Heavy metals as stress factor for fungi: Display of their action on the cell and organism level

Multiform influence of heavy metals on fungi and its actual ways in relation to different functions of a living cell are shown in the present review. The similarity of mechanisms of resistance of fungi and other organisms towards the impact of heavy metals are discussed. The role of specific metal-binding proteins in different protective functions of a living cell has been considered. The potential use of electrophoretic method in the studies of enzymatic polymorphism is assessed with the view of obtaining the information on mechanisms of fungal adaptation to metals.