A flocculent strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae S646-1B accumulated more Cu2+ (81 nmol mg(-1) dry wt) than the isogenic (except for the marker genes ade1 and trp1 and the gene FLO1) non-flocculent strain S646-8D (30 nmol mg(-1) dry wt), in the first 10 min of contact of the cells with Cu2+. Additionally, this strain flocculated in solutions of 0.2 mM Cu2+, Ni2+, Zn2+ and Cd2+. The potential of using flocculent strains in the bioremediation of heavy metals contaminated waste waters is discussed.