Abstract: The use of beneficial yeasts for removing heavy metal contamination from foods and reducing the health risk of heavy metals to humans and animals has become a research hotspot in recent years. This article summarizes recent progress in understanding the heavy metal adsorption capacity of yeast and its resistance to heavy metals. Moreover, this article analyzes the mechanisms of intracellular detoxification of heavy metals in yeast principally at the molecular level with respect to glutathione synthesis, the genes and proteins associated with yeast detoxification of heavy metals, vacuolar sequestration of heavy metals and other transporter systems, and heavy metal chelation by metallothioneins and phytochelatins. Meanwhile, the key genes and proteins and their functional roles in the process of detoxification are also outlined. The aim is to provide theoretical evidence that supports the potential of yeast as a biosorbent in ecological environment protection and in reducing heavy metal contamination in fermented foods as well as the health hazards of heavy metals in humans and animals.

Key words: yeast, heavy metal, biosorption, resistance, detoxification mechanism