Irreversibly electropermeabilized yeast retains the capability for ATP synthesis via oxidative phosphorylation

ATP synthesis in irreversibly electropermeabilized yeast Kluyveromyces lactis was studied by using different respiratory substrates. The permeabilization itself provoked a dramatic decrease of the total ATP level and the cells lost their ability to synthesize ATP via glycolysis. The addition of exogenous NADH supported ATP synthesis in irreversibly permeabilized cells for up to 4–6 h after substrate addition when the total ATP level became twice that of intact cells incubated for the same period with lactose.