Mannitol utake by Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The uptake of mannitol, a nonmetabolized hexitol, by Saccharomyces cerevisiae was measured. Various characteristics examined include: effects of temperature on uptake, inhibition of uptake by uranyl nitrate, competition for uptake by glucose, counterflow of mannitol by glucose, and the affinity of mannitol for a carrier system as measured by a Michaelis constant. That energy is required for uptake was shown by a decreased uptake in the presence of energy inhibitors, by an increased uptake upon addition of energy sources, and by the absence of uptake under anaerobic conditions with no fermentable energy sources available. That mannitol is bound to some cellular constituent after it enters the cell was shown by its attachment to non-dialyzable cell fragments and by the lack of an osmotic response, both of which are consistent with a minimal efflux.