MERCURIAL TOXICITY IN YEAST - GLUCOSE-UPTAKE, GLYCOLYTIC AND FERMENTATIVE FUNCTIONS REMAIN UNIMPAIRED

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 26  (105-) , 147-152
Abstract
Yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) were placed in association with sufficient concentrations of culture mercurials (as HgCl2) to arrest their uptake of culture dissolved O2. They were subsequently employed as substrates to test the status of membrane glucose transport mechanisms, the glycolytic-metabolic pathway, and the fermentative capabilities of Hg-stressed cells. These cells retain their glucose uptake capabilities as evidenced by their depletion of glucose in suspension fluids to levels similar to those of control cell suspensions; these cells could produce amounts of CO2 and ethanol which were similar to control cell productions. Mercurial toxicity evidently is not the result of an overall disruptive effect of cellular reactions or membrane functions but results from a specific lesion or lesions within the catabolic metabolism pathway inhibiting reactions that normally occur after glycolysis.