Glutathione-glutathione reductase system and lipid peroxidation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae under alcohol stress.

The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as diene conjugates increased in Saccharomyces cerevisiae under alcoholic conditions. These cells had lower content of water soluble antioxidant, i.e., glutathione. Ethanol-treated S. cerevisiae also exhibited lower activity of glutathione reductase (GR). The decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) content cannot be attributed completely to lower GR activity. Not only the GSH content was lowered, but oxidized glutathione (GSSG) was also less in ethanol-treated yeast cells. The decrease in oxidized glutathione was much more (84%) as compared to that of reduced glutathione (40%).