Biomaterial Database

Studies on the mechanism of the antifungal action of benzoate. 1983

H A Krebs, and D Wiggins, and M Stubbs, and A Sols, and F Bedoya

A method is described for the determination of the pH of intracellular water based on the distribution of [14C]benzoate (0.01 mM) between intra- and extra-cellular water. Benzoate at higher concentrations (2-10mM) enters the yeast cell in the undissociated form, and its neutralization within the cell can cause a shift of the pH of the intracellular water by more than 1 pH unit. Benzoate causes an accumulation of the two hexose monophosphates of yeast glucose fermentation and a decrease in intermediates beyond phosphofructokinase, suggesting inhibition at this stage. Benzoate also causes a concomitant fall in [ATP]. Phosphofructokinase is inhibited to a greater extent than hexokinase at acid pH. There is a relationship between intracellular pH, phosphofructokinase inhibition and CO2 production, suggesting that the antifungal action of benzoate is caused by an accumulation of benzoate at low external pH, which lowers the intracellular pH into the range where phosphofructokinase is sensitive. The subsequent inhibition of glycolysis causes a fall in [ATP] and thus restricts growth.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010732	Phosphofructokinase-1	An allosteric enzyme that regulates glycolysis by catalyzing the transfer of a phosphate group from ATP to fructose-6-phosphate to yield fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. D-tagatose- 6-phosphate and sedoheptulose-7-phosphate also are acceptors. UTP, CTP, and ITP also are donors. In human phosphofructokinase-1, three types of subunits have been identified. They are PHOSPHOFRUCTOKINASE-1, MUSCLE TYPE; PHOSPHOFRUCTOKINASE-1, LIVER TYPE; and PHOSPHOFRUCTOKINASE-1, TYPE C; found in platelets, brain, and other tissues.	6-Phosphofructokinase,6-Phosphofructo-1-kinase,Fructose-6-P 1-Kinase,Fructose-6-phosphate 1-Phosphotransferase,6 Phosphofructokinase,Phosphofructokinase 1
D002245	Carbon Dioxide	A colorless, odorless gas that can be formed by the body and is necessary for the respiration cycle of plants and animals.	Carbonic Anhydride,Anhydride, Carbonic,Dioxide, Carbon
D005285	Fermentation	Anaerobic degradation of GLUCOSE or other organic nutrients to gain energy in the form of ATP. End products vary depending on organisms, substrates, and enzymatic pathways. Common fermentation products include ETHANOL and LACTIC ACID.	Fermentations
D006593	Hexokinase	An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of ATP and a D-hexose to ADP and a D-hexose 6-phosphate. D-Glucose, D-mannose, D-fructose, sorbitol, and D-glucosamine can act as acceptors; ITP and dATP can act as donors. The liver isoenzyme has sometimes been called glucokinase. (From Enzyme Nomenclature, 1992) EC 2.7.1.1.	Hexokinase A,Hexokinase D,Hexokinase II
D006863	Hydrogen-Ion Concentration	The normality of a solution with respect to HYDROGEN ions; H+. It is related to acidity measurements in most cases by pH	pH,Concentration, Hydrogen-Ion,Concentrations, Hydrogen-Ion,Hydrogen Ion Concentration,Hydrogen-Ion Concentrations
D000227	Adenine Nucleotides		Adenine Nucleotide,Adenosine Phosphate,Adenosine Phosphates,Nucleotide, Adenine,Nucleotides, Adenine,Phosphate, Adenosine,Phosphates, Adenosine
D000693	Anaerobiosis	The complete absence, or (loosely) the paucity, of gaseous or dissolved elemental oxygen in a given place or environment. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed)	Anaerobic Metabolism,Anaerobic Metabolisms,Anaerobioses,Metabolism, Anaerobic,Metabolisms, Anaerobic
D000935	Antifungal Agents	Substances that destroy fungi by suppressing their ability to grow or reproduce. They differ from FUNGICIDES, INDUSTRIAL because they defend against fungi present in human or animal tissues.	Anti-Fungal Agents,Antifungal Agent,Fungicides, Therapeutic,Antibiotics, Antifungal,Therapeutic Fungicides,Agent, Antifungal,Anti Fungal Agents,Antifungal Antibiotics
D001565	Benzoates	Derivatives of BENZOIC ACID. Included under this heading are a broad variety of acid forms, salts, esters, and amides that contain the carboxybenzene structure.	Benzoate,Benzoic Acids,Acids, Benzoic
D012441	Saccharomyces cerevisiae	A species of the genus SACCHAROMYCES, family Saccharomycetaceae, order Saccharomycetales, known as "baker's" or "brewer's" yeast. The dried form is used as a dietary supplement.	Baker's Yeast,Brewer's Yeast,Candida robusta,S. cerevisiae,Saccharomyces capensis,Saccharomyces italicus,Saccharomyces oviformis,Saccharomyces uvarum var. melibiosus,Yeast, Baker's,Yeast, Brewer's,Baker Yeast,S cerevisiae,Baker's Yeasts,Yeast, Baker