Abstract
Multicellular structures formed by yeasts and other microbes are valuable models for investigating the processes of cell–cell interaction and pattern formation, as well as cell signaling and differentiation. These processes are essential for the organization and development of diverse microbial communities that are important in everyday life. Two major types of multicellular structures are formed by yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae on semisolid agar. These are colonies formed by laboratory or domesticated strains and structured colony biofilms formed by wild strains. These structures differ in spatiotemporal organization and cellular differentiation. Using state-of-the-art microscopy and mutant analysis, we investigated the distribution of cells within colonies and colony biofilms and the involvement of specific processes therein. We show that prominent differences between colony and biofilm structure are determined during early stages of development and are associated with the different distribution of growing cells. Two distinct cell distribution patterns were identified—the zebra-type and the leopard-type, which are genetically determined. The role of Flo11p in cell adhesion and extracellular matrix production is essential for leopard-type distribution, because FLO11 deletion triggers the switch to zebra-type cell distribution. However, both types of cell organization are independent of cell budding polarity and cell separation as determined using respective mutants.
Highlights
In most natural environments, microbes occur in the form of structured populations such as biofilms and other types of microbial consortia
Whether biofilms of commensal or potentially pathogenic microbes, microbial consortia that decompose waste products, or populations used in the food industry, all of these microbial communities significantly affect the lives of other organisms
We show that cell distribution is independent of budding polarity and cell separation, but it is strongly dependent on cell–cell attachment via adhesins and extracellular matrix (ECM) from the early stages of colony formation
Summary
Microbes occur in the form of structured populations such as biofilms and other types of microbial consortia. Similar to other microbes, form various types of multicellular communities that differ in the complexity of their organization. Differentiated cells enhance the heterogeneity of the structured environment, which in turn contributes to further stages of cell diversification due to ambient conditions, such as gradients of metabolites and signaling molecules produced by adjacent cells. Those multicellular structures that exhibit high levels of three-dimensional organization (such as colonies and colony biofilms) exhibit complicated internal organization
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
