Copper(II) protects yeast against the toxicity of cisplatin independently of the induction of metallothionein and the inhibition of platinum uptake.

We have made the unexpected discovery that copper sulfate protects Saccharomyces cerevisiae from the toxic effects of cisplatin. Addition of copper to the culture medium of yeast cells at concentrations above 0.1 microM significantly reduced the toxicity of cisplatin.