Study of the suitability of 2-(N-morpholino) ethanesulfonic acid pH bufferfor heavy metals accumulation studies using Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Yeast cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae maintained viability, and no detect able amount of proteins and inorganic phosphate were determined in the filt rate, when incubated during 48 hours in 10 mM of 2-(N-morpholino) ethanesul fonic acid (MES) at pH 6.0. Ultraviolet light-absorbing materials (at 260 n m) increased between 2 and 6 hours (or 24 hours, depending on the strain) o f incubation and decreased after this period. The possibility of using MES pH buffer for in vitro heavy metals accumulation studies is discussed.