Manganese tolerance in yeasts involves polyphosphate, magnesium, and vacuolar alterations

Lubov Ryazanova1, Anton Zvonarev1, Tatiana Rusakova1

  • 1Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect Nauki 5, Pushchino, Moscow region, 142290, Russia.

Folia Microbiologica
|December 10, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Certain yeast species exhibit manganese tolerance by accumulating polyphosphate and magnesium in their cell walls. This adaptation allows them to grow under high manganese conditions, unlike sensitive species.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Environmental Science
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Manganese is an essential element for yeast but toxic at high concentrations.
  • Yeast species exhibit varying tolerance levels to manganese excess.
  • Understanding the mechanisms of manganese tolerance is crucial for industrial applications and environmental remediation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the tolerance of basidiomycetous and ascomycetous yeasts to manganese excess.
  • To identify the cellular mechanisms, particularly inorganic polyphosphate and magnesium accumulation, involved in manganese tolerance.
  • To compare the responses of different yeast species to manganese stress.

Main Methods:

  • Yeast strains were cultured in media with excess manganese (2.5 mmol/L).
  • Growth rates, lag phase duration, cell size, and vacuole morphology were analyzed.
  • Inorganic polyphosphate content and cellular localization were assessed using DAPI staining.
  • Magnesium accumulation in the cell wall was measured under manganese excess.

Main Results:

  • Several yeast species, including Cryptococcus humicola and Candida maltosa, demonstrated tolerance to manganese excess.
  • Rhodotorula bogoriensis growth was completely inhibited by manganese excess.
  • Manganese excess led to increased cell size, enlarged vacuoles, and altered inorganic polyphosphate levels.
  • Polyphosphate and magnesium accumulation in the cell wall was observed in tolerant yeast species.

Conclusions:

  • Yeast species possess diverse mechanisms for coping with manganese toxicity.
  • Accumulation of inorganic polyphosphates and magnesium in the cell wall appears to be a key factor in manganese tolerance.
  • Further research can explore utilizing these tolerant yeasts in bioremediation or biotechnological processes.

Related Concept Videos

Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles01:24

Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles

Microbial activity plays a pivotal role in the biogeochemical cycling of iron and manganese, especially at the redox gradients characteristic of stratified aquatic environments. These cycles are driven by microbial transformations between oxidized and reduced forms of the metals, allowing organisms to exploit them for metabolic energy and structural purposes.Iron Cycling Across Redox GradientsIn neutral, oxygen-rich surface waters, iron is predominantly found in its oxidized, insoluble ferric...
61
Bioreactor Controls-III01:22

Bioreactor Controls-III

Strain improvement is a foundational strategy in industrial microbiology aimed at maximizing microbial productivity, particularly because natural isolates typically yield commercially valuable products in very low concentrations. Although optimizing the culture medium and environmental conditions can improve yields, these adjustments are inherently limited by the organism’s genetic potential. As a result, the focus shifts toward genetic modifications to enhance biosynthetic capacity. The...
51
Fungal Group Zygomycota01:29

Fungal Group Zygomycota

Zygomycota, previously classified as a distinct fungal group, are primarily terrestrial, saprophytic molds that play a crucial role as decomposers. Recent phylogenetic studies have revealed that these fungi are now divided into two major clades — Mucoromycota, which includes many symbiotic species, and Zoopagomycota, which primarily consists of parasitic and pathogenic fungi. These groups exhibit distinct ecological roles and reproductive strategies while sharing key structural and...
2.1K