Perlstein Figure (IMAGE) Princeton University Caption Princeton University researchers observed a self-degradation response to the antidepressant Zoloft in yeast cells that could help provide new answers to lingering questions about how antidepressants work. Five minutes after Zoloft treatment, a yeast cell (A) shows elevated activity, particularly in the vacuole (B), a cell component that recycles damaged or dead cellular material. In the cell vesicle (C), Zoloft resulted in the formation of a black membrane whorl, a thick buildup of membrane layers, on the internal membrane. An image from another yeast cell vesicle (D) shows the internal membrane has become a crescent-shaped bulge as the vesicle enters autophagy and begins to break down. Twenty minutes after Zoloft treatment, a cell vacuole (E) exhibits an unknown, active swirl of membrane growth not seen in the untreated cells and that could be part of the final degradation process. Credit Ethan Perlstein Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.