Generation of stable, non-aggregating Saccharomyces cerevisiae wild isolates

Cellular aggregates observed during growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains derived from various natural environments makes most laboratory techniques optimized for non-aggregating laboratory strains inappropriate. We describe a method to reduce the size and percentage of the aggregates. This is achieved by replacing the native allele of the AMN1 gene with an allele found in the W303 laboratory strain. The reduction in aggregates is consistent across various environments and generations, with no change in maximum population density or strain viability, and only minor changes in maximum growth rate and colony morphology.