Papers

Peer-reviewed
Dec, 1999

Effect of some heavy metal ions on copper-induced metallothionein synthesis in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

BIOMETALS
  • M Okuyama
  • ,
  • Y Kobayashi
  • ,
  • M Inouhe
  • ,
  • H Tohoyama
  • ,
  • M Joho

Volume
12
Number
4
First page
307
Last page
314
Language
English
Publishing type
Research paper (scientific journal)
DOI
10.1023/A:1009258523040
Publisher
KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBL

Copper-induced metallothionein (MT) synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated in order to associate this exclusively with Cu2+ in vivo, when cultured in nutrient medium containing other heavy metal ions. Expression of the CUP1 promoter/lacZ fusion gene was inhibited by all heavy metal ions tested, especially Cd2+ and Mn2+. By adding Cd2+ and Mn2+ at 10 mu M concentration, the beta-galactosidase activity decreased by about 80% and 50% of the maximum induction observed with 1 mM CuSO4, respectively. Furthermore, cell growth was markedly inhibited by combinations of 1 mM-Cu2+ and 1 mu M-Cd2+. Therefore, the yeast S. cerevisiae could not rely on MT synthesis as one of the copper-resistance mechanisms, when grown in a Cd2+ environment. In contrast, the presence of Mn2+ in the nutrient medium showed alleviation rather than growth inhibition by high concentrations of Cu2+. The recovery from growth inhibition by Mn2+ was due to decreased Cu2+ accumulation. Inhibitory concentrations of Co2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+ on expression of the CUP1p/lacZ fusion gene were at least one order of magnitude higher than that of Cd2+ and Mn2+. These results are discussed in relation to Cu2+ transport and Cu-induced MT synthesis in the copper-resistance mechanism of the yeast S. cerevisiae.

Link information
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009258523040
Web of Science
https://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=JSTA_CEL&SrcApp=J_Gate_JST&DestLinkType=FullRecord&KeyUT=WOS:000085277700004&DestApp=WOS_CPL
ID information
  • DOI : 10.1023/A:1009258523040
  • ISSN : 0966-0844
  • Web of Science ID : WOS:000085277700004

Export
BibTeX RIS