Effects of lead and selenium on yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) telomere

Abstract

The effects on yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) telomere caused by lead (Pb) , selenium (Se) and Pb + Se were tested in this study. Yeast cells were cultivated in the normal medium as control version and three kinds of treatments were carried out with addition of lppm Pb (in the form of Pb(CH₃COO)₂•3H₂O) , lppm Se (in the form of kappa‐selenocarrageenan) and 1ppm Pb + lppm Se individually. The terminal chromosomal fragments were obtained from the purified genomic DNA samples of yeast cells treated differently. Electrophoresis analysis were performed on agarose gel to determine the lengths of above fragments. The results indicated that the telomere lengths differed in the different treated cells. Further, statistical analysis demonstrated that the telomere lengths of Pb/Se treated cells were significantly shorter/longer than that of the control version, indicating that Pb can damage telomere and shorten the telomere length. Se can protect telomere from shortening and maintain the tolomere length. In addition, Se can repair the damage caused by Pb to some degree.

Key words:

• lead
• selenium
• yeast
• telomere

Notes

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