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Let’s Stick Together: Investigating the Distribution of Micro-Multicellular Phenotypes Across 1,000 Isolates of S. cerevisiae
McGraw, Macie
McGraw, Macie
Abstract
Brewer’s yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is a facultatively multicellular microbe, meaning that it can exist as single-celled microbe or form multicellular structures. Yeast has been observed to form a variety of multicellular phenotypes, including biofilms, flors (floating mats) and pseudohyphae. Aside from these complex multicellular structures that can be seen by the naked eye, S. cerevisiae can form microscopic multicellular aggregates, which are the focus of this study. Multicellularity and adhesion are important microbial adaptations to stress, including ethanol toxicity and nutrient limitation. The reversible aggregation of yeast cells in liquid media is known as “flocculation,” and is often selected for in beer-brewing environments to facilitate yeast precipitation from the liquid beer pitch. The trait of flocculation or cell aggregation is not uniform across S. cerevisiae strains and can vary depending on aggregation mechanism and growth medium. In this study, using a panel of 1,000 strains of yeast isolated all around the world from different environments, I investigate the distribution of micro-multicellular phenotypes across the global population of S. cerevisiae. I seek to identify potential correlative factors that may contribute to micro-multicellular phenotype, including environment of isolation, genetic background, and flocculins, members of the FLO gene family which encode adhesive cell-surface proteins. Results indicate that specific environments of isolation, such as biofuel environments, are correlated with aggregating phenotypes. However, environment of isolation is not a powerful predictive factor for aggregate phenotypes across the collection. Clade, or evolutionary history, on the other hand, has a significant contribution to variance of aggregates. In addition, there is bi-directional plasticity of aggregate phenotypes when yeast is grown in nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor conditions.
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2026-05-14
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Biology