Cytochemical localization of mercury in Saccharomyces cerevisiae treated with mercuric chloride.
We describe a cytochemical method for localizing mercury at the electron microscopic level in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. After addition of a lethal concentration of mercuric chloride to growing yeast cells, mercury was associated with the cell wall and cytoplasmic membrane. Little or no mercury was present in the cytoplasm. Electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPMA) confirmed that the cytochemical reaction, visualized as mercury-silver complexes, was localized in dense bodies consisting of a core of mercury sulfide polymers surrounded by a shell of silver atoms.
Whittaker
S G
SG
Department of Biology, University College London, United Kingdom.
Smith
D G
DG
Foster
J R
JR
Rowland
I R
IR
D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D008627:Mercuric Chloride