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Oxylipin studies expose aspirin as antifungal

  1. Johan L. F. Kock1,
  2. Olihile M. Sebolai1,
  3. Carolina H. Pohl1,
  4. Pieter W. J. Van Wyk2,
  5. Elizabeth J. Lodolo3

Article first published online: 9 JUL 2007

DOI: 10.1111/j.1567-1364.2007.00273.x

Issue

FEMS Yeast Research

FEMS Yeast Research

Volume 7, Issue 8, pages 1207–1217, December 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Kock, J. L. F., Sebolai, O. M., Pohl, C. H., Van Wyk, P. W. J. and Lodolo, E. J. (2007), Oxylipin studies expose aspirin as antifungal. FEMS Yeast Research, 7: 1207–1217. doi: 10.1111/j.1567-1364.2007.00273.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

  2. 2

    Centre for Confocal and Electron Microscopy, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

  3. 3

    SABLtd Brewing Centre of Excellence, Alrode, South Africa

*Correspondence: Correspondence: Johan L.F. Kock, Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Tel: +27514012249; fax: +27514443219; e-mail: Kockjl.sci@mail.uovs.ac.za

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 9 JUL 2007
  2. Article first published online: 9 JUL 2007
  3. Received 26 January 2007; revised 2 April 2007; accepted 8 May 2007.First published online 9 July 2007.

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Keywords:

  • antifungal;
  • aspirin;
  • mitochondria;
  • oxylipins;
  • yeasts

Abstract

The presence of aspirin-sensitive 3-hydroxy fatty acids (i.e. 3-OH oxylipins) in yeasts was first reported in the early 1990s. Since then, these oxidized fatty acids have been found to be widely distributed in yeasts. 3-OH oxylipins may: (1) have potent biological activity in mammalian cells; (2) act as antifungals; and (3) assist during forced spore release from enclosed sexual cells (asci). A link between 3-OH oxylipin production, mitochondria and aspirin sensitivity exists. Research suggests that: (1) 3-OH oxylipins in some yeasts are probably also produced by mitochondria through incomplete β-oxidation; (2) aspirin inhibits mitochondrial β-oxidation and 3-OH oxylipin production; (3) yeast sexual stages, which are probably more dependent on mitochondrial activity, are also characterized by higher 3-OH oxylipin levels as compared to asexual stages; (4) yeast sexual developmental stages as well as cell adherence/flocculation are more sensitive to aspirin than corresponding asexual growth stages; and (5) mitochondrion-dependent asexual yeast cells with a strict aerobic metabolism are more sensitive to aspirin than those that can also produce energy through an alternative anaerobic glycolytic fermentative pathway in which mitochondria are not involved. This review interprets a wide network of studies that reveal aspirin to be a novel antifungal.

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