LUMINOL LUMINESCENCE INDUCED BY OXIDANTS IN ANTIOXIDANT-DEFICIENT YEASTS SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE

Luminol chemiluminescence induced in the presence of yeast cells and y east cell homogenates was significantly induced by exogenous oxidants (hydrogen peroxide and menadione). tert-Butyl hydroperoxide did not st imulate chemiluminescence by itself but augmented menadione-induced ch emiluminescence. Comparison of yeast strains deficient in catalase, su peroxide dismutase or glutathione showed that only glutathione-deficie nt strains showed elevated chemiluminescence in this system. These res ults support the idea that more reactive species than hydrogen peroxid e and superoxide are critical in the induction of luminol chemilumines cence.