Metabolic flux response to salt-induced stress in the halotolerant yeast Debaryomyces hansenii

The toxic effect of NaCl and KCI on growth of the marine yeast Debaryomyces hansenii on glucose or glycerol was studied. Above a threshold value, both salts reduced the specific growth rate, specific glucose and glycerol respiration rates and specific glucose fermentation rate, as well as biomass yields. The exponential inhibition constant, k, and minimum toxic concentration, c(min), were similar for all physiological parameters assayed. The effect of either salt on the specific activity of several glycolytic enzymes showed a similar inhibition pattern, although at much lower salt concentrations compared with the physiological parameters. In agreement with published results on glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase stimulation by salt, we present evidence that a general glycolytic flux deviation could occur naturally during salt stress, due to the intrinsic sensitivity of the glycolytic enzymes to intracellular ion concentrations.