Oxidative stress during aging of stationary cultures of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Comparison of 5 d old stationary cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and of cultures aged for 3 months revealed increased generation of reactive oxygen species assessed by 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin oxidation, decreased activity of superoxide dismutase, decreased content of glutathione and increased protein carbonyl content during prolonged incubation of stationary yeast cultures. These results point to the occurrence of oxidative stress during aging of stationary cultures of the yeast. The magnitude of this stress was augmented in antioxidant-deficient strains, devoid of superoxide dismutases and catalases, and of decreased glutathione content.