Efflux of Potassium Ions from Cells and Spheroplasts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Yeast Treated with Silver and Copper Ions

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V. M. Vagabov¹, A. Yu. Ivanov², T. V. Kulakovskaya^1*, E. V. Kulakovskaya¹, V. V. Petrov¹, and I. S. Kulaev¹

¹Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia; E-mail: alla@ibpm.pushchino.ru

²Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia; E-mail: alexsyltan1@rambler.ru

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received January 14, 2008; Revision received May 23, 2008

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Silver ions induce the efflux of potassium from cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae but have no such effect on spheroplasts. Copper ions and the natural fungicide 2-O-3-hydroxyhexanoyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-(6-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→16)-2,15,16-trihydroxyhexadecanoic acid) induce the efflux of potassium ions from both cells and spheroplasts of S. cerevisiae. Silver and copper ions inhibit the activity of the plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase during the treatment of both cells and spheroplasts. It is supposed that the inability of silver ions to stimulate potassium efflux from spheroplasts results from damage to some components of K⁺ transport systems during preparation of spheroplasts.

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KEY WORDS: potassium, silver, copper, cell wall, plasma membrane, H⁺-ATPase, ion leakage, yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297908110084

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