Question

3) Since this yeast species was found in a deep thermal vent, it was unaccustomed to light. After several successful cultures, cell division seemed to stop. The cultures just simply stopped growing. You were able to isolate the yeast cells and visualize the cytoskeletal components with a powerful electron microscope, and found that the microtubules were relatively "locked" in position. What hypothesis could you provide to the PI about the reduced growth of the cultures? How would you suggest changes in conditions of growth?

Answer 1

Hi,

The Yeast species was isolated from the deep thermal vent, which was also accustomed to the light. Once we started culturing this species, it has come out of its optimal conditions. Here we can conclude the Yeast have moved into a Quiscent stage of cell division, where it has stopped the cell division and came to a rest state. This usually happens when there is a contact inhibition, exhaustion of growth factors etc. During the Quiescent stage, the microtubules will get elongated to its maximum and form stable structures to all the sides of the yeast, which can be showed as the locked microtubules under an electron microscope.

Hope this helps.