Preparation and some properties of multinucleate cells of Saccharomyces cervisiae after colchicine treatment

Abstract

For the purpose of forming cells possessing more than three nuclei and of determining the factors inducing multinucleation, cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were treated with 0. 0.3. 0.5. and 1.0% [w/v] colchicine solution, with and without shaking. When the cells were treated with 1.0%[wlv] colchicine solution, the number of cells containiig two to eight nuclei was the largest. The multinucleate cells could grow on potato dextrose agar medium and their multinucleate nature did not disappear for at least three generations. This means that such cells are genetically stable. The proliferation rate of the multinucleate cells was not superior to that of the original strain. However, by monitoring the weight loss of the flask, it was possible to indirectly estimate the increase in the alcohol production of the multinucleate cell. It was concluded that the shaking treatment and higher colchicine concentrations contributed to multinucleation.