GLUTATHIONE DEPLETION IN THE YEAST SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE

The effect of chosen compounds on the total glutathione (GSH) level in stationary cultures of S. cerevisiae was compared. 1-Chloro-2,4-dinit robenzene, 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, maleimide, iodacetamide and al lyl alcohol (1 mM), and menadione (0.5 mM) caused an almost complete G SH depletion during several minutes. Bromobenzoic acid and chloramine T (1 mM), and daunomycin (60 mu M) induced a slower GSH decrease, down to 30-70% after 60 min. Paraquat (1 mM), CuSO4 (0.5 mM) and cadmium a cetate (1 mM) decreased glutathione level down to ca 70%. Diamide (0.5 mM), phenazine methosulphate, phenylhydrazine, acetylphenylhydrazine and H2O2 (1 mM), and t-buryl hydroperoxide (2 mM) did not affect total GSH during 60-min exposure. There was no clear-cut dependence between the ability of various chemicals to deplete cellular GSH and their in creased toxicity to a glutathione-poor mutant.