Autolytic reduction of the nucleic acid content in Candida utilis

The nucleic acid content in Candida utilis was autolytically reduced only after previous lyophilization of yeast cells or pretreatment of the cells with ethyl acetate. These pretreatments provided a sufficient permeability of the cell membrane system and thus enabled a reduction of the nucleic acid content. While deep freezing of the cells (−35 °C) had no positive effect on the degradation of nucleic acids, lyophilization of yeast cells led to a 75% decrease of the nucleic acid content. Furthermore, a 55% reduction of the nucleic acid content was proceeded without a concomitant loss of proteins. Similar results were obtained by using ethyl acetate.