METAL CATION UPTAKE BY YEAST - A REVIEW

This review addresses metal uptake specifically by yeast. Metal uptake may be passive, active or both, depending on the viability of the bio mass, and is influenced by a number of environmental and experimental factors. Uptake is typically accompanied by a degree of ion exchange a nd, under certain conditions, may be enhanced by the addition of an en ergy source. Intracellularly accumulated metal is most readily associa ted with the cell wall and vacuole but may also be bound by other cell ular organelles and biomolecules. The intrinsic biochemical, structura l and genetic properties of the yeast cell along with environmental co nditions are crucial for its survival when exposed to toxic metals. Co nditions of pH, temperature and the presence of additional ions, among st others, have varying effects on the metal uptake process. We conclu de that yeasts have contributed significantly to our understanding of the metal uptake process and suggest directions for future work.