Abstract
BackgroundAnhydrobiotes, such as the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are capable of surviving almost total loss of water. Desiccation tolerance requires an interplay of multiple events, including preserving the protein function and membrane integrity, preventing and mitigating oxidative stress, maintaining certain level of energy required for cellular activities in the desiccated state. Many of these crucial processes can be controlled and modulated at the level of organelle morphology and dynamics. However, little is understood about what organelle perturbations manifest in desiccation-sensitive cells as a consequence of drying or how this differs from organelle biology in desiccation-tolerant organisms undergoing anhydrobiosis.ResultsIn this study, electron and optical microscopy was used to examine the dynamic changes of yeast cells during the desiccation process. Dramatic structural changes were observed during the desiccation process, including the diminishing of vacuoles, decrease of lipid droplets, decrease in mitochondrial cristae and increase of ER membrane, which is likely caused by ER stress and unfolded protein response. The survival rate was significantly decreased in mutants that are defective in lipid droplet biosynthesis, or cells treated with cerulenin, an inhibitor of fatty acid synthesis.ConclusionOur study suggests that the metabolism of lipid droplets and membrane may play an important role in yeast desiccation tolerance by providing cells with energy and possibly metabolic water. Additionally, the decrease in mitochondrial cristae coupled with a decrease in lipid droplets is indicative of a cellular response to reduce the production of reactive oxygen species.
Highlights
Anhydrobiotes, such as the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are capable of surviving almost total loss of water
Defects of lipid droplet synthesis reduce desiccation tolerance To further test the possible role of lipid droplets (LDs) in desiccation tolerance, we examined yeast strains that are defective in LD formation
Our results show that the desiccation tolerance in ire1Δ or hac1Δ did not increase, but slightly decreased, suggesting that unfolded protein response (UPR) may have an positive effect on desiccation tolerance by increasing the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane, which may be used as a source for fatty acids as further discussed below
Summary
Anhydrobiotes, such as the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are capable of surviving almost total loss of water. Desiccation tolerance requires an interplay of multiple events, including preserving the protein function and membrane integrity, preventing and mitigating oxidative stress, maintaining certain level of energy required for cellular activities in the desiccated state. Many of these crucial processes can be controlled and modulated at the level of organelle morphology and dynamics. Dehydration causes dramatic structural changes to almost all major organelles [10,11,12]. Multiple pathways have been evolved in yeast to mitigate the oxidative damages caused by desiccation [15]
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