Pulsed electric field effect on the plasma membrane permeability and structure of saccharomyces cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used as a model organism for investigation of pulsed electric field effects on plasma membrane permeability and structure. Cells were exposed to single, square shaped electric field pulses with different field strengths (E= 2 kV/cm, 4 kV/cm, 6 kV/cm, 8 kV/cm, 10 kV/cm) with 150 µs duration. It was shown that viability of colony forming units decreased with raise in pulsed electric field strength. The membrane permeability showed similar pattern – stronger electric field induced greater permeability of membrane. Exposure of yeast cells to the strongest electric field (E= 10 kV/cm) caused irreversible electroporation. Within one hour after exposure permeability of electroporated cells was 2 times greater when compared with untreated cells. To evaluate lipid peroxidation and antioxidant efficacy we used fluorescent probe (Bodipy C11 581/591). Increasing rate of lipid peroxidation caused by PEF treatment was detected within one hour after treatment and it was greater when compared with untreated cells. Cells which were pretreated with vitamin E showed decreased rate of lipid peroxidation both prior and after PEF treatment. To sum up, exposure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells to electric field pulse resulted in increase in plasma membrane permeability, rate of lipid peroxidation and decrease in the viabilit