Adaptive response of Schizosaccharomyces pombe to hydrogen peroxide

Abstract Schizosaccharomyces pombe becomes resistant to killing by high concentration of hydrogen peroxide and other severe stresses including oxidants, high temperature and high concentration of ethanol when pretreated with nonlethal levels of hydrogen peroxide. In the presence of the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, during hydrogen peroxide pretreatment, the cell obtained partial resistance to a higher level of hydrogen peroxide. The partial resistance to hydrogen peroxide in the presence of cycloheximide was acquired within 30 min of pretreatment but complete resistance obtained with de novo protein synthesis was not attained before 45 min of pretreatment. During adaptation to hydrogen peroxide, at least 15 polypeptides are induced, as analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Catalase activity is induced eight-fold by treatment with a nonlethal level of hydrogen peroxide.