In order to explore the pulsed electric field (PEF) sterilization mechanism of saccharomyces cerevisiae, the physiological function changes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae after PEF treatment were studied mainly by flow cytometry (FCM) in combination with fluorescent techniques.PI staining of the PEF treated S.cerevisiae shows cell wall and membrane are damaged, with the increasing intensity of treatment, PI staining degree gradually increased.FCM sorting of double stained cells put forward direct evidence for the occurrence of sublethally injured yeast cells and the restriction of intracellular lipase activity under stress of PEF.