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Autotoxin-mediated latecomer killing in yeast communities
Arisa H Oda1, Miki Tamura1, Kunihiko Kaneko1,2,3
1Department of Basic Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Plos Biology
|November 7, 2022
Summary
Yeast cells adapt to glucose depletion by releasing autotoxins that kill latecomers. Some cells differentiate to survive these toxins, ensuring community survival and potentially guiding unicellular to multicellular evolution.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Cellular adaptation is crucial for microbial survival during environmental stress like starvation.
- Uniform community responses can jeopardize survival and fitness.
- Understanding yeast community dynamics during nutrient depletion is key.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the survival strategies of yeast communities facing glucose depletion.
- To elucidate the mechanism of intercellular communication and competition within yeast populations.
- To explore the evolutionary implications of yeast autotoxin production.
Main Methods:
- Observing yeast community behavior under glucose-limiting conditions.
- Identifying and quantifying autotoxin compounds released by yeast cells.
- Assessing the effects of autotoxins on both adapted and non-adapted yeast cells.
- Comparing autotoxin-mediated behaviors across different yeast species.
Main Results:
- Yeast communities exhibit an adaptive response to glucose depletion involving 'latecomer killing'.
- Specific autotoxins, including leucic acid and L-2keto-3methylvalerate, are released, capable of killing even clonal cells.
- A subset of yeast cells differentiates to resist autotoxins, enabling selective survival.
- Phylogenetically diverse yeast species (fission and budding) utilize similar autotoxins for this behavior.
Conclusions:
- Latecomer killing via autotoxins is a conserved survival mechanism in yeast.
- This intercellular communication system may play a role in the evolution of multicellularity.
- Cellular differentiation is a critical factor for yeast community resilience during starvation.
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