Effect of some quaternary benzylammonium salts on physiology of yeast

In order to determine the biological activity of eight compounds belonging to a group of quaternary ammonium salts, their influence on the active methionine transport, the integrity of cell membranes, respiration, and viability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and some other yeast species has been investigated. The earliest effect observed during ammonium salts action on yeast cells is an immediate methionine transport abolishment followed by its fast leakage, which indicates increasing cell membrane degradation. Gradual decline of other biological functions such as respiration and viability is thus a result of disintegration and lack of tightness of the cell membranes. The studied compounds are characterized by a rather unspecific spectrum of action on yeast resulting in irreversible damage of cell walls and cell membranes, which in consequence leads to cell death.