Kluyveromyces marxianus

**Semantic type:** Fungus

**Definition:** A dimorphic, homothallic and hemiascomycetous yeast in the phylum Ascomycota. This species is respiro-fermentative, Crabtree negative, thermotolerant, and assimilate lactose and insulin. This species also has a characteristically high growth rate and secretory capacity. K. marxianus is a biocatalyst and used industrially to produce beta-galactosidase, beta-glucosidase, inulinase, and polygalacturonases. It is also used as baker's yeast and an anticholesterolemic agent.

**Synonyms:** - C. pseudotropicalis - Candida pseudotropicalis - K. cicerisporus - K. fragilis - KLUYVEROMYCES MARXIANUS - Kluyveromyces cicerisporus - Kluyveromyces fragilis