Cyclic changes in metabolic state during the life of a yeast cell

TLDR

Budding yeast exhibit robust oscillations in oxygen consumption during continuous growth in nutrient‑limited conditions. Liquid chromatography‑mass spectrometry and comprehensive 2D gas chromatography‑mass spectrometry metabolite profiling revealed that many intracellular metabolite concentrations change periodically with these metabolic cycles. These periodic metabolite changes elucidate the logic of cellular metabolism across yeast life phases, suggest that oscillations in key metabolite abundance may regulate temporal cellular processes and cycle establishment, and imply that similar metabolic state oscillations could occur in other biological cycles.

Abstract

Budding yeast undergo robust oscillations in oxygen consumption during continuous growth in a nutrient-limited environment. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and comprehensive 2D gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolite profiling methods, we have determined that the intracellular concentrations of many metabolites change periodically as a function of these metabolic cycles. These results reveal the logic of cellular metabolism during different phases of the life of a yeast cell. They may further indicate that oscillation in the abundance of key metabolites might help control the temporal regulation of cellular processes and the establishment of a cycle. Such oscillations in metabolic state might occur during the course of other biological cycles.