In situ analysis of methylglyoxal metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Methylglyoxal metabolism was studied during Saccharomyces cerevisiae grown with D-glucose as the sole carbon and energy source. Using for the first time a specific assay for methylglyoxal in yeast, metabolic fluxes of its formation and D-lactate production were determined. D-Glucose consumption and ethanol production were determined during growth. Metabolic fluxes were also determined in situ, at the glycolytic triose phosphate levels and glyosalase pathway. Maximum fluxes of ethanol production and glucose consumption correspond to maxima of methylgloxal and D-lactate formation fluxes during growth. Methylglyoxal formation is quantitatively related to glycolysis, representing 0.3% of the total glycolytic flux in S, cerevisiae. (C) 2001 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.