Nanoscopic Morphological Changes in Yeast Cell Surfaces Caused by Oxidative Stress: An Atomic Force Microscopic Study

• Published in: Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol. 19; no. 6; pp. 547 - 555
• Main Authors: Canetta, Elisabetta, University of Abertay Dundee, Dundee, U.K, Walker, Graeme M., University of Abertay Dundee, Dundee, U.K, Adya, Ashok K., University of Abertay Dundee, Dundee, U.K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul Korean Society for Applied Microbiology 01-06-2009; 한국미생물·생명공학회
• Subjects: Atomic force microscopy (AFM); Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Cell Membrane - drug effects; Cell Membrane - physiology; Cell Membrane - ultrastructure; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; ESTRES OXIDATIVO; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydrogen Peroxide - pharmacology; Microscopy, Atomic Force; OXIDATIVE STRESS; premature ageing of cells; SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - drug effects; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - physiology; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - ultrastructure; Schizosaccharomyces - drug effects; Schizosaccharomyces - physiology; Schizosaccharomyces - ultrastructure; SCHIZOSACCHAROMYCES POMBE; STRESS OXYDATIF; yeast morphology; yeasts physiology; 생물학; Ascomycota; Premature; Atomic force microscopy; Oxidative stress; Atomic force microscopy (AFM); Yeast; Ageing; premature ageing of cells; Fungi; yeast morphology; yeasts physiology; Morphology; Schizosaccharomyces pombe; Physiology; Saccharomyces cerevisiae
• ISSN: 1017-7825; 1738-8872
• DOI: 10.4014/jmb.0809.515

Nanoscopic changes in the cell surface morphology of the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae (strain NCYC 1681) and Schizosaccharomyces, pombe (strain DVPB 1354), due to their exposure to varying concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (oxidative stress), were investigated using an atomic force microscope (AFM). Increasing hydrogen peroxide concentration led to a decrease in cell viabilities and mean cell volumes, and an increase in the surface roughness of the yeasts. In addition, AFM studies revealed that oxidative stress caused cell compression in both S. cerevisiae and Schiz. pombe cells and an increase in the number of aged yeasts. These results confirmed the importance and usefulness of AFM in investigating the morphology of stressed microbial cells at the nanoscale. The results also provided novel information on the relative oxidative stress tolerance of S. cerevisiae and Schiz. pombe.