SENSITIVITY OF TRYPTOPHAN, TYROSINE AND PHENYLALANINE MUTANTS OF SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE TO PHENETHYL ALCOHOL

1 Department of Physics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506

Phenethyl alcohol inhibits the growth of many microorganisms. It is believed that the growth inhibition is mediated by its effect on the cell membrane. Differences between sensitive and resistant strains are suggested to be due to alterations in membrane structure. We report that, in some strains, an unexpected relationship exists between auxotrophy for tryptophan, tyrosine and phenylalanine and sensitivity to phenethyl alcohol.

Submitted on August 3, 1981
Accepted on February 23, 1983