Effect of hydrostatic pressure on the morphology and ultrastructure of wild-type and trehalose synthase mutant cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
OBJECTIVE
Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used for studying the physiological effects of hydrostatic pressure.


RESULTS
The effects of hydrostatic pressure on the ultrastructure of wild-type and trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (tps1) mutant cells were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. Pressure induced several morphological changes in wild-type and tps1 cells, the latter showing greater structural alterations. When the cells were submitted to a preheat treatment they both acquired resistance to the pressure treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
As the tps1 mutant was 1000-fold more barosensitive than its parental strain, it showed greater structural alterations compared with the wild-type. Microscopic images of the yeast cells suggested that hydrostatic pressure induced changes in the cytoskeleton and therefore, on the cell wall and in the dynamics of the organelles.


CONCLUSIONS
This work presents the effects of hydrostatic pressure on the morphology of yeast cells and confirms the importance of several different factors in the protection of cells against stress.
Fernandes
P M
PM
Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, CBM/UFES, Vitória, ES, Brazil. pat@escelsanet.com.br
Farina
M
M
Kurtenbach
E
E
D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006874:Hydrostatic Pressure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009154:Mutation; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D005964:Glucosyltransferases; C023180:trehalose-6-phosphate synthase