The evolution of peptide mating pheromones in fission yeast

Sporulation: A response to starvation in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe employs two main strategies to adapt to the environment and survive when starved for nutrients. The strategies employ sporulation via sexual differentiation and extension of the chronological lifespan. When a cell is exposed to nutrient starvation in the presence of a cell of the opposite sex, the cells undergo fusion through conjugation and sporulation through meiosis. S. pombe spores are highly resistant to diverse stresses and may survive for a very long time. In this minireview, among the various sexual differentiation processes induced by starvation, we focused on and summarized the findings of the molecular mechanisms of spore formation in fission yeast. Furthermore, comparative measurements of the chronological lifespan of stationary phase cells and G₀ cells and the survival period of spore cells revealed that the spore cells survived for a long period, indicating the presence of an effective mechanism for survival. Currently, many molecules involved in sporulation and their functions are being discovered; however, our understanding of these is not complete. Further understanding of spores may not only deepen our comprehension of sexual differentiation but may also provide hints for sustaining life.

Intraspecies cell-cell communication in yeast

Although yeasts are unicellular microorganisms that can live independently, they can also communicate with other cells, in order to adapt to the environment. Two yeast species, the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, engage in various kinds of intraspecies cell-cell communication using peptides and chemical molecules that they produce, constituting a sort of 'language'. Cell-cell communication is a fundamental biological process, and its ultimate purpose is to promote survival by sexual reproduction and acquisition of nutrients from the environment. This review summarizes what is known about intraspecies cell-cell communication mediated by molecules including mating pheromones, volatile gases, aromatic alcohols and oxylipins in laboratory strains of S. cerevisiae and S. pombe.