Mercurial toxicity in yeast: glucose uptake, glycolytic and fermentative functions remain unimpaired

Yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) were placed in association with sufficient concentrations of culture mercurials (as HgCl2) to arrest their uptake of culture dissolved O2. They were subsequently employed as substrates to test the status of membrane glucose transport mechanisms, the glycolytic-metabolic pathway, and the fermentative capabilities of mercury-stressed cells. It was discovered that these cells retain their glucose uptake capabilities as evidenced by their depletion of glucose in suspension fluids to levels similar to those of control cell suspensions, and that these cells could produce amounts of CO2 and ethanol which were similar to control cell productions. These data provide evidence that mercurial toxicity is not the result of an overall disruptive effect of cellular reactions or membrane functions but results from a specific lesion or lesions within the catabolic metabolism pathway inhibiting that normally occur after glycolysis.