Impact of Carbon Sources on Mitochondrial and Vacuolar Structures in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Aya Alkabbani
Department of Biology
Faculty Supervisor: Mark Chan
Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an indispensable model organism in biotechnology, extensively utilized for investigating organelle dynamics. In this study, we examined how the carbon source in the growth medium influences the size and behavior of mitochondria in yeast. Using an optogenetic yeast strain whose cells can grow to enlarged sizes, we observed distinct organelle sizes across different media. Cells grown in raffinose displayed slow proliferation, accompanied by smaller, more numerous vacuoles and significant alterations in mitochondrial structure. Conversely, glucose-promoted rapid cell growth, with the formation of one or two large vacuoles alongside several smaller ones. Mitochondrial structure and size followed similar trends in regular-sized and enlarged cells. These findings demonstrate that cell size and organelle architecture are highly sensitive to the growth environment, with each medium inducing unique structural adaptations. Our research underscores the potential for optimizing growth conditions to enhance mitochondrial efficiency, with broad implications for the biosynthesis of products ranging from biopharmaceuticals to biofuels. This work contributes to a deeper understanding of the coordinated regulation of organelle size and function, offering new avenues for innovation in cellular biology and biotechnology.