Artificial food sweetener aspartame induces stress response in model organism Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Yilmazer M., . and Bayrak B., . and Palabiyik B., . Artificial food sweetener aspartame induces stress response in model organism Schizosaccharomyces pombe. pp. 208-116. ISSN 2231-7546

Aspartame (APM) is a non-nutritive artificial sweetener that has been widely used in many products since 1981. Molecular studies have found that it alters the expression of tumour suppressor genes and oncogenes forms DNA-DNA and DNA-protein crosslinks and sister chromatid exchanges. While these results confirm that aspartame is a carcinogenic substance other studies have failed to detect any negative effect. The present work was aimed to reveal the molecular mechanisms of APMs effects in the simpler model organism Schizosaccharomyces pombe which has cellular processes similar to those of mammals. The human HP1 (heterochromatin protein 1) family ortholog swi6 was selected for the evaluation because swi6 expression is downregulated in cancer cells. Swi6 is a telomere centromere and mating-type locus binding protein which regulates the structure of heterochromatin. To verify whether the carcinogenic effects of APM are linked with Swi6 S. pombe parental and swi6” strains were analysed through a number of tests including cell viability intracellular oxidation glucose consumption nucleus DAPI (4' 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) methods. Based on the results the S. pombe parental strain adapts to APM effects by activating the stress response pathway while swi6” did not show a meaningful response. Thus it is proposed that there is a relationship between APM and Swi6 and that APM may be carrying out its effects through Swi6. Nevertheless it is understood that aspartame is not an effective carcinogenic agent since its effects are weak when compared with the swi6” phenotype.

Full text available from: Official URL: http://www.ifrj.upm.edu.my/27%20(02)%202020/01%20-...

Abstract

Aspartame (APM) is a non-nutritive artificial sweetener that has been widely used in many products since 1981. Molecular studies have found that it alters the expression of tumour suppressor genes and oncogenes forms DNA-DNA and DNA-protein crosslinks and sister chromatid exchanges. While these results confirm that aspartame is a carcinogenic substance other studies have failed to detect any negative effect. The present work was aimed to reveal the molecular mechanisms of APMs effects in the simpler model organism Schizosaccharomyces pombe which has cellular processes similar to those of mammals. The human HP1 (heterochromatin protein 1) family ortholog swi6 was selected for the evaluation because swi6 expression is downregulated in cancer cells. Swi6 is a telomere centromere and mating-type locus binding protein which regulates the structure of heterochromatin. To verify whether the carcinogenic effects of APM are linked with Swi6 S. pombe parental and swi6” strains were analysed through a number of tests including cell viability intracellular oxidation glucose consumption nucleus DAPI (4' 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) methods. Based on the results the S. pombe parental strain adapts to APM effects by activating the stress response pathway while swi6” did not show a meaningful response. Thus it is proposed that there is a relationship between APM and Swi6 and that APM may be carrying out its effects through Swi6. Nevertheless it is understood that aspartame is not an effective carcinogenic agent since its effects are weak when compared with the swi6” phenotype.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	Aspartame
AGROVOC Term:	Sweeteners
AGROVOC Term:	Artificial foods
AGROVOC Term:	Stress
AGROVOC Term:	Schizosaccharomyces pombe
AGROVOC Term:	Cancer (disease)
AGROVOC Term:	Experiments
AGROVOC Term:	Fluorescence
AGROVOC Term:	Microscopy
AGROVOC Term:	Oxidation
Depositing User:	Mr. AFANDI ABDUL MALEK
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 00:54
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/8987

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