Effects of 2-deoxyglucose on Saccharomyces cerevisiae as observed by in vivo 31P-NMR.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells were treated with 2-deoxyglucose (1 mM) and the effects induced in the levels of phosphorus compounds and in the internal pH were monitored using 31P-NMR. Upon incubation with 2-deoxyglucose a strong decrease in the polyphosphate level was observed and the cytoplasmic pH decreased by about 0.4 units. This shows that 2-deoxyglucose strongly interferes with the cell conditions and consequently, the results of experiments in which 2-deoxyglucose was used to obtain deenergized cells should be carefully reanalysed.