[Effect of cadmium, zinc, lead and mercury on enzyme activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae].

The in vivo influence of cadmium, zinc, lead, and mercury on the activities of intracellular enzymes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been studied. Cadmium and lead cause a significant increase of the enzyme activities. Zinc and mercury do not affect the enzyme activities but they intensify considerably the effects of cadmium and lead. A reduction of enzyme activities is found only rarely. Interactions between the heavy metals tested can lead to synergism or to antagonism or rather to an addition of the effects. The findings suggest that under in vivo conditions heavy metals show only an indirect influence on intracellular enzymes.