Stationary phase cultures represent a complicated cell population comprising at
least two different cell types, quiescent (Q) and non-quiescent (NQ) cells. Q
and NQ cells have different lifespans and cell physiologies. However, less is
known about the organization of cytosolic protein structures in these two cell
types. In this study, we examined Q and NQ cells for the formation of several
stationary phase-prevalent granule structures including actin bodies, proteasome
storage granules, stress granules, P-bodies, the compartment for unconventional
protein secretion (CUPS), and Hsp42-associated stationary phase granules
(Hsp42-SPGs). Most of these structures preferentially form in NQ cells, except
for Hsp42-SPGs, which are enriched in Q cells. When nutrients are provided, NQ
cells enter mitosis less efficiently than Q cells, likely due to the time
requirement for reorganizing some granule structures. We observed that heat
shock-induced misfolded proteins often colocalize to Hsp42-SPGs, and Q cells
clear these protein aggregates more efficiently, suggesting that Hsp42-SPGs may
play an important role in the stress resistance of Q cells. Finally, we show
that the cell fate of NQ cells is largely irreversible even if they are allowed
to reenter mitosis. Our results reveal that the formation of different granule
structures may represent the early stage of cell type differentiation in yeast
stationary phase cultures.