Abstract
Incubation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with carcinogenic hydrocarbons (benzo(a)pyrene, dibenzanthracenes) profoundly affects the nature and the amount of lipids, especially phospholipids: 1. 1. The amount of total lipids is strongly reduced. 2. 2. While neutral lipids are slightly affected, the decrease of phospholipids can reach 90% of their normal value and is almost balanced by an increase of monoglycerides. 3. 3. The individual phospholipids, determined as phospholipid phosphorus, are affected in a like manner. 4. 4. The trends, observed in whole cells, are found again in plasma membrane and in mitochondria. 5. 5. The strongly carcinogenic benzo(a)pyrene and dibenzanthracene (ah) have a similar action, while the anomalies are less with the weakly carcinogenic dibenzanthracene(ac). 6. 6. Using [3H]benzo(a)pyrene, it appears that the reagent penetrates into the cell where it is partially metabolised; some of the carcinogen and its by-products are found in the plasma membrane and in mitochondria. 7. 7. When the yeast, previously incubated with benzo(a)pyrene, is afterwards grown in carcinogen-free medium, the proportion of phospholipid increases, but does not reach normal. 8. 8. Benzo(a)pyrene does not alter the phospholipids of Escherichia coli.
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