THE COENZYME Q SYSTEM IN STRAINS OF SOME YEASTS AND YEAST-LIKE FUNGI

Abstract

Forty-four strains of 26 species of yeasts and yeast-like fungi were examined for the Co-Q system as a taxonomic criterion. In the Hemiascomycetes of Ascomycotina, Cephaloascus fragrans had the Q-9 system. Protomyces inouyei, P. lactucae-debilis, P. pachydermus and Taphrina wiesneri showed the Q-10 system. That system occurred also in the basidiomycetous yeasts, Filobasidium floriforme and Sporidiobolus johnsonii; and in the Hymenomycetes of Basidiomycotina, Tremella aurantia, T. brasiliensis, T. encephala, T. foliacea, T. fuciformis, T. mesenterica, T. subanomala and Femsjonia luteoalba. In the Blastomycetes of Deuteromycotina, the Q-9 system occurred in Selenozyma intestinalis, Sterigmatomyces elviae and Trigonopsis variabilis. Other species such as Cryptococcus hungaricus, Bullera alba, Itersonilia perplexans, Tilletiopsis cremea, T. lilacina, T. minor var. minor and T. minor var. flava had the Q-10 system. In the Hyphomycetes of Deuteromycotina, Aureobasidium pullulans exhibited the Q-10(H₂) system, however, Rhinocladiella mansonii presented the Q-10 system. The taxonomic significance of the Co-Q system is discussed.