer yeast

A killer yeast is a yeast, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is able to secrete one of a number of toxic proteins which are lethal to susceptible cells.[1] These "killer toxins" are polypeptides that kill sensitive cells of the same or related species, often functioning by creating pores in target cell membranes. These yeast cells are immune to the toxic effects of the protein due to an intrinsic immunity.[2] Killer yeast strains can be a problem in commercial processing because they can kill desirable strains.[3] The killer yeast system was first described in 1963.[4] Study of killer toxins helped to better understand the secretion pathway of yeast, which is similar to those of more complex eukaryotes. It also can be used in treatment of some diseases, mainly those caused by fungi.

  1. ^ Young TW, Yagiu M (1978). "A comparison of the killer character in different yeasts and its classification". Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. 44 (1): 59–77. doi:10.1007/BF00400077. PMID 655699. S2CID 20931283.
  2. ^ Breinig F, Sendzik T, Eisfeld K, Schmitt MJ (March 2006). "Dissecting toxin immunity in virus-infected killer yeast uncovers an intrinsic strategy of self-protection". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 103 (10): 3810–5. Bibcode:2006PNAS..103.3810B. doi:10.1073/pnas.0510070103. PMC 1533781. PMID 16505373.
  3. ^ Wickner RB (1986). "Double-stranded RNA replication in yeast: the killer system". Annual Review of Biochemistry. 55: 373–95. doi:10.1146/annurev.bi.55.070186.002105. PMID 3527047.
  4. ^ Bevan, E. A., and M. Makower. (1963). "The physiological basis of the killer character in yeast". Proc. XIth Int. Congr. Genet. 1:202–203.