Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the stationary phase as a model organism--characterization at cellular and proteome level

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been used as a model organism to investigate responses to different environmental stressors. The importance of their conclusions has been expanded to human cells. The experiments were done with exponentially growing cells, which do not resemble human cells. Human and other eukaryotic cells spend the greater part of their lives in a quiescent state, known as G0 corresponding to the yeast stationary phase. Providing energy, which comes from mitochondrial respiration, is also common. Thus, in the present study S. cerevisiae was used in the stationary phase for characterization at the cellular and proteome levels. At the cellular level, optical density, cell viability, glycogen content, intracellular oxidation and cell energy metabolic activity were measured, while at the proteome level, protein profiles were analyzed using two-dimensional electrophoresis. The data obtained at both levels provide better insight into quiescence program state, which still remains poorly understood. At their base, optimal time period reflecting a stable metabolic and oxidative state of the yeast was determined. Consequently, this period is the appropriate to study changes in cell oxidant status and energy metabolic activity in response to different environmental stressors.