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


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Bayrak B., Yılmazer M., Palabıyık B.

INTERNATIONAL FOOD RESEARCH JOURNAL, vol.27, pp.208-216, 2020 (SCI-Expanded)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 27
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL FOOD RESEARCH JOURNAL
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), CAB Abstracts, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.208-216
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

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 APM’s 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 swi6Δ 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 swi6Δ

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 swi6Δ phenotype.