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Related Experiment Videos

Ammonia mediates communication between yeast colonies

Z Palková1, B Janderová, J Gabriel

  • 1Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. zdenap@prfdec.natur.cuni.cz

Nature
|December 11, 1997
PubMed
Summary

Yeast colonies communicate using long-distance signals, primarily ammonia pulses, which inhibit the growth of neighboring colonies. This intercolony communication requires amino acids and is mediated by specific yeast transporters.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Unicellular organisms can form organized multicellular structures under specific conditions.
  • Yeasts, though non-motile, form colonies with coordinated cell communication and characteristic morphologies.
  • Existing knowledge focuses on intracolony communication, with less understanding of intercolony signaling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate long-distance communication signals between neighboring yeast colonies.
  • To identify the signaling molecule responsible for intercolony communication.
  • To understand the mechanism and consequences of this long-distance signaling.

Main Methods:

  • Observation of yeast colony growth and morphology.
  • Chemical analysis to identify volatile signaling compounds.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Genetic analysis using yeast mutants (e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae shr3 mutant).
  • Medium manipulation to assess the role of amino acids.

    • Main Results:

    • Yeast colonies exhibit long-distance signaling via volatile ammonia pulses.
    • Ammonia pulses mediate intercolony communication, leading to growth inhibition.
    • Ammonia production requires amino acids and is linked to amino acid permease function.
    • A specific mutant defective in amino acid permease localization failed to produce ammonia and show growth inhibition.

    Conclusions:

    • Yeast colonies utilize ammonia as a long-distance signaling molecule for intercolony communication.
    • This ammonia-mediated signaling results in reciprocal growth inhibition between colonies.
    • The process is dependent on amino acid availability and proper function of amino acid transporters.