ISSN:
1432-0614
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
Notes:
Abstract The sensitivity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to the redox-active metal copper has recently been found to be influenced by cellular fatty acid composition. This study sought to investigate whether fatty acid composition affected plasma membrane permeabilisation and whole-cell toxicity induced by the redox-inactive metal cadmium. S. cerevisiae NCYC 1383 was enriched with the polyunsaturated fatty acids linoleate (18:2) and linolenate (18:3) by growth in 18:2- or 18:3-supplemented medium. Incorporation of the exogenous fatty acids resulted in them comprising more than 65% of the total fatty acids in plasma membrane lipids. Inhibition of cell division in the presence of Cd(NO3)2 was accentuated by growth in the presence of a polyunsaturated fatty acid. Furthermore, susceptibility to Cd2+-induced plasma membrane permeabilisation increased with the degree of fatty acid unsaturation. Thus, during exposure to Cd2+, K+ efflux from 18:2- and 18:3-enriched cells was up to 2.5-fold or 3-fold greater, respectively than that from unsupplemented cells. In addition, reductions in cell viability during exposure to Cd2+ were most marked in polyunsaturated-fatty-acid-supplemented cells. At certain times, unsupplemented Cd2+-exposed cells displayed up to 7-fold greater viability than supplemented Cd2+-exposed cells. The study demonstrates that the toxicity of the redox-inactive metal Cd2+ towards S. cerevisiae becomes markedly amplified with increased cellular and plasma membrane fatty acid unsaturation.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002530051093
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