The effect of pulse electric field on accumulation of selenium in cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were subjected to the effect of PEF (pulse electric field) and a source of selenium. The culture period after which yeast cells were subjected to PEF treatment was optimized, as was the duration of the exposure. Optimization of the nutrient medium composition in S. cerevisiae cultures resulted in an over 1.8-fold increase in selenium accumulation with relation to cultures on the initial substrate. Optimization of the pH value and of culture duration resulted in selenium accumulation increase by approximately 78%. A significant correlation was found between the accumulation of selenium in yeast cells and its concentration in the culture substrate. The highest accumulation of selenium in the biomass of yeast, approx. 240 microg/g d.m., was obtained after 15-min exposure to PEF on a 20-h culture. An approx. 50% higher content of selenium in cells was recorded, as compared with the control culture without the application of PEF.