Cold Adaptation & Mitochondrial Function in S. cerevisiae

Abstract

The two current theories concerning the origin of life deliberate whether life originated from a hot stew or freezing ice. Today, life can be found throughout the entire globe, even at the poles. For survival to be possible, organisms must be capable of energy production under extreme temperatures. The main focus of this study is to determine whether the ability of a cell to grow at low temperatures Yeasts are capable of fermentation in cold environments but the effect of extreme temperatures on respiration is still under investigation. The objective of the experiment was to determine if S. cerevisiae mitochondrial function is important for growth at low temperatures. To test this hypothesis, we screened cold sensitive mutants for their ability to grow on media containing glycerol and ethanol, which required respiration. If the gene codes for a mitochondrial process, then its deletion should hinder oxidative phosphorylation. Yeast is grown in conditions at permissive and cold temperatures to observe differences in growth patterns. Results have demonstrated the yeast’s capability to produce ATP in cold and overall restrictive environments.