Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Metal cation uptake by yeast: a review

  • Mini Review
  • Published:
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This review addresses metal uptake specifically by yeast. Metal uptake may be passive, active or both, depending on the viability of the biomass, and is influenced by a number of environmental and experimental factors. Uptake is typically accompanied by a degree of ion exchange and, under certain conditions, may be enhanced by the addition of an energy source, Intracellularly accumulated metal is most readily associated with the cell wall and vacuole but may also be bound by other cellular organelles and biomolecules. The intrinsic biochemical, structural and genetic properties of the yeast cell along with environmental conditions are crucial for its survival when exposed to toxic metals. Conditions of pH, temperature and the presence of additional ions, amongst others, have varying effects on the metal uptake process. We conclude that yeasts have contributed significantly to our understanding of the metal uptake process and suggest directions for future work.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Avery SV, Tobin JM (1992) Mechanisms of strontium uptake by laboratory and bewing strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Appl Environ Microbiol 58:3883–3889

    Google Scholar 

  • Avery SV, Tobin JM (1993) Mechanisms of adsorption of hard and soft metal ions to Saccharomyces cerevisiae and influence of hard and soft anions. Appl Environ Microbiol 59:2851–2856

    Google Scholar 

  • Babich H, Stotzky G (1977) Reduction in the toxicity of cadmium to microorganisms by clay minerals. Appl Environ Microbiol 33:696–705

    Google Scholar 

  • Baes CF, Mesner RE (1976) The hydrolysis of cations. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Belde P, Kessels B, Moelans I, Borst-Pauwels G (1988) Cd2+ uptake, Cd2+ binding and loss of cell K+ by a Cd-sensitive and a Cd-resistant strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. FEMS Microbiol Lett 49:493–498

    Google Scholar 

  • Borst-Pauwels G, Theuvenet A (1984) Apparent saturation kinetics of divalent cation uptake in yeast caused by a reduction in the surface potential. Biochim Biophys Acta 771:171–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Brady D, Duncan JR (1994a) Bioaccumulation of metal cations by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 41:149–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Brady D, Duncan JR (1994b) Cation loss during accumulation of heavy metal cations by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biotechnol Lett 10:543–548

    Google Scholar 

  • Brady D, Duncan JR (1994c) Binding of heavy metals by the cell walls of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Enzyme Microb Technol 16:633–638

    Google Scholar 

  • Brady D, Stoll AD, Starke L, Duncan JR (1994) Chemical and enzymatic extraction of heavy metal binding polymers from isolated cell walls of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biotechnol Bioeng 44:297–302

    Google Scholar 

  • Butt T, Ecker D (1987) Yeast metallothionein and applications in biotechnology. Microbiol Rev 51:351–364

    Google Scholar 

  • Cabral J (1992) Limitations f the use of an ion-selective electrode in the study of the uptake of Cu2+ by Pseudomonas syringae cells. J Microbiol Methods 16:149–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Davidova E, Kasparova S (1992) Adsorption of metals by yeast cell walls. Mikrobiologiya 61:1018–1022

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford T, Mitchell R (1992) Microbial transport of toxic metals. In: Environ Microbiol, Wiley-Liss,,New York, pp 83–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Fourest E, Roux JC (1992) Heavy metal biosorption by fungal mycelial by-products: mechanisms and influence of pH. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 37:399–403

    Google Scholar 

  • Gadd GM (1990a) Biosorption Chem Ind 13:421–426

    Google Scholar 

  • Gadd GM (1990b) Heavy metal accumulation by bacteria and other microorganisms. Experientia 46:834–840

    Google Scholar 

  • Gadd GM (1993) Interaction of fungi with toxic metals. New Phytol 124:25–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Gadd GM, Mowll JL (1983) The relationship between cadmium uptake, potassium release and viability in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. FEMS Microbiol Lett 16:45–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang C, Huang P, Morehart A (1990) The removal of Cu(II) from dilute aqueous solutions by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Water Res 24:433–439

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes MN, Poole RK (1989) Metals and micro-organisms. Chapman & Hall, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Joho M, Tarumi K, Inouhe M, Tohoyoma H, Murayama T (1991) Co2+ and Ni2+ resistance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae associated with a reduction in the accumulation of Mg2+. Microbios 67:177–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones RP, Gadd GM (1990) Ionic nutrition of yeast-physiological mechanisms involved and implications for biotechnology. Enzyme Microb Technol 12:1–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Junghans K, Straube G (1991) Biosorption of copper by yeasts. Biol Metals 4:233–237

    Google Scholar 

  • Mowll JL, Gadd GM (1984) Cadmium uptake by Aureobasidium pullulans. J Gen Microbiol 130:279–284

    Google Scholar 

  • Murray AD, Kidby DK (1975) Sub-cellular location of mercury in yeast grown in the presence of mercuric chloride. J Gen Microbiol 86:66–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakajima A, Sakaguchi T (1993) Accumulation of uranium by basidiomycetes. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 38:574–578

    Google Scholar 

  • Nieuwenhuis B, Weijers C, Borst-Pauwels G (1981) Uptake and accumulation of Mn2+ and Sr2+ in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biochim Biophys Acta 649:83–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Norris PR, Kelly DP (1977) Accumulation of cadmium and cobalt by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J Gen Microbiol 99:317–324

    Google Scholar 

  • Okorokov L, Lichko L, Kadomtseva V, Titovsky V, Kulaev I (1977) Energy-dependent transport of manganese into yeast cells and distribution of accumulated ions. Eur J Biochem 75:373–377

    Google Scholar 

  • Okorokov L, Lichko L, Andreeva N (1983) Changes of ATP, polyphosphate and K+ contents in Saccharomyces carlsbergensis during uptake of Mn2+ and glucose. Biochem 6:481–488

    Google Scholar 

  • Ono B, Ohue H, Ishihara F (1988) Role of cell wall in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants resistant to Hg2+. J Bacteriol 170:5877–5882

    Google Scholar 

  • Perkins J, Gadd GM (1993) Accumulation and intracellular compartmentation of lithium ions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. FEMS Microbiol Lett 107:255–260

    Google Scholar 

  • Remacle J (1990) The cell wall and metal binding. In: Volesky B (ed) Biosorption of heavy metals, CRC, Boca Raton, Fla

    Google Scholar 

  • Rome L de, Gadd GM (1987) Measurement of copper uptake in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a Cu2+-selective electrode. FEMS Microbiol Lett 43:283–287

    Google Scholar 

  • Roomans G, Theuvenet A, Van Den Berg T, Borst-Pauwels G (1979) Kinetics of Ca2+ and Sr2+ uptake by yeast. Effects of pH, cations and phosphate. Biochim Biophys Acta 551:187–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Scot JA, Palmer SJ (1990) Sites of cadmium uptake in bacteria used for biosorption. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 33:221–225

    Google Scholar 

  • Tobin JM, Cooper DJ, Neufeld RJ (1984) Uptake of metal ions by Rhizopus arrhizus biomass. Appl Environ Microbiol 47:821–824

    Google Scholar 

  • Tobin JM, Cooper DG, Neufeld RJ (1987) Influence of anions on metal adsorption by Rhizopus arrhizus biomass. Biotechnol Bioeng 30:882–886

    Google Scholar 

  • Volesky B (1990) Biosorption by fungal biomass. In: Volesky B (ed) Biosorption of heavy metals. CRC, Boca Raton, Fla

    Google Scholar 

  • Volesky B, May H, Holan ZR (1993) Cadmium biosorption by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biotechnol Bioeng 41:826–829

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang H, Wood JM (1984) Bioaccumulation of nickel by algae. Environ Sci Technol 18:106–109

    Google Scholar 

  • White C, Gadd GM (1986) Uptake and cellular distribution of copper, cobalt and cadmium in strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cultured on elevated concentrations of these metals. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 38:277–283

    Google Scholar 

  • White C, Gadd GM (1987) The uptake and cellular distribution of zinc in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J Gen Microbiol 133:727–737

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood JM, Wang H (1983) Microbial resistance to heavy metals. Environ Sci Technol 12:582–590

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland

    K. J. Blackwell & J. M. Tobin

  2. Department of Industrial Microbiology, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland

    I. Singleton

Authors
  1. K. J. Blackwell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. I. Singleton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. M. Tobin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Blackwell, K.J., Singleton, I. & Tobin, J.M. Metal cation uptake by yeast: a review. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 43, 579–584 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00164757

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00164757

Keywords

Search

Navigation