Cysteine turnover in human cell lines is influenced by glyphosate

Pesticides are widely spread in the environment and there is a lack of knowledge concerning the impact of these substances on the human cell. In the present study the effect of low doses of the pesticides bentazon, metalaxyl and glyphosate on the cellular metabolism of glutathione and cysteine was examined in HeLa and hepatoma cell cultures. No effect was observed when the cells were exposed to bentazon or metalaxyl. However, significant changes in the intra- and extracellular concentration of cysteine, a precursor for glutathione synthesis, were detected when glyphosate was added to the medium. This finding was observed in the presence of micromolar concentration range of glyphosate, and is relevant when compared to concentrations observed in monitoring programmes.