Quantitative characterization of cell synchronization in yeast.

ABSTRACT: Metabolic oscillations in baker's yeast serve as a model system for synchronization of biochemical oscillations. Despite widespread interest, the complexity of the phenomenon has been an obstacle for a quantitative understanding of the cell synchronization process. In particular, when two yeast cell populations oscillating 180 degrees out of phase are mixed, it appears as if the synchronization dynamics is too fast to be explained. We have probed the synchronization dynamics by forcing experiments in an open-flow reactor, and we find that acetaldehyde has a very strong synchronization effect that can account quantitatively for the classical mixing experiment. The fast synchronization dynamics is explained by a general synchronization mechanism, which is dominated by a fast amplitude respon

SUBMITTER: Dano S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1937535 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature