Arsenic induces caspase- and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract

In recent years, it has been shown that yeast, a unicellular organism, undergoes apoptosis in response to various factors. Here we demonstrate that the highly effective anticancer agent arsenic induces apoptotic process in yeast cells. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was observed in the process. Moreover, mitochondrial membrane potential decreased after arsenic treatment. Resistance of the rho0 mutant strain (lacking mtDNA) to arsenic provides further evidence that this death process involves mitochondria. In addition, hypersensitivity of Δsod1 to arsenic suggests the critical role of ROS. Cell death and DNA fragmentation decreased in a Δyca1 deletion mutant, indicating the participation of yeast caspase-1 protein in apoptosis. The implications of these findings for arsenic-induced apoptosis are discussed. © 2007 Federation of European Microbiological Societies.