Biochemical and Genetic Characterization of β-Glucosidase Mutants in Saccharomyces lactis

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Abstract
Mutants with reduced activity for β-glucosidase (β- d -glucoside glucohydrolase EC 3.2.1.21) were isolated from the haploid yeast Saccharomyces lactis . Tetrad analysis indicated that in each mutant a single genetic factor, closely linked or allelic to the structural gene for β-glucosidase (B locus), is responsible for the decreased activity. β-Glucosidases produced by wild-type and mutant strains are similar in molecular size and charge but differ in catalytic properties, thermal stability, and serological specificity, indicating that mutants are in the structural gene. All mutants retained their capacity to be induced by either methyl-β- d -glucoside or glucose. In all cases, the mutant phenotype was dominant in heterozygous diploids.