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Pineau RM, Libby E, Demory D, Lac DT, Day TC, Bravo P, Yunker PJ, Weitz JS, Bozdag GO, Ratcliff WC. Emergence and maintenance of stable coexistence during a long-term multicellular evolution experiment. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:1010-1020. [PMID: 38486107 PMCID: PMC11090753 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02367-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The evolution of multicellular life spurred evolutionary radiations, fundamentally changing many of Earth's ecosystems. Yet little is known about how early steps in the evolution of multicellularity affect eco-evolutionary dynamics. Through long-term experimental evolution, we observed niche partitioning and the adaptive divergence of two specialized lineages from a single multicellular ancestor. Over 715 daily transfers, snowflake yeast were subjected to selection for rapid growth, followed by selection favouring larger group size. Small and large cluster-forming lineages evolved from a monomorphic ancestor, coexisting for over ~4,300 generations, specializing on divergent aspects of a trade-off between growth rate and survival. Through modelling and experimentation, we demonstrate that coexistence is maintained by a trade-off between organismal size and competitiveness for dissolved oxygen. Taken together, this work shows how the evolution of a new level of biological individuality can rapidly drive adaptive diversification and the expansion of a nascent multicellular niche, one of the most historically impactful emergent properties of this evolutionary transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rozenn M Pineau
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Quantitative Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Eric Libby
- Integrated Science Lab, Umeå university, Umeå, Sweden.
- Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, Umeå university, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - David Demory
- CNRS, Sorbonne Université, USR 3579 Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Biotechnologies Microbiennes (LBBM), Observatoire Océanologique, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | - Dung T Lac
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Thomas C Day
- School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Pablo Bravo
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Quantitative Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
- School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Peter J Yunker
- School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Joshua S Weitz
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
- School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - G Ozan Bozdag
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - William C Ratcliff
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
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Pineau RM, Demory D, Libby E, Lac DT, Day TC, Bravo P, Yunker PJ, Weitz JS, Bozdag GO, Ratcliff WC. Emergence and maintenance of stable coexistence during a long-term multicellular evolution experiment. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.19.524803. [PMID: 36711513 PMCID: PMC9882323 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.19.524803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The evolution of multicellular life spurred evolutionary radiations, fundamentally changing many of Earth’s ecosystems. Yet little is known about how early steps in the evolution of multicellularity transform eco-evolutionary dynamics, e.g., via niche expansion processes that may facilitate coexistence. Using long-term experimental evolution in the snowflake yeast model system, we show that the evolution of multicellularity drove niche partitioning and the adaptive divergence of two distinct, specialized lineages from a single multicellular ancestor. Over 715 daily transfers, snowflake yeast were subject to selection for rapid growth in rich media, followed by selection favoring larger group size. Both small and large cluster-forming lineages evolved from a monomorphic ancestor, coexisting for over ~4,300 generations. These small and large sized snowflake yeast lineages specialized on divergent aspects of a trade-off between growth rate and survival, mirroring predictions from ecological theory. Through modeling and experimentation, we demonstrate that coexistence is maintained by a trade-off between organismal size and competitiveness for dissolved oxygen. Taken together, this work shows how the evolution of a new level of biological individuality can rapidly drive adaptive diversification and the expansion of a nascent multicellular niche, one of the most historically-impactful emergent properties of this evolutionary transition.
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Belini VL, Junior OM, Ceccato-Antonini SR, Suhr H, Wiedemann P. Morphometric quantification of a pseudohyphae forming Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain using in situ microscopy and image analysis. J Microbiol Methods 2021; 190:106338. [PMID: 34597736 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2021.106338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Yeast morphology and counting are highly important in fermentation as they are often associated with productivity and can be influenced by process conditions. At present, time-consuming and offline methods are utilized for routine analysis of yeast morphology and cell counting using a haemocytometer. In this study, we demonstrate the application of an in situ microscope to obtain a fast stream of pseudohyphae images from agitated sample suspensions of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain, whose morphology in cell clusters is frequently found in the bioethanol fermentation industry. The large statistics of microscopic images allow for online determination of the principal morphological characteristics of the pseudohyphae, including the number of constituent cells, cell-size, number of branches, and length of branches. The distributions of these feature values are calculated online, constituting morphometric monitoring of the pseudohyphae population. By providing representative data, the proposed system can improve the effectiveness of morphological characterization, which in turn can help to improve the understanding and control of bioprocesses in which pseudohyphal-like morphologies are found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valdinei L Belini
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235, São Carlos, SP CEP 13565-905, Brazil.
| | - Orides M Junior
- Computing Department, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235, São Carlos, SP CEP 13565-905, Brazil
| | - Sandra R Ceccato-Antonini
- Department of Agroindustrial Technology and Rural Socio-Economics, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Via Anhanguera, km 174, Araras, SP CEP 13600-970, Brazil
| | - Hajo Suhr
- Department of Information Technology, Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, Paul-Wittsack-Straße 10, 68163 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Philipp Wiedemann
- Department of Biotechnology, Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, Paul-Wittsack-Straße 10, 68163 Mannheim, Germany
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Pentz JT, Márquez-Zacarías P, Bozdag GO, Burnetti A, Yunker PJ, Libby E, Ratcliff WC. Ecological Advantages and Evolutionary Limitations of Aggregative Multicellular Development. Curr Biol 2020; 30:4155-4164.e6. [PMID: 32888478 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
All multicellular organisms develop through one of two basic routes: they either aggregate from free-living cells, creating potentially chimeric multicellular collectives, or they develop clonally via mother-daughter cellular adhesion. Although evolutionary theory makes clear predictions about trade-offs between these developmental modes, these have never been experimentally tested in otherwise genetically identical organisms. We engineered unicellular baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) to develop either clonally ("snowflake"; Δace2) or aggregatively ("floc"; GAL1p::FLO1) and examined their fitness in a fluctuating environment characterized by periods of growth and selection for rapid sedimentation. When cultured independently, aggregation was far superior to clonal development, providing a 35% advantage during growth and a 2.5-fold advantage during settling selection. Yet when competed directly, clonally developing snowflake yeast rapidly displaced aggregative floc. This was due to unexpected social exploitation: snowflake yeast, which do not produce adhesive FLO1, nonetheless become incorporated into flocs at a higher frequency than floc cells themselves. Populations of chimeric clusters settle much faster than floc alone, providing snowflake yeast with a fitness advantage during competition. Mathematical modeling suggests that such developmental cheating may be difficult to circumvent; hypothetical "choosy floc" that avoid exploitation by maintaining clonality pay an ecological cost when rare, often leading to their extinction. Our results highlight the conflict at the heart of aggregative development: non-specific cellular binding provides a strong ecological advantage-the ability to quickly form groups-but this very feature leads to its exploitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer T Pentz
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå 90187, Sweden; School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Pedro Márquez-Zacarías
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA; Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Quantitative Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - G Ozan Bozdag
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Anthony Burnetti
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Peter J Yunker
- School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Eric Libby
- Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, Umeå University, Umeå 90187, Sweden
| | - William C Ratcliff
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
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Opalek M, Wloch-Salamon D. Aspects of Multicellularity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Yeast: A Review of Evolutionary and Physiological Mechanisms. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11060690. [PMID: 32599749 PMCID: PMC7349301 DOI: 10.3390/genes11060690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolutionary transition from single-celled to multicellular growth is a classic and intriguing problem in biology. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a useful model to study questions regarding cell aggregation, heterogeneity and cooperation. In this review, we discuss scenarios of group formation and how this promotes facultative multicellularity in S. cerevisiae. We first describe proximate mechanisms leading to aggregation. These mechanisms include staying together and coming together, and can lead to group heterogeneity. Heterogeneity is promoted by nutrient limitation, structured environments and aging. We then characterize the evolutionary benefits and costs of facultative multicellularity in yeast. We summarize current knowledge and focus on the newest state-of-the-art discoveries that will fuel future research programmes aiming to understand facultative microbial multicellularity.
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Valiakhmetov AY, Kuchin AV, Suzina NE, Zvonarev AN, Shepelyakovskaya AO. Glucose causes primary necrosis in exponentially grown yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. FEMS Yeast Res 2019; 19:5347945. [PMID: 30785621 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/foz019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In this paper, we present data on sugar-induced cell death (SICD) in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the exponential phase of growth. We suggest that the nature of SICD in exponentially grown yeast is primary necrosis, in contrast to cells in the stationary growth phase, which exhibit apoptotic SICD. The following findings confirm this conclusion: (i) the process rate; (ii) the impairments of plasma membrane integrity; (iii) the drastic morphological changes in the intracellular content; (iv) the absence of chromatin condensation; (v) the absence of externalization of phosphotidylserine (PS) on the outer leaflet of plasma membrane and (vi) the insensitivity of the SICD process to cycloheximide (CHX). Research shows that SICD occurs in a subpopulation of cells in the S-phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Ya Valiakhmetov
- Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, FRC PCBR RAS.,Moscow Region State University
| | - A V Kuchin
- Institute of Cell Biophysics, FRC PCBR RAS
| | - N E Suzina
- Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, FRC PCBR RAS
| | - A N Zvonarev
- Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, FRC PCBR RAS
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Gulli JG, Herron MD, Ratcliff WC. Evolution of altruistic cooperation among nascent multicellular organisms. Evolution 2019; 73:1012-1024. [PMID: 30941746 PMCID: PMC6685537 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Cooperation is a classic solution to hostile environments that limit individual survival. In extreme cases this may lead to the evolution of new types of biological individuals (e.g., eusocial super-organisms). We examined the potential for interindividual cooperation to evolve via experimental evolution, challenging nascent multicellular "snowflake yeast" with an environment in which solitary multicellular clusters experienced low survival. In response, snowflake yeast evolved to form cooperative groups composed of thousands of multicellular clusters that typically survive selection. Group formation occurred through the creation of protein aggregates, only arising in strains with high (>2%) rates of cell death. Nonetheless, it was adaptive and repeatable, although ultimately evolutionarily unstable. Extracellular protein aggregates act as a common good, as they can be exploited by cheats that do not contribute to aggregate production. These results highlight the importance of group formation as a mechanism for surviving environmental stress, and underscore the remarkable ease with which even simple multicellular entities may evolve-and lose-novel social traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan G. Gulli
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
| | - Matthew D. Herron
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
| | - William C. Ratcliff
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
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Jacobeen S, Graba EC, Brandys CG, Day TC, Ratcliff WC, Yunker PJ. Geometry, packing, and evolutionary paths to increased multicellular size. Phys Rev E 2018; 97:050401. [PMID: 29906891 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.97.050401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The evolutionary transition to multicellularity transformed life on earth, heralding the evolution of large, complex organisms. Recent experiments demonstrated that laboratory-evolved multicellular "snowflake yeast" readily overcome the physical barriers that limit cluster size by modifying cellular geometry [Jacobeen et al., Nat. Phys. 14, 286 (2018)10.1038/s41567-017-0002-y]. However, it is unclear why this route to large size is observed, rather than an evolved increase in intercellular bond strength. Here, we use a geometric model of the snowflake yeast growth form to examine the geometric efficiency of increasing size by modifying geometry and bond strength. We find that changing geometry is a far more efficient route to large size than evolving increased intercellular adhesion. In fact, increasing cellular aspect ratio is on average ∼13 times more effective than increasing bond strength at increasing the number of cells in a cluster. Modifying other geometric parameters, such as the geometric arrangement of mother and daughter cells, also had larger effects on cluster size than increasing bond strength. Simulations reveal that as cells reproduce, internal stress in the cluster increases rapidly; thus, increasing bond strength provides diminishing returns in cluster size. Conversely, as cells become more elongated, cellular packing density within the cluster decreases, which substantially decreases the rate of internal stress accumulation. This suggests that geometrically imposed physical constraints may have been a key early selective force guiding the emergence of multicellular complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane Jacobeen
- School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, North Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Elyes C Graba
- School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, North Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Colin G Brandys
- School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, North Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Thomas C Day
- School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, North Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - William C Ratcliff
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, North Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Peter J Yunker
- School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, North Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
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