title: Atomic force microscopic study of the effects of ethanol on yeast cell surface morphology.
abstract: The detrimental effects of ethanol toxicity on the cell surface morphology of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (strain NCYC 1681) and Schizosaccharomyces pombe (strain DVPB 1354) were investigated using an atomic force microscope (AFM). In combination with culture viability and mean cell volume measurements AFM studies allowed us to relate the cell surface morphological changes, observed on nanometer lateral resolution, with the cellular stress physiology. Exposing yeasts to increasing stressful concentrations of ethanol led to decreased cell viabilities and mean cell volumes. Together with the roughness and bearing volume analyses of the AFM images, the results provided novel insight into the relative ethanol tolerance of S. cerevisiae and Sc. pombe.
authors.affiliation: Condensed Matter Group and BIONTH (Bio- and Nano-Technologies for Health) Centre, School of Contemporary Sciences, University of Abertay Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Canetta
authors.forename: Ashok K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Adya
authors.forename: Graeme M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018869:Heat-Shock Response; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol