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Communication and Differentiation in the Development of Yeast Colonies

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Biocommunication of Fungi

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Abstract

In addition to complex natural biofilms, colonies of different yeast species represent multicellular communities that possess a specific internal organization. Cells within colonies are able to differentiate to specialized cell types that perform specific functions at specific positions. Primitive cell-tissues are thus created, the formation of which is dependent on cell–cell interactions and the transmission of signals within the colony. In addition, colonies can behave as independent multicellular entities, producing signals that enable them to mutually synchronize their development when it occurs within the same territory. As a consequence, colonies synchronously adapt to changing environments and they gain a greater capacity to exploit remnant nutrients. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge concerning cell specialization and signaling within different kinds of yeast colonies and the known aspects of communication among individual colonies.

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Acknowledgements

The work was supported by grants from the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic 204/08/0718 and from the Ministry of Education LC531, Research Concepts MSM0021620858 and AV0Z50200510.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 5, 128 44, Prague 2, Czech Republic

    Zdena Palková & Libuse Váchová

  2. Division of Cell and Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology of the ASCR, v.v.i., Vídeňská 1083, 142 20, Prague 4, Czech Republic

    Libuse Váchová

Authors
  1. Zdena Palková
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  2. Libuse Váchová
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Correspondence to Zdena Palková .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Telos - Philosophische Praxis, Vogelsangstr. 18c, Bürmoos, 5111, Austria

    Günther Witzany

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Palková, Z., Váchová, L. (2012). Communication and Differentiation in the Development of Yeast Colonies. In: Witzany, G. (eds) Biocommunication of Fungi. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4264-2_9

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