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Nature of a Factor Causing Interstrain Lethality in Ustilago maydis. Lester Hankin, Departments of Biochemistry and of Genetics, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven 06504; John E. Puhalla, Departments of Biochemistry and of Genetics, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven 06504. Phytopathology 61:50-53. Accepted for publication 5 August 1970. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-61-50.

A substance released by a strain of Ustilago maydis killed cells of a sensitive strain of this same organism. This phenomenon is called interstrain lethality. Conditions for maximal production of the lethal factor were different from those for maximal growth. The factor was a protein inactivated by pronase and chymotrypsin, but not by trypsin. Sensitive cells were killed immediately upon exposure to the lethal factor.