Arsenic induces caspase- and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
In recent years, it has been shown that yeast, a unicellular organism, undergoes apoptosis in response to various factors. Here we demonstrate that the highly effective anticancer agent arsenic induces apoptotic process in yeast cells. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was observed in the process. Moreover, mitochondrial membrane potential decreased after arsenic treatment. Resistance of the rho(0) mutant strain (lacking mtDNA) to arsenic provides further evidence that this death process involves mitochondria. In addition, hypersensitivity of Deltasod1 to arsenic suggests the critical role of ROS. Cell death and DNA fragmentation decreased in a Deltayca1 deletion mutant, indicating the participation of yeast caspase-1 protein in apoptosis. The implications of these findings for arsenic-induced apoptosis are discussed.
Du
Li
L
School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, PR China.
Yu
Yong
Y
Chen
Jingsi
J
Liu
Yan
Y
Xia
Yongjing
Y
Chen
Quan
Q
Liu
Xiangjun
X
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001151:Arsenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018053:Arsenites / Q000494:pharmacology; D020169:Caspases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
D018053:Arsenites; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D020169:Caspases; C456272:MCA1 protein, S cerevisiae; C015001:arsenite; D001151:Arsenic