Demonstration of iodide-dependent UVA-triggered growth inhibition in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells and identification of its suppressive molecules.

Upon white light illumination, the growth of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was extremely impaired only in the presence of iodide ions, but not fluoride, chloride and bromide ions. Action spectroscopy revealed that the maximum wavelength of the light is around at 373 nm, corresponding to the UVA region. Using a genetic approach, several genes, including OPY1, HEM1, and PAU11, were identified as suppressors of this growth inhibition. This iodide-dependent UVA-triggered growth inhibition method, along with its suppressive molecules, would be beneficial for understanding cell growth processes in eukaryotes and can be utilized for medium sterilization using UVA light.