ASSESSMENT OF GROWTH-INHIBITION BY ALDEHYDIC LIPID-PEROXIDATION PRODUCTS AND RELATED ALDEHYDES BY SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE

The effect of pretreatment with aldehydes on the subsequent colony for ming efficiency (CFE) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated. Al l 21 aldehydes tested inhibited CFE in a dose-dependent manner. The ef fective doses, however, differed markedly from 300 mM to 0.07 mM depen ding on the functional groups and chain length of the aldehydes. Among st the nine representatives of n-alkanals, formaldehyde was the most p otent inhibitor, reducing CFE to 50 per cent at a dose of 0.3 mM (IC50 ). In the series of 2-trans-alkenals, acrolein was most effective with an IC50 Of 0.08 mM and amongst the 4-hydroxy 2-trans-alkenals, 4-hydr oxynonenal was most effective with IC50 Of 0.07 mM. In general, effect iveness decreased in the order: 4-hydroxyalkenals > 2-alkenals >> n-al kenals. It is proposed that S. cerevisiae is a promising target cell t o elucidate further the molecular mechanisms by which aldehydes, parti cularly the lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxynonenal, inhibits cell proliferation.