Mutants of Schizosaccharomyces pombe defective in glycerol catabolism

Mutants of Schizosaccharomyces pombe unable to grow or growing very slowly on glycerol have been isolated. Some, which could grow on dihydroxyacetone, lacked, or in one mutant possessed reduced amounts of, glycerol dehydrogenase (glycerol:NAD+ 2-oxidoreductase); others could not grow on dihydroxyacetone and lacked dihydroxyacetone kinase. Spontaneous revertants able to grow on glycerol had regained these enzymes. These results provide evidence that glycerol catabolism in S. pombe proceeds via initial dehydrogenation of glycerol followed by phosphorylation of dihydroxyacetone. There is evidence that dihydroxyacetone can be converted to a toxic product.