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

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

Volume: 6 Issue: 3

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

Affiliation:

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

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.

Cite this article as:

Kock L.F. Johan, Swart W. Chantel, Ncango M. Desmond, Kock Jr. L.F. Johan, Munnik A. Ingrid, Maartens M.J. Marleen, Pohl H. Carolina and van Wyk W.J. Pieter, Development of a Yeast Bio-Assay to Screen Anti-Mitochondrial Drugs, Current Drug Discovery Technologies 2009; 6 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157016309789054960