Cesium

Cesium has been found to suppress the proliferation of human cervical cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. The effect has been determined to be inhibition of glycolysis, especially the aerobic glycolysis pathway. Specifically, it inhibits pyruvate kinase activity and increases the [NAD+]/[NADH] ratio [6].

High concentrations of Cs⁺ display toxic effects on microorganisms in general. A few Cs⁺ tolerant microorganisms are known, but high tolerance is a specific trait for specific strands, and not a universal trait for the genus, relating to the bacteria’s ability to maintain low intracellular concentrations of Cs⁺ [7].

Cesium has no known function in organisms. It is chemically similar to essential K and Ca and thus able to enter different cell types using plasma membrane transporters for K and Ca. This will partially replace the nutrients, and cause lack of these elements in plants [9].

Experiments with rice show that Cs⁺ reduces root elongation. The experiments with the plant’s K⁺ transporter OsHAK1 suggest that internal Cs⁺ triggers the changes in elongation in the root system [8]. An experiment on Plantago major growth showed that Cs⁺ in the water affected the K⁺ uptake in the root. Low and high concentrations of the ions reduced dry weight and length of roots and leaves [9].

In the Plantago major leaves, Cs affected the chlorophyll fluorescence even at low concentrations. An experiment with fluorescence in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) leaves, showed that Cs abnormal expression of genes related to photosynthesis pathway [10].