Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Interaction of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with gold: toxicity and accumulation

  • Published:
Biometals Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper examines the effects of ionic gold on Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as determined by long-term (growth in gold-containing media) and short-term interactions (H+ efflux activity). An increasing gold concentration inhibited growth and at <0.2 mM Au, growth was not observed. Transmission electron microscopy revealed no differences in ultrastructure but fine electron dense particles were observed in unstained preparations from gold-containing medium. After glucose addition (to 10mM) to starved suspensions of S. cerevisiae, glucose-dependent reduction of external pH occurred as the cells extruded protons. In the presence of increasing gold concentrations, the lag time before proton extrusion did not change but the rate and duration decreased significantly with a marked influence on proton efflux rate being observed at ≤ 10 μM. Extension of preincubation time of yeast cells in gold-containing medium resulted in a decreasing proton efflux rate and colloidal phase formation in the cell suspensions, the time between gold addition and the beginning of colloidal phase formation depending on the gold concentration used. Both Ca and Mg enhanced the inhibitory effect of gold on the yeast cells with Ca showing a stronger inhibitory effect than Mg.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bagnyuk VM, Myronyuk VI, Podorvanov VV, Sadzev YP. 1990 Peculiarities of interaction of Chlorella with gold and silver sols. Proc Acad Sci USSR 310, 727-731.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biryuzova VI, Korobushkina YD, Pozmogova IN, Karavaiko GI. 1987 Gold uptake by Candida utilis cells. Microbiologia 56, 209-216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Busev AI, Ivanov VM. 1973 Analytical chemistry of gold. Moscow, Nauka Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chernyak AS, Shestopalova LF. 1976 Study of complexes of gold(I) with cysteine. Zh Neorganicheskoi Khimii 21, 851-853.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gadd GM. 1988 Accumulation of metals by microorganisms and algae. In: Rehm, J-J., ed. Biotechnology, Vol 6b. Weinheim, VCH Verlagsgesellschaft; 401-433.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gadd GM, Mowll JL, White C, Newby PJ. 1986 Methods for assessment of heavy metal toxicity towards fungi and yeasts. Tox Assess 1, 169-185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goleva GA, Krivenkov VA, Gudz' ZG. 1970 Geochemical regularities of circulation and migration forms of gold in nature water. Geochimia 6, 744-757.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greene B, Hosea M, McPherson R, Henzl M, Alexander MD, Darnall DW. 1986 Interaction of gold(I) and gold(III) with algal biomass. Environ Sci Technol 20, 627-632.

    Google Scholar 

  • Higham D, Sadler P, Scawen M. 1986 Gold-resistant bacteria: excretion of a cysteine-rich protein by Pseudomonas cepacia induced by an antiarthritic drug. J Inorg Chem 26, 253-261.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horn R. 1972 Sea Chemistry (Structure of Water and Chemistry of Hydrosphere). Moscow, Mir Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hosea M, Greene B, McPherson R, Henzl M, Alexander MD, Darnall DW. 1986 Accumulation of elemental gold on the alga Chlorella vulgaris. Inorganica Chemica Acta 123, 161-165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karamushka VI, Gadd GM. 1994 Influence of copper on proton efflux from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and protective effect of calcium and magnesium. FEMS Microbiol Lett 122, 33-38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karamushka VI, Ulberg ZR, Gruzina TG. 1990 The role of membrane processes in bacterial accumulation of Au(III) and Au(0). Ukr Biokchim Zh 62, 76-82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karamushka VI, Ulberg, ZR, Gruzina TG, Skljarov AG. 1990 Peculiarities of interaction of Chlorella vulgaris Beijer. with tetrachloroaurate. Fiziologiya Rastjeniy 27, 342-347.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karamushka VI, Ulberg, ZR, Gruzina TG, Garbara SV, Chopik OV, Grishchenko NI, Stepura LG. 1991 Energy-dependent gold accumulation leads to inhibition of energy transformation systems in bacteria. Prikladnaya Biokhimia Microbiologia 27, 119-126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karamushka VI, Sayer JA, Gadd GM. 1996 Inhibition of H+ efflux from Saccharomyces cerevisiae by insoluble metal phosphates and protection by calcium and magnesium: inhibitory effects a result of soluble metal cations? Mycological Res 100, 707-713.

    Google Scholar 

  • Korobushkina ED, Chernyak AS, Minyeyev GG. 1974 Gold solubilization by microorganisms and their metabolic products. Microbiologia 43, 49-54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Korobushkina ED, Pozmogova IN, Karavaiko GI, Rabotonova IL. 1987 Influence of gold on growth and morphophysiological properties of Candida utilis. Microbiologia 56, 44-51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Korobushkina ED, Biryuzova VI, Korobushkin LM, Karavaiko GI. 1989 Origin and accumulation of gold crystals in yeast cells. Proc Acad Sci USSR 304, 431-433.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuyucak N, Volesky B. 1989a Accumulation of gold by algal biosorbent. Biorecovery 3, 189-204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuyucak N, Volesky B. 1989b The elution of gold sequestered on a natural biosorbent. Biorecovery 3, 205-218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuyucak N, Volesky B. 1989c The mechanism of gold biosorption. Biorecovery 3, 219-235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence RW. 1990 Biotreatment of gold ores. In: Ehrlich HL, Brierley CL, eds Microbial Mineral Recovery, New York, McGraw-Hill; 127-148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Minyeyev GG. 1974 Microorganisms participation in geochemical cycling and concentration of gold. Geochimia 4, 577-582.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nechayev Y.A, Zvonarev GV. 1983 Adsorption of chloride complexes of gold(III) on goethite. Kolloidniy Zh 45, 908-911.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson GJ. 1994 Microbial oxidation of gold ores and gold bioleaching. FEMS Microbiol Lett 119, 1-6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ovcharenko FD, Ulberg ZR, Dukhin AS, Karamushka VI, Gruzina TG. 1991 Peculiarities of electrosurface phenomena in cell suspensions. Prog Modern Biol 111, 276-287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peshchevitskiy BI, Anoshyn GN, Erenburg AM. 1965 Chemical forms of gold in sea water. Proc Acad Sci USSR 162, 915-911.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pivovarova TA, Korobushkina ED, Krasheninnikova SA, Rubtsov AY, Karavaiko GI. 1986 Influence of ions of gold on Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. Microbiologia 55, 966-972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sadler PJ. 1976 The biological chemistry of gold: a metallodrug and heavy-atom label with variable valency. Struct Bond 29, 171-213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savvaidis I, Karamushka VI, Lee H, Trevors JT. 1998 Interaction of gold with microorganisms. Biometals 11, 69-78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Serrano R. 1980 Effect of ATPase inhibitors on the proton pump of respiratory-deficient yeast. Eur J Biochem 105, 419-424.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith A, Hunt R. 1985 Solubilization of gold by Chromobacterium violaceum. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 2, 110-116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sobolevsky VI. 1970 Noble Metals: Gold. Moscow, Znaniye Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulberg ZR, Karamushka VI, Gruzina TG, Dukhin AS, Garbara SV, Grishchenko NI. 1990 Influence of protonophores on the bacterial cells and mineral particles interaction. Kolloidniy Zh 52, 172-175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulberg ZR, Karamushka VI, Vidybida AK, Sericov AA, Dukhin AS, Gruzina TG, Pechenaja VI. 1992 Interaction of energized bacteria cells with particles of colloidal gold: peculiarities and kinetic model of the process. Biochim Biophys Acta 1134, 89-95.

    Google Scholar 

  • White C, Gadd GM. 1987 Inhibition of H+-efflux and K+-uptake, and induction of K+-efflux in yeast by heavy metals. Tox Assess 2, 437-447.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Academy of Sciences of the Ukraine, Institute of Biocolloid Chemistry, 42 Vernadsky Blvd, 252142, Kyiv, Ukraine

    Victor I. Karamushka

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 4HN, Scotland, UK

    Geoffrey M. Gadd

Authors
  1. Victor I. Karamushka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Geoffrey M. Gadd
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Karamushka, V.I., Gadd, G.M. Interaction of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with gold: toxicity and accumulation. Biometals 12, 289–294 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009210101628

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009210101628

Search

Navigation