Reactive oxygen species and Ca2+ are involved in cadmium-induced cell killing in yeast cells

• Published in: Canadian journal of microbiology Vol. 63; no. 2; pp. 153 - 159
• Main Authors: Wang, Xinghua, Yi, Min, Liu, Hui, Han, Yansha, Yi, Huilan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: NRC Research Press 01.02.2017
• Subjects: cadmium; cell killing; cytotoxicité; levure; reactive oxygen species; réactifs oxygénés; yeast
• ISSN: 0008-4166; 1480-3275
• DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2016-0258

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most toxic heavy metals. It is of great environmental concern and its toxicity has been investigated in a variety of cells. In this study, we elucidated the toxic effects of Cd in cells of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Our results showed that Cd 2+ (0.05–5.0 mmol·L −1 ) significantly inhibited yeast cell growth, and the inhibitory effect was positively correlated with Cd 2+ concentrations. Cd 2+ caused loss of yeast cell viability in a concentration- and duration-dependent manner. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Ca 2+ levels increased in yeast cells after exposure to 5.0 mmol·L −1 Cd for 6 h. Cd 2+ -caused cell viability loss was blocked by antioxidants (0.5 mmol·L −1 ascorbic acid or 500 U·mL −1 catalase) or Ca 2+ antagonists (0.5 mmol·L −1 ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid or 0.5 mmol·L −1 LaCl 3 ). Moreover, a collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ m ) was observed in Cd 2+ -treated yeast cells. These results indicate that Cd-induced yeast cell killing was associated with the elevation of intracellular ROS and Ca 2+ levels and also the loss of ΔΨ m .