Abstract
Yeast in No Gravity (YING) project
The influence of microgravity on "Flo processes", cell-surface interaction on solid (biofilm formation and invasive growth) and cell-cell interaction in liquid media (flocculation), in S. cerevisiae will be studied. Microgravity will have a direct impact on the yeast cell physiology due to a changed gravitational micro-environment and in the case of yeast cell cultivation in liquid media, also the changed shear environment in microgravity will have an effect.
The overall goal is to obtain a detailed insight into the importance of gravity and shear stress on the formation of organised cell structures, such as yeast flocs, biofilms and filaments, which are of considerable interest for both fundamental science and industry as well as the medical field. Specifically, the following objectives will be addressed:
? Influence of microgravity on cell-cell interaction (flocculation),
? Influence of microgravity on S. cerevisiae biofilm formation,
? Influence of microgravity on invasive growth of S. cerevisiae,
? Influence of microgravity on the Flo processes on a systems biology level.
In each case, we will compare similar experiments in normal gravity to experiments in microgravity. The results will help us to understand the mechanisms behind cellular adhesion in general, and the role of gravity in particular.
Methods:
Bioreactor characterisation and fluid flow effects on cell-cell interaction will be studied using Computational Fluid Dynamics. The changed physiology will be assessed by comparing the morphology and cultivation kinetics, by using metabolic flux analysis, and transcriptome and proteome analysis. Detailed information of the Flo processes at the molecular level will be obtained by measuring the FLO transcription, atomic structure determination of the proteins and functional characterisation of the carbohydrate - ligand binding. Systems biology algorithms will be developed to integrate the results from the molecular level to the whole cell level and to reveal the detailed picture of the changed physiology.
The influence of microgravity on "Flo processes", cell-surface interaction on solid (biofilm formation and invasive growth) and cell-cell interaction in liquid media (flocculation), in S. cerevisiae will be studied. Microgravity will have a direct impact on the yeast cell physiology due to a changed gravitational micro-environment and in the case of yeast cell cultivation in liquid media, also the changed shear environment in microgravity will have an effect.
The overall goal is to obtain a detailed insight into the importance of gravity and shear stress on the formation of organised cell structures, such as yeast flocs, biofilms and filaments, which are of considerable interest for both fundamental science and industry as well as the medical field. Specifically, the following objectives will be addressed:
? Influence of microgravity on cell-cell interaction (flocculation),
? Influence of microgravity on S. cerevisiae biofilm formation,
? Influence of microgravity on invasive growth of S. cerevisiae,
? Influence of microgravity on the Flo processes on a systems biology level.
In each case, we will compare similar experiments in normal gravity to experiments in microgravity. The results will help us to understand the mechanisms behind cellular adhesion in general, and the role of gravity in particular.
Methods:
Bioreactor characterisation and fluid flow effects on cell-cell interaction will be studied using Computational Fluid Dynamics. The changed physiology will be assessed by comparing the morphology and cultivation kinetics, by using metabolic flux analysis, and transcriptome and proteome analysis. Detailed information of the Flo processes at the molecular level will be obtained by measuring the FLO transcription, atomic structure determination of the proteins and functional characterisation of the carbohydrate - ligand binding. Systems biology algorithms will be developed to integrate the results from the molecular level to the whole cell level and to reveal the detailed picture of the changed physiology.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Joint CSA / ESA / JAXA / NASA Increment 21-22 Science Symposium, (tele)conference. |
| Publication status | Published - 2 Sep 2009 |
| Event | Unknown - Duration: 2 Sep 2009 → … |
Conference
| Conference | Unknown |
|---|---|
| Period | 2/09/09 → … |
Keywords
- yeast
- microgravity
- astrobiology