[PROPERTIES OF SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE VOLUTIN GRANULES UNDER CONDITIONS OF THE CHANGE OF SPACE WEATHER]

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Astrobiology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Volutin granules, also known as "dancing bodies," are found in yeast vacuoles.
• These granules are composed of inorganic polyphosphates.
• Previous research suggested a link between volutin granules and cosmic rays.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of space weather on yeast volutin granules.
• To explore the role of phosphoric metabolism in yeast's response to space weather.
• To confirm the correlation between volutin granules and galactic cosmic rays.

Main Methods:

• Studied staining and motility of volutin granules in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
• Utilized DAPI-staining to visualize inorganic polyphosphates.
• Compared yeast strains with normal and altered phosphoric metabolism.

Main Results:

• Confirmed a relationship between volutin granule staining and galactic cosmic rays.
• Observed an inverse correlation between granule staining and solar activity indexes.
• Noted rhythmicity in volutin granule motion synchronized with galactic cosmic rays.
• Identified altered rhythmicity in a mutant yeast strain lacking specific exopolyphosphatases.

Conclusions:

• Yeast volutin granule motion appears synchronized with galactic cosmic rays.
• Polyphosphates may play a role in yeast cell responses to space weather.
• Phosphoric metabolism is potentially crucial for yeast sensitivity to space weather changes.