Observations on acid-fastness and respiration of germinating yeast ascospores

Abstract

1971. Observations on acid-fastness and respiration of germinating yeast ascospores. Can. J. Microbiol. 17: 837-845. Germination of the ascospores of a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hansen was stimulated by fermentable carbon sources. Nitrogen sources alone had little or no stimulating effect on germination unless glucose was present, but peptone and casein hydrolysate were exceptions. Loss of acid-fastness proved to be a useful criterion of spore germination. Evidence was obtained that germination occurs anaerobically, but is not restricted by oxygen. It is concluded that the respiratory characteristics of the three main phases of the yeast life cycle differ in that growth can occur aerobically or anaerobically, sporulation is restricted to aerobic conditions, and spore germination is anaerobic.

Yeast spore germination: a requirement for Ras protein activity during re-entry into the cell cycle

“…Moreover, a solution of 2% glucose was an efficient germinant allowing for ∼95% germination after 12 h. Therefore, the presence of glucose alone was sufficient to trigger spore germination. Although other carbon sources could substitute for glucose, efficient germination was seen only with readily fermentable sugars, such as glucose and fructose (Table II; see also Palleroni, 1961; Seigel and Miller, 1971; Donnini et al ., 1986; Xu and West, 1992). Therefore, the primary requirement for efficient germination was the presence of a fermentable carbon source.…”

“…In these pioneering studies, germination assays based largely on morphological criteria were used to examine the requirements for spore germination. These assays revealed that germination does not require oxygen and is most efficient when a readily fermentable carbon source, such as glucose or fructose, is present (Palleroni, 1961;Seigel and Miller, 1971;Savarese, 1974;Tingle et al, 1974). In addition, a role for protein synthesis was suggested by the ability of chemical inhibitors of translation to block the above morphological changes that occur during germination (Rousseau and Halvorson, 1973;Choih et al, 1977).…”

Morphological changes in ascospores of Saccharomyces cerevisiae during aerobic and anaerobic germination.

“…Comparison of stainabilities between various cell types of the yeast and the acid-fast bacterium was performed. As criteria for germination of the yeast ascospores, changes in optical density, dry weight (S, 6) and stainability have been adopted besides the morphological changes (7). Usually the staining is performed by the same method as that for bacterial spores with carbol fuchsin-sulfuric acid.…”

Involvement of actin and polarisome in morphological change during spore germination of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

“…Early studies revealed extracellular conditions and intracellular activities required for spore germination. A fermentable carbon source, such as glucose and fructose, effectively promotes germination, whereas oxygen is not necessary for spore germination (Palleroni, 1961; Seigel and Miller 1971; Rousseau et al , 1972; Rosseau and Halvorson, 1973; Savarese, 1974; Tingle et al , 1974; Hartig et al , 1981; Donnini et al , 1986; Xu et al , 1992). It was revealed that protein synthesis is required for germination (Rosseau and Halvorson, 1973; Choih et al , 1977), and that the small GTPase Ras2p functions during the earliest event, whereas the cyclin‐dependent protein kinase (CDK) Cdc28p is not required for the whole process of germination (Herman and Rine, 1997).…”