Intracellular pH-dependent efflux of the fluorescent probe pyranine in the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica.

8-Hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid (pyranine) can be used as a vital intracellular pH (pH(i)) indicator. In the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, a partial efflux of the probe was detected by using the pH-independent wavelength of 415 nm. A simplified correction of the fluorescent signals was applied, enabling to show for this species a good near-neutral pH(i) maintenance capacity in a pH 3.9 medium. Octanoic acid, which is known to have toxic effects on yeast, decreased the pH(i) and increased the 260-nm-absorbing compounds leakage. However, this acid inhibited the fluorescent probe efflux linearly with its concentration suggesting a pH(i)-dependent efflux of pyranine from cells.