Mikrobiol. Z. 2018; 80(4):55-68. Russian.
doi: https://doi.org/10.15407/microbiolj80.04.055

The Connection of Volutin Granules Motion of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
with Exopolyphosphatase Activity under Stress Conditions

Kharchuk M.S., Gromozova E.N.

Zabolotny Institute of Microbiology and Virology, NAS of Ukraine
154 Akad. Zabolotny Str., Kyiv, 03143, Ukraine

Despite the long history of discovery, vacuolar moving of volutin (polyphosphate) granules of yeast, which are known more as “dancing bodies”, still remain poorly studied. Aim. This work was aimed at identification the presence of the connection between volutin granule motion and exopolyphosphatase activity in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae under stress conditions. Methods. Cytological, biochemical and statistical methods of studies were used in this work. Results. The number of cells with moving volutine granules (“dancing bodies” index) in strains with unchanged phosphorus metabolism of UCM Y-517 and CRY decreased simultaneously with the content of acid-soluble polyphosphate fraction (PolyP1 fraction) and, in most cases, with the cells viability under hypo- and hyperosmotic, alkaline, acidic, oxidative and alcoholic stresses. In contrast to parental strain of CRY, strain of CRN with inactivated encoding exopolyphosphatase Ppn1 gene, showed slight increasing in “dancing bodies” index under alkaline (10 mM ammonium hydroxide) and hypoosmotic stresses. In most cases, exopolyphosphatase activity (EPPA) in all studied strains decreased. However, it increased under the conditions of alkaline (10 mM ammonium hydroxide) and hypotonic medium, and also under alcohol stress in the mutant strain. Using linear correlation analysis it was found that “dancing bodies” index in the strains with unchanged phosphorus metabolism significantly correlated with PolyP1 fraction and viability. The number of cells with moving volutin granules in mutant strain correlates with EPPA and PolyP1 fraction. Using factor analysis, it was shown that “dancing bodies” index, PolyP1 fraction and viability were linked to each other in the strains of UCM Y-517 and CRY. In the mutant strain, the correlation between “dancing bodies” index, PolyP1 fraction and EPPA was found. Conclusions. Obtained data indicate that volutin granule motion of S. cerevisiae was connected with phosphorus metabolism and responded on the stress effects. We hypothesized the possible participation of vacuolar exopolyphosphatases in “dancing bodies” phenomenon.

Keywords: volutin granules, “dancing bodies”, exopolyphosphatase, polyphosphates, yeasts, stresses.

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