Ecological History Shapes Transcriptome Variation in Quiescent Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Quiescence is a pivotal state for all living organisms and cells. However, recent research indicates a lack of uniformity among quiescent cells. That is, even if the primary feature of quiescence-the ability to restart divisions-is maintained, quiescent cells within populations exhibit variation in their cellular architecture and characteristics. While it is known that the process of entry into quiescence is influenced by a combination of nutrient starvation and temporal factors, the underlying mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, we compare the transcriptomes of known homogenous fractions of dense quiescent yeast isolated from populations of different ecological histories. These populations have undergone experimental enrichment of certain types of quiescent cells during cycles of growth and starvation for 300 generations. Transcriptome analysis revealed discrepancies in terms of characteristics associated mainly with energy turnover processes, biosynthesis, and cell wall maintenance. The results of this study suggest that quiescent cells possess the capacity to adapt their transcriptome activity in accordance with their evolutionary history.