Open AccessOxylipin studies expose aspirin as antifungal
Author(s) -
Kock Johan L. F.,
Sebolai Olihile M.,
Pohl Carolina H.,
Van Wyk Pieter W. J.,
Lodolo Elizabeth J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
fems yeast research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.991
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1567-1364
pISSN - 1567-1356
DOI - 10.1111/j.1567-1364.2007.00273.x
Subject(s) - oxylipin , biology , yeast , mitochondrion , aspirin , biochemistry , saccharomyces cerevisiae , fermentation , microbiology and biotechnology , enzyme
The presence of aspirin‐sensitive 3‐hydroxy fatty acids (i.e. 3‐OH oxylipins) in yeasts was first reported in the early 1990s. Since then, these oxidized fatty acids have been found to be widely distributed in yeasts. 3‐OH oxylipins may: (1) have potent biological activity in mammalian cells; (2) act as antifungals; and (3) assist during forced spore release from enclosed sexual cells (asci). A link between 3‐OH oxylipin production, mitochondria and aspirin sensitivity exists. Research suggests that: (1) 3‐OH oxylipins in some yeasts are probably also produced by mitochondria through incomplete β‐oxidation; (2) aspirin inhibits mitochondrial β‐oxidation and 3‐OH oxylipin production; (3) yeast sexual stages, which are probably more dependent on mitochondrial activity, are also characterized by higher 3‐OH oxylipin levels as compared to asexual stages; (4) yeast sexual developmental stages as well as cell adherence/flocculation are more sensitive to aspirin than corresponding asexual growth stages; and (5) mitochondrion‐dependent asexual yeast cells with a strict aerobic metabolism are more sensitive to aspirin than those that can also produce energy through an alternative anaerobic glycolytic fermentative pathway in which mitochondria are not involved. This review interprets a wide network of studies that reveal aspirin to be a novel antifungal.