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Current Drug Discovery Technologies

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1570-1638
ISSN (Online): 1875-6220

Development of a Yeast Bio-Assay to Screen Anti-Mitochondrial Drugs

Author(s): Johan L.F. Kock, Chantel W. Swart, Desmond M. Ncango, Johan L.F. Kock Jr., Ingrid A. Munnik, Marleen M.J. Maartens, Carolina H. Pohl and Pieter W.J. van Wyk

Volume 6, Issue 3, 2009

Page: [186 - 191] Pages: 6

DOI: 10.2174/157016309789054960

Price: $65

Abstract

Previous studies show that acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) at low concentrations affects yeast sexual structure development in a similar fashion than oxygen depletion. This is ascribed to its anti-mitochondrial action. In this study, we report the same for other anti-inflammatory (i.e. ibuprofen, indomethacin, salicylic acid, benzoic acid) as well as anticancer (Lonidamine) drugs, also known for inhibiting mitochondrial activity in mammalian cells. This is shown by a unique yeast bio-assay, with the mitochondrion-dependent sexual structure, riboflavin production, and hyphal morphology of the yeast Eremothecium ashbyi serving as indicators. These drugs affect this yeast in a similar way as found under oxygen limitation conditions by inhibiting sexual structure development (most sensitive), riboflavin production, and yielding characteristically wrinkled and granular hyphae, presenting a unique “anoxic” morphological pattern for this yeast. Only drugs associated with anti-mitochondrial activity presented such a pattern. This bio-assay may find application in the screening for novel drugs from various sources with anti-mitochondrial actions.

Keywords: Anticancer, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-mitochondrion, bio-assay, yeast


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