TY - JOUR

T1 - Effects of Pluronic F-68 on Tetrahymena cells: protection against chemical and physical stress and prolongation of survival under toxic conditions

AU - Hellung-Larsen, P

AU - Assaad, F

AU - Pankratova, Stanislava

AU - Saietz, B L

AU - Skovgaard, L T

PY - 2000/1/21

Y1 - 2000/1/21

N2 - The effects of the non-ionic surfactant Pluronic F-68 (0.01% w/v) on Tetrahymena cells have been studied. A marked protection against chemical and physical stress was observed. The chemical stress effects were studied in cells suspended in buffer (starvation) or in buffers with added ingredients from a chemically defined medium (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, trace metal ions). The physical stress was due to mechanical stress or hyperthermia. The data show that Pluronic: (a) prolongs the survival of low concentration cell suspensions during starvation; (b) prevents the cell death caused by low concentrations of Ca2+ (70 microM); (c) prolongs the survival of cells exposed to higher ion concentrations (10 mM Ca2+, or Na+ or K+); (d) postpones the death caused by trace metal ions like Zn2+, Fe3+ and, Cu2+; (e) protects cells from the death caused by shearing forces; and (f) prolongs the survival of cells exposed to hyperthermia (43 degrees C). The cellular survival is increased at reduced temperatures (e.g. 4 degrees C instead of 36 degrees C) and at increased cellular concentrations (e.g. 100 cells ml(-1) instead of 25 or 10 cells ml(-1)). There is no effect of pre-incubation with Pluronic. The protective effect of Pluronic towards Tetrahymena is observed for concentrations in the range from 0.001 to 0.1% w/v.

AB - The effects of the non-ionic surfactant Pluronic F-68 (0.01% w/v) on Tetrahymena cells have been studied. A marked protection against chemical and physical stress was observed. The chemical stress effects were studied in cells suspended in buffer (starvation) or in buffers with added ingredients from a chemically defined medium (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, trace metal ions). The physical stress was due to mechanical stress or hyperthermia. The data show that Pluronic: (a) prolongs the survival of low concentration cell suspensions during starvation; (b) prevents the cell death caused by low concentrations of Ca2+ (70 microM); (c) prolongs the survival of cells exposed to higher ion concentrations (10 mM Ca2+, or Na+ or K+); (d) postpones the death caused by trace metal ions like Zn2+, Fe3+ and, Cu2+; (e) protects cells from the death caused by shearing forces; and (f) prolongs the survival of cells exposed to hyperthermia (43 degrees C). The cellular survival is increased at reduced temperatures (e.g. 4 degrees C instead of 36 degrees C) and at increased cellular concentrations (e.g. 100 cells ml(-1) instead of 25 or 10 cells ml(-1)). There is no effect of pre-incubation with Pluronic. The protective effect of Pluronic towards Tetrahymena is observed for concentrations in the range from 0.001 to 0.1% w/v.

KW - Animals

KW - Calcium

KW - Cell Division

KW - Poloxamer

KW - Potassium

KW - Sodium

KW - Starvation

KW - Stress, Physiological

KW - Surface-Active Agents

KW - Tetrahymena thermophila

U2 - 10.1016/S0168-1656(99)00188-1

DO - 10.1016/S0168-1656(99)00188-1

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 10656333

VL - 76

SP - 185

EP - 195

JO - Journal of Biotechnology

JF - Journal of Biotechnology

SN - 0168-1656

IS - 2-3

ER -