Open AccessRapid and reversible cell volume changes in response to osmotic stress in yeast
Author(s) -
Carlos Saldaña,
Casandra Villava,
Jimena Ramírez-Villarreal,
Verónica Morales-Tlalpan,
Juan Campos-Guillén,
Jorge Luis ChávezServín,
Teresa García-Gasca
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
brazilian journal of microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1678-4405
pISSN - 1517-8382
DOI - 10.1007/s42770-021-00427-0
Subject(s) - osmotic shock , yeast , biophysics , osmotic pressure , saccharomyces cerevisiae , cell , microbiology and biotechnology , osmotic concentration , volume (thermodynamics) , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , thermodynamics , physics , gene
Saccharomyces cerevisiae has evolved diverse mechanisms to osmotic changes: the cell wall, ion and water transport systems, and signaling cascades. At the present time, little is known about the mechanisms involved in short-term responses of osmotic stress in yeast or their physiological state during this process. We conducted studies of flow cytometry, wet weight measurements, and electron microscopy to evaluate the modifications in cell volume and the cell wall induced by osmotic stress. In response to osmotic challenges, we show very fast and drastic changes in cell volume (up to 60%), which were completed in less than eight seconds. This dramatic change was completely reversible approximately 16 s after returning to an isosmotic solution. Cell volume changes were also accompanied by adaptations in yeast metabolism observed as a reduction by 50% in the respiratory rate, measured as oxygen consumption. This effect was also fully reversible upon returning to an isosmotic solution. It is noteworthy that we observed a significant recovery in oxygen consumption during the first 10 min of the osmotic shock. The rapid adjustment of the cellular volume may represent an evolutionary advantage, allowing greater flexibility for survival.