Tributyltin oxide affects energy production in the yeast Rhodotorula ferulica, a utilizer of phenolic compounds

Rhodotorula ferulica, a yeast able to utilize phenolic compounds, was chosen for evaluating the effects of tributyltin oxide (TBTO) on this utilization. TBTO reduced respiratory capacity when vanillic or benzoic acid was the energy source. The ATP level of the cells was severely affected by 2 microM TBTO. The mitochondrial ATPase was strongly inhibited by 0.5 microM TBTO, whereas the activity of the plasma membrane ATPase was not affected by concentrations of TBTO up to 30 microM. Our data support the hypothesis that the target for TBTO action is the mitochondrial ATPase, resulting in a severe disturbance of the yeast utilization of aromatic compounds.