Metal ions are involved in all aspects of the major chemical transformations required of living organisms, often serving as essential cofactors for cellular processes including growth and division, respiration, genome replication, and a multitude of enzyme catalyzed chemical reactions. Iron in particular is essential for life and yet the over accumulation or improper storage of iron may leave organisms susceptible to the pro-oxidant characteristics of iron in aqueous solution. As well as being a baking ingredient, the yeast strain, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has long been utilized as a model system to study metal ion uptake, storage, and mobilization in eukaryotes. This project examines the toxicity, spectroscopy, and magnetism of paramagnetic iron solutions and Fe(maltol)3, a novel paramagnetic complex currently in clinical studies for treating iron deficiency in humans. Fe(maltol)3 is a complex with three bidentate anionic maltol ligands bound to high spin Fe(III). Yeast cells exposed to Fe(maltol)3 display reduced cellular toxicity in comparison to free Fe(II), enhanced magnetic susceptibility, and interesting cell surface interactions. These experiments were performed using cell viability assays, atomic absorption spectroscopy for iron uptake, and scanning electron microscopy of the cell surface.

Magnetic susceptibility and viability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the presence of iron

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ACS Fall 2022

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