MINOR UBIQUINONES OF THE YEAST COENZYME Q SYSTEM: IMPORTANCE IN THE TAXONOMY OF THE YEASTS

Abstract

The respiratory ubiquinones (coenzyme Q) have an important part in the modern taxonomy of the yeasts. The coenzyme Q of sixty-eight yeasts belonging to seven genera (Hansenula, Debaryomyces, Dekkera, Brettanomyces, Hanseniaspora, Kloeckera and Lipomyces) has been investigated by means of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). HPLC chromatograms have exhibited minor peaks of coenzyme Q beside the major coenzyme Q revealed by the usual paper chromatography. It appears that those minor components of coenzyme Q may have some importance in the taxonomy of the yeasts at a generic level.