Cell lysis induced by membrane-damaging detergent saponins from Quillaja saponaria

• Saponin treatment was found to lead to increased yeast cell membrane permeability.
• Saponin from Quillaja saponaria promotes protein and nitrogen compounds release.
• Saponin may be used as an auxiliary or alternative to enzymatic methods.

This paper presents the results of a study to determine the effect of Quillaja saponaria saponins on the lysis of industrial yeast strains. Cell lysis induced by saponin from Q. saponaria combined with the plasmolysing effect of 5% NaCl for Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Kluyveromyces marxianus yeasts biomass was conducted at 50 °C for 24–48 h. Membrane permeability and integrity of the yeast cells were monitored using fluorescent techniques and concentrations of proteins, free amino nitrogen (FAN) and free amino acids in resulting lysates were analyzed. Protein release was significantly higher in the case of yeast cell lysis promoted with 0.008% Q. saponaria and 5% NaCl in comparison to plasmolysis triggered by NaCl only.