Dehydration of yeast: Changes in the intracellular content of Hsp70 family proteins

Abstract Yeast is known to experience in natural and industrial conditions cycles of dehydration–rehydration. Several molecular mechanisms can be triggered in response to this and other environmental stressors and to rescue yeast cells of the cytotoxic effect. Since heat shock proteins constitute one of the most important systems of the response to stress we studied whether the pre-induced major stress protein, Hsp70, can cope with yeast cell drying. To induce Hsp70 expression the cells of two yeast species, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Debaryomyces hansenii , were subjected to non-lethal heat shock. It was found that during yeast culture growth Hsp70 accumulation occurred at the exponentia…

Anhydrobiosis in yeast: influence of calcium and magnesium ions on yeast resistance to dehydration-rehydration

The influence of calcium and magnesium ions on resistance to dehydration in the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was investigated. Magnesium ion availability directly influenced yeast cells' resistance to dehydration and, when additionally supplemented with calcium ions, this provided further significant increase of yeast resistance to dehydration. Gradual rehydration of dry yeast cells in water vapour indicated that both magnesium and calcium may be important for the stabilization of yeast cell membranes. In particular, calcium ions were shown for the first time to increase the resistance of yeast cells to dehydration in stress-sensitive cultures from exponential growth phases. It is concl…

Cr(VI) sorption by intact and dehydrated Candida utilis cells: differences in mechanisms

The Cr(VI) sorption kinetics by intact and dehydrated Candida utilis cells were studied. Yeast dehydration led to enhanced Cr(VI) sorption activity by cells during the first 15–20 min of rehydration. In experiments with K2Cr2O7 as a chromium source, [Cr2O7]2− was converted into [CrO4]2− during incubation with dehydrated biomass. An effect of the considerably enhanced Cr(VI) sorption activity by dehydrated cells in the buffered media at pH≈8.0 can serve as another confirmation of the different sorption mechanisms of intact and dehydrated C.utilis cells. This effect was not revealed in water solution at pH 8.0. This phenomenon will be studied in further investigations.

The role of glycerol transporters in yeast cells in various physiological and stress conditions.

Small and uncharged glycerol is an important molecule for yeast metabolism and osmoadaptation. Using a series of S. cerevisiae BY4741-derived mutants lacking genes encoding a glycerol exporter (Fps1p) and/or importer (Stl1p) and/or the last kinase of the HOG pathway (Hog1p), we studied their phenotypes and various physiological characteristics with the aim of finding new roles for glycerol transporters. Though the triple mutant hog1Δ stl1Δ fps1Δ was viable, it was highly sensitive to various stresses. Our results showed that the function of both Stl1p and Fps1p transporters contributes to the cell ability to survive during the transfer into the state of anhydrobiosis, and that the deletion …

Potassium uptake system Trk2 is crucial for yeast cell viability during anhydrobiosis

Yeasts grow at very different potassium concentrations, adapting their intracellular cation levels to changes in the external environment. Potassium homeostasis is maintained with the help of several transporters mediating the uptake and efflux of potassium with various affinities and mechanisms. In the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, two uptake systems, Trk1 and Trk2, are responsible for the accumulation of a relatively high intracellular potassium content (200-300 mM) and the efflux of surplus potassium is mediated by the Tok1 channel and active exporters Ena ATPase and Nha1 cation/proton antiporter. Using a series of deletion mutants, we studied the role of individual potassium tra…

Immobilisation increases yeast cells' resistance to dehydration-rehydration treatment.

This study was performed with the goal of revealing if the dehydration procedure used in our new immobilisation method noticeably decreases the viability of yeast cells in immobilised preparations. Various yeasts were used in this research: Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells that were rather sensitive to dehydration and had been aerobically grown in an ethanol-containing medium, a recombinant strain of S. cerevisiae grown in aerobic conditions which were completely non-resistant to dehydration and an anaerobically grown bakers' yeast strain S. cerevisiae, as well as a fairly resistant Pichia pastoris strain. Experiments performed showed that immobilisation of all these strains essentially incre…

A Crucial Role of Mitochondrial Dynamics in Dehydration Resistance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles as they continuously undergo fission and fusion. These dynamic processes conduct not only mitochondrial network morphology but also activity regulation and quality control. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has a remarkable capacity to resist stress from dehydration/rehydration. Although mitochondria are noted for their role in desiccation tolerance, the mechanisms underlying these processes remains obscure. Here, we report that yeast cells that went through stationary growth phase have a better survival rate after dehydration/rehydration. Dynamic defective yeast cells with reduced mitochondrial genome cannot maintain the mitochondrial activity and survival rate o…

Anhydrobiosis in yeasts: Psychrotolerant yeasts are highly resistant to dehydration.

Yeast cells are able to transition into a state of anhydrobiosis (temporary reversible suspension of metabolism) under conditions of desiccation. One of the most efficient approaches for understanding the mechanisms underlying resistance to dehydration-rehydration is to identify yeasts, which are stable under such treatments, and compare them with moderately resistant species and strains. In the current study, we investigated the resistance to dehydration-rehydration of six psychrotolerant yeast strains belonging to two species. All studied strains of Solicoccozyma terricola and Naganishia albida were found to be highly resistant to dehydration-rehydration. The viability of S. terricola str…

Anhydrobiosis in yeast: Glutathione overproduction improves resistance to dehydration of a recombinant Ogataea (Hansenula) polymorpha strain

Abstract We show for the first time that a recombinant strain of yeast Ogataea (Hansenula) polymorpha is at least as tolerant to dehydration-rehydration treatment as the wild type strain. It is believed that this unusual characteristic of this recombinant yeast strain is linked with its ability to overproduce glutathione. Based on plasma membrane permeability analysis, we hypothesise that glutathione, in addition to its powerful antioxidative protective effects on membrane lipids, may also protect membrane proteins and/or nucleic acids. The combination of yeast cell dehydration with immobilisation and subsequent preliminary slow rehydration in water vapour gave good results in terms of reco…

Anhydrobiosis in yeast: FT-IR spectroscopic studies of yeast grown under conditions of severe oxygen limitation

Anhydrobiosis is a unique state of living organisms when metabolism is temporarily and reversibly delayed in response to the extreme desiccation of cells. The production of dry active preparations of yeast grown under anaerobic conditions is not currently possible because preparations are extremely sensitive to the dehydration procedure, though they could be very helpful in different biotechnological processes, including bioethanol production. To characterize mechanisms responsible for such sensitivity to the dehydration procedure, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to study the composition of aerobically grown yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae resistant to dehydration and grown …

Anhydrobiosis in Non-conventional Yeasts

Anhydrobiosis is a unique state of living organisms that provides the possibility of surviving conditions of extreme heat and drought with temporary and reversible suspended processes of metabolism. Beyond its ecological importance in nature, it is used for the production of viable dry microbial preparations, including active dry yeast. During the last decade, this state has also been studied in non-conventional yeasts (NCY), mainly because of the necessity of active dry wine yeasts. At the same time, many other modern biotechnological processes are also linked to the use of NCY. Correspondingly, this implies an interest in the long-term maintenance of various species of NCY in a viable dry…

Additional file 2 of Engineering of sugar transporters for improvement of xylose utilization during high-temperature alcoholic fermentation in Ogataea polymorpha yeast

Additional file 2: Table S1. List of primers used in this study.

Atomic Force Microscopy Study of Yeast Cells Influenced by High Voltage Electrical Discharge

Human cells are the eukaryotic ones. Simulation of wide-spectrum electromagnetic radiation influence on eukaryotic cells was performed with yeast which is usually used now in molecular biological and medical biological investigations as the ideal model of eukaryotic system. The aim of the research was to observe possible induced alterations of the cell morphology. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and electron scanning microscopy (ESM) have been applied to image the surface of cells exposed to electromagnetic radiation.

Thermotolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is linked to resistance to anhydrobiosis

Abstract We have demonstrated that a thermotolerant yeast strain ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae TS1) is much more resistant to dehydration–rehydration treatments than a mesophilic strain of S. cerevisiae . Yeast resistance to dehydration–rehydration was found to be similar in cells from exponential and stationary growth phases. Under controlled rehydration conditions involving gradual rehydration in water vapour, yeast cell viability was maintained at 90–95%. When S. cerevisiae TS1 cells were pre-grown at 37 °C and then dried, controlled rehydration lead to restoration of plasma membrane integrity, indicating important differences in cell envelope architechture of mesophilic and thermotolerant …

Carotenoids and Some Other Pigments from Fungi and Yeasts †

Carotenoids are an essential group of compounds that may be obtained by microbiological synthesis. They are instrumental in various areas of industry, medicine, agriculture, and ecology. The increase of carotenoids’ demand at the global market is now essential. At the moment, the production of natural carotenoids is more expensive than obtaining their synthetic forms, but several new approaches/directions on how to decrease this difference were developed during the last decades. This review briefly describes the information accumulated until now about the beneficial effects of carotenoids on human health protection, their possible application in the treatments of various diseases, and their…

Attachment of yeast to modified stainless steel wire spheres, growth of cells and ethanol production

Abstract The immobilization of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, their growth and ethanol production were investigated using untreated and modified stainless steel wire spheres (WS) as carriers. The carrier surface was modified by oxidation, by treatment with titanium (IV) chloride (TiCl4) or by γ-aminopropyltrietoxysilane (AS) in an attempt to raise the efficiency of the immobilization of the yeast cells. The influence of the cell fixation method on culture growth and ethanol synthesis was investigated. The immobilization of cells to carrier surface was checked by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). More closely attachment of yeast cells was seen on the aminated wire surface. It was establis…

Anhydrobiosis in yeasts: Glutathione synthesis by yeast Ogataea (Hansenula) polymorpha cells after their dehydration-rehydration.

The possibility of using active dry microbial preparations in biotechnological processes is essential for the development of new modern industrial technologies. In this study, we show the possibility of obtaining such preparations of the genetically engineered yeast strain Ogataea (Hansenula) polymorpha with glutathione overproduction. Special pre-treatment involving the gradual rehydration of dry cells in water vapour led to the restoration/reactivation of almost 100% of dehydrated cells. Furthermore, dry cells do not lose their viability during storage at room temperatures. Application of dry cells as the inoculum provides the same levels of glutathione synthesis as that of a native yeast…

Multifarious pretreatment strategies for the lignocellulosic substrates for the generation of renewable and sustainable biofuels: A review

Abstract Currently major part of the world’s energy requirements is fulfilled by fossil resources. Severe economic and environmental problems along with their limited resources are still a major issue. Long-term environmental and commercial concern has focussed into huge research in the past decades to replace fossil fuels with renewable sources of energy. The main focus of energy research is lignocellulosic substrates, which seems to be the best for energy application due to easily availability, cost-effective and environment favourable production process. Therefore, lignocellulosic materials provide economical, environmental and energetic benefits with an alternative to traditional or hig…

Effect of Lignin-Containing Media on Growth of Medicinal Mushroom Lentinula Edodes

Abstract The effect of lignocellulose and lignin on growth of mycelium of mushroom Lentinula edodes and laccase activity in cultivation medium was studied. It was shown that cultivation of L. edodes mycelium in liquid nutrient medium with addition of 0.25-0.5% of kraft lignin increased mycelium biomass yield approximately two times compared with reference conditions without addition of lignin. Similar results were obtained in experiments in which 0.5% lignocellulose that remained after obtaining furfural, and 0.5% lignin that remained after obtaining furfural and glucose from wheat straw, were added to the nutrient medium. This effect was greater in the conditions of cultivation with good a…

Catalytic treatment of rapeseed straw for enhanced production of furfural and glucose for bioethanol production

Abstract Ethanol produced from renewable biomass, such as lignocellulosic feedstock, is one of the most promising future biofuels. In this paper, rapeseed straw was tested as an abundant and cost-effective renewable resource material for the production of cellulosic glucose. Pre-treatment of this material is an important step to improve the efficiency of subsequent cellulose hydrolysis. In this study, we used two pre-treatment methods – hydrothermochemical and ultrasound. Studies have shown that, in the initial hydrothermal pre-treatment of rapeseed straw, Al2(SO4)3 may be used as an efficient catalyst, at least in procedures for obtaining glucose. An increase in the amount of this catalyst…

Anhydrobiosis in yeast: cell wall mannoproteins are important for yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiaeresistance to dehydration

The state of anhydrobiosis is linked with the reversible delay of metabolism as a result of strong dehydration of cells, and is widely distributed in nature. A number of factors responsible for the maintenance of organisms' viability in these conditions have been revealed. This study was directed to understanding how changes in cell wall structure may influence the resistance of yeasts to dehydration-rehydration. Mutants lacking various cell wall mannoproteins were tested to address this issue. It was revealed that mutants lacking proteins belonging to two structurally and functionally unrelated groups (proteins non-covalently attached to the cell wall, and Pir proteins) possessed significa…

Drying enhances immunoactivity of spent brewer's yeast cell wall β-D-glucans.

Due to immunological activity, microbial cell wall polysaccharides are defined as 'biological response modifiers' (BRM). Cell walls of spent brewer's yeast also have some BRM activity. However, up to date there is no consensus on the use of spent brewer's yeast D-glucan as specific BRM in humans or animals. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the potential of spent brewer's yeast β-D-glucans as BRM, and drying as an efficient pretreatment to increase β-D-glucan's immunogenic activity. Our results revealed that drying does not change spent brewer's yeast biomass carbohydrate content as well as the chemical structure of purified β-D-glucan. However, drying increased purified β-D-glucan TN…

Biotechnological and environmental microbiological research in the Baltic region

Bioethanol and lipid production from the enzymatic hydrolysate of wheat straw after furfural extraction

This study investigates biofuel production from wheat straw hydrolysate, from which furfural was extracted using a patented method developed at the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry. The solid remainder after furfural extraction, corresponding to 67.6% of the wheat straw dry matter, contained 69.9% cellulose of which 4% was decomposed during the furfural extraction and 26.3% lignin. Enzymatic hydrolysis released 44% of the glucose monomers in the cellulose. The resulting hydrolysate contained mainly glucose and very little amount of acetic acid. Xylose was not detectable. Consequently, the undiluted hydrolysate did not inhibit growth of yeast strains belonging to Saccharomyces cerev…

Physiological engineering of Pseudomonas aurantiaca antimicrobial activity: effects of sodium chloride treatment

The influence of sodium chloride (NaCl) treatment on the antifungal activity of the bacterium Pseudomonas aurantiaca, a producer of biopesticide for vegetable plants, was investigated. It was shown that an increase in the NaCl concentration in incubation solutions from 1 M to 3 M led to a significant increase in the antifungal activity of this bacterium. Antifungal activity continued to increase with prolonged treatment of bacteria in fresh nutrient medium from 72 h to 96 h. These findings could be very important for the further development of biotechnological processes directed not only to the production of new active biopesticides but also of other valuable resources.

Engineering of sugar transporters for improvement of xylose utilization during high-temperature alcoholic fermentation in Ogataea polymorpha yeast

Abstract Background Xylose transport is one of the bottlenecks in the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to ethanol. Xylose consumption by the wild-type strains of xylose-utilizing yeasts occurs once glucose is depleted resulting in a long fermentation process and overall slow and incomplete conversion of sugars liberated from lignocellulosic hydrolysates. Therefore, the engineering of endogenous transporters for the facilitation of glucose-xylose co-consumption is an important prerequisite for efficient ethanol production from lignocellulosic hydrolysates. Results In this study, several engineering approaches formerly used for the low-affinity glucose transporters in Saccharomyces cerev…

Evaluation of the enhanced resistance of Ogataea (Hansenula) polymorpha to benzalkonium chloride as a resource for bioremediation technologies

Abstract Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) is highly abundant in wastewaters due to its wide application in household and industrial products. The aim of this research was to compare the resistance of two genetically related strains, Ogataea polymorpha (wild type) and O. polymorpha cat8Δ (recombinant strain), to enhanced concentrations of BAC (≥ 100 mg/L) in terms of its appearance in wastewaters. Inhibition of the respiration activity of wt and cat8Δ by 100 mg/L and 300 mg/L BAC in a xylose-containing broth (4 g/L xylose) was dependent on the carbon source used for obtaining the yeast biomass through ethanol fermentation. The respiration activity of wt in a liquid broth was inhibited by BAC, whi…

Resistance of a recombinant Escherichia coli to dehydration.

International audience; Dehydration of microorganisms, rendering them anhydrobiotic, is often an efficient method for the short and long term conservation of different strain-producers. However, some biotechnologically important recombinant bacterial strains are extremely sensitive to conventional treatment. We describe appropriate conditions during dehydration of the recombinant Escherichia coli strain HB 101 (GAPDH) that can result dry cells having a 88% viability on rehydration. The methods entails air-drying after addition of 100 mM trehalose to the cultivation medium or distilled water (for short term incubation).

Exponential growth phase cells of the osmotolerant yeast Debaryomyces hansenii are extremely resistant to dehydration stress

Abstract The osmotolerant yeast Debaryomyces hansenii is highly resistant to dehydration stress and this tolerance was more pronounced for cells taken from the exponential growth phase than from the stationary phase. Growth of D. hansenii in medium containing 10% (w v −1 ) NaCl, resulted in an additional increase in cellular resistance to dehydration, which was most marked for stationary phase cells. It is expected that further investigations of the mechanisms behind this exceptional dehydrational tolerance will reveal new approaches for improvement of the quality of dry yeast.

Immobilisation of yeast cells on the surface of hydroxyapatite ceramics

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) ceramics was tested for the first time for the possibility of being used as a new carrier for the immobilisation of yeast cells that are both model organisms for eukaryotic cell investigations and producers, which is important in classical and modern biotechnological processes. It was shown that under typical immobilisation conditions yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) has no affinity to HAP ceramics. A novel method for yeast immobilisation was developed. This new method includes the joint incubation of a carrier with the cells, the sedimentation and adhesion of cells on the carrier and the dehydration of obtained preparations. It was shown that the sedimentation and adhe…

Additional file 1 of Engineering of sugar transporters for improvement of xylose utilization during high-temperature alcoholic fermentation in Ogataea polymorpha yeast

Additional file 1: Figure S1. Alignment of amino acid sequences of O. polymorpha Hxt1 and S. cerevisiae Hxt1, Hxt3, Hxt6, Hxt7 transporters. Figure S2. Sequence of O. polymorpha Hxt1 transporter. The lysine residues substituted for arginine are shaded grey. The position of the asparagine residue that was mutated to an alanine to obtain Hxt1-N358A mutant is underlined. Figure S3. Linear schemes of plasmids for overexpression of the modified versions of Hxt1, Gal2 and Hxt7 transporters.

Anhydrobiosis in Yeasts: Changes in Mitochondrial Membranes Improve the Resistance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cells to Dehydration–Rehydration

Anhydrobiosis is a unique state of live organisms in which their metabolism is temporary reversibly suspended as the result of strong dehydration of their cells. This state is widely used currently during large-capacity production of active dry baker&rsquo

Anhydrobiosis and Dehydration of Yeasts

Anhydrobiosis is a unique phenomenon of nature which gives possibility to various live organisms to survive during very hot and dry seasons of the year. It is the state in which all processes of metabolism are temporarily reversibly suspended as the result of strong dehydration of the cells. The state of anhydrobiosis is used for industrial production of active dry yeasts. Results of detailed studies of mechanisms of anhydrobiosis and of changes in the cells which take place during their drying by different methods help to improve the dehydration resistance of yeast strains necessary in traditional and nonconventional biotechnologies. The progress which has been made in these researches wit…

Changes in Energy Status of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cells During Dehydration and Rehydration

Anhydrobiosis is the state of life when cells are exposed to waterless conditions and gradually cease their metabolism. In this study, we determined the sequence of events in Saccharomyces cerevisiae energy metabolism during processes of dehydration and rehydration. The intensities of respiration and acidification of the medium, the amounts of phenyldicarbaundecaborane (PCB−) bound to yeast membranes, and the capabilities of cells to accumulate K+ were assayed using an electrochemical monitoring system, and the intracellular content of ATP was measured using a bioluminescence assay. Mesophilic, semi-resistant to desiccation S. cerevisiae strain 14 and thermotolerant, very resistant to desic…

Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Lignocellulose for Bioethanol Production

Abstract The effect of temperature, time and amount of enzyme on hydrolysis of wheat straw lignocellulose remaining after furfural production was studied. The residual substrate was subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis at different temperatures — 45 °C, 50 °C and 55 °C. Hydrolysis time was 72 hours, and samples were taken every 24 hours. The maximum glucose yield (76.5% of the theoretically possible) was reached when hydrolysis temperature 50 °C was used. The production rate of glucose increased with a hydrolysis period of time. The yield of glucose significantly depended on the ratio of enzyme to substrate.

Cr(VI) sorption by intact and dehydrated Candida utilis cells in the presence of other metals

This study examined the Cr(VI), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II) sorption by intact and dehydrated Candida utilis cells. The anion [Cr2O7]2− and cation Me2+ sorption kinetics was investigated in both single- and dual-metal situations. Uptake of chromate anions occurred much more slowly singularly than with metal cations. A combination of Pb or Cu and chromate anions gave a synergistic effect for Cr(VI) sorption, but not Cd and Zn, which inhibited Cr(VI) sorption by dehydrated cells. The use of alcian blue to occupy maximum vacant adsorption sites on the cell surface unexpectedly did not influence further adsorption of Me2+. Metal uptake by C. utilis was 7 mg (135 μM) Cr, 23 mg (362 μM) Cu, 39…

Effects of yeast immobilization on bioethanol production

The current study evaluated a newer method, which includes a dehydration step, of immobilizing Saccharomyces cerevisiae L-77 and S. cerevisiae L-73 onto hydroxylapatite and chamotte ceramic supports. The efficiency of cell immobilization on chamotte was significantly higher than hydroxylapatite. Immobilized yeast preparations were investigated for their ethanol-producing capabilities. The glucose concentration in a fermentation medium was 100 mg/mL. Immobilized preparations produced the same amount of ethanol (48 ± 0.5 mg/mL) as free cells after 36 H of fermentation. During the early stages of fermentation, immobilized yeast cells produced ethanol at a higher rate than free cells. Yeast pre…

Experimental Setup with Chaotic and Periodic Excitations for Cell Growth Studies

The paper presents circuits used for excitation living cells to increase their growth rate. The main novelty is the proposal of using chaotic oscillations for the electromagnetic excitation. The research is in a preliminary phase and no conclusions have been yet derived for applications in biotechnology.

Interrelations of the yeast Candida utilis and Cr(VI): metal reduction and its distribution in the cell and medium

Abstract An effect of chromium(VI) ions on the growth and bioaccumulation properties of growing cells of Candida Utilis was studied. Molasses media for yeast growth containing 20 g glucose l −1 and 50+500 mg Cr(VI) l −1 were used in batch cultivation. Addition of 100 mg Cr(VI) l −1 resulted in a threefold decrease in the cell concentration, as compared with the culture grown without metal. Cr(VI) inhibited culture growth in a concentration-dependent manner, this dependence was not linear. Glucose consumption by growing cells depended on the initial Cr(VI) concentration in the medium and correlated with growth activity. No inhibitory effect of high Cr(VI) concentrations on the activity of so…

Anhydrobiosis: Inside yeast cells

International audience; Under natural conditions yeast cells as well as other microorganisms are regularly subjected to the influence of severe drought, which leads to their serious dehydration. The dry seasons are then changed by rains and there is a restoration of normal water potential inside the cells. To survive such seasonal changes a lot of vegetative microbial cells, which belong to various genera and species, may be able to enter into a state of anhydrobiosis, in which their metabolism is temporarily and reversibly suspended or delayed. This evolutionarily developed adaptation to extreme conditions of the environment is widely used for practical goals - for conservation of microorg…

Activity of the α-glucoside transporter Agt1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells during dehydration-rehydration events

Microbial cells can enter a state of anhydrobiosis under desiccating conditions. One of the main determinants of viability during dehydration-rehydration cycles is structural integrity of the plasma membrane. Whereas much is known about phase transitions of the lipid bilayer, there is a paucity of information on changes in activity of plasma membrane proteins during dehydration-rehydration events. We selected the α-glucoside transporter Agt1 to gain insights into stress mechanisms/responses and ecophysiology during anhydrobiosis. As intracellular water content of S. cerevisiae strain 14 (a strain with moderate tolerance to dehydration-rehydration) was reduced to 1.5 g water/g dry weight, th…

Astrobiology of life on Earth

Astrobiology is mistakenly regarded by some as a field confined to studies of life beyond Earth. Here, we consider life on Earth through an astrobiological lens. Whereas classical studies of microbiology historically focused on various anthropocentric sub-fields (such as fermented foods or commensals and pathogens of crop plants, livestock and humans), addressing key biological questions via astrobiological approaches can further our understanding of all life on Earth. We highlight potential implications of this approach through the articles in this Environmental Microbiology special issue ‘Ecophysiology of Extremophiles’. They report on the microbiology of places/processes including low-te…