A rapid permeabilization procedure for accurate quantitative determination of β-galactosidase activity in yeast cells

Abstract

A procedure is described which allows the rapid permeabilization of yeast cells, Schi.zo~accharomyces pombe and Succharomyces cereuisiue, for quantitative in situ assays of P-galactosidase activity. Yeast cells are permeabilized by incubation in buffer containing 0.2% of the detergent sodium lauroyl sarcosinate without any need for washing or vortexing. This procedure is equally applicable to fresh and frozen samples. It is compared to earlier reported methods and found to be superior by being more accurate and less time-consuming.