Effects of iron binding agents on Saccharomyces cerevisiae growth and cytochrome P450 content.

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Y222 was studied in the presence of the following iron-binding agents: Desferal, dipyridyl, and human and bovine transferrins. We report that cell growth and lanosterol 14 alpha-demethylase cytochrome P450 are not affected by Desferal but that dipyridyl and serum transferrins decrease the cytochrome P450 content of the yeast. Paradoxically, while both human and bovine transferrins reduce cytochrome P450 content, only bovine transferrin appears to affect cell growth in this strain. No evidence for siderophore production by this strain was found under low iron conditions.