A modulatory effect of yeast cell-humic salt interaction

Abstract Na-humate, when added to yeast cultivation media, allows some increase in the cell division rate. This compound was shown to stimulate reproduction activity over all interval of exponential growth of Candida utilis cells, and this effect is partially independent of temperature and pH. The populations of yeast cells growing in the presence of Na-humate exhibit a resistance to polyene antibiotic and a higher Cr 6+ adsorption capacity. The ultrathin sections of the cells exposed to Nahumate show external, electrondense precipitations in the space of the cell surface as well as some alterations in the cytoplasmic matrix and interchromatin. The observed changes are attributed to the effect of permanent outer cell wall — humate contact.