title: Lead toxicity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
abstract: The effect of Pb on Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell structure and function was examined. Membrane integrity was assessed by the release of UV-absorbing compounds and by the intracellular K(+) efflux. No leakage of UV(260)-absorbing compounds or loss of K(+) were observed in Pb (until 1,000 μmol/l) treated cells up to 30 min; these results suggest that plasma membrane seems not to be the immediate and primary target of Pb toxicity. The effect of Pb on yeast metabolism was examined using the fluorescent probe FUN-1 and compared with the ability to reproduce, evaluated by colony-forming units counting. The exposition of yeast cells, during 60 min to 1,000 μmol/l Pb, induces a decrease in the ability to process FUN-1 although the cells retain its proliferation capacity. A more prolonged contact time (120 min) of yeast cells with Pb induces a marked (> 50%) loss of yeast cells metabolic activity and replication competence through a mechanism which most likely requires protein synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Laboratory, Chemical Engineering Department, Superior Institute of Engineering from Porto Polytechnic Institute, Rua Dr António Bernardino de Almeida, 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maarten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van der Heggen
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.forename: Eduardo V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Soares
mesh_terms: D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007854:Lead