Measurements and models of synchronous growth of fission yeast induced by temperature oscillations

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Abstract
Pulsing of temperature in a fermentor at intervals coincident with cell generation time was used to induce synchrony in a population of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Measurements of culture protein, RNA, and DNA during synchronous growth confirm continuous synthesis of protein and RNA and discontinuos synthesis of DNA as previously reported. Flow microfluorometry of populations at different times during the synchrony cycle was used to monitor the changes in single‐cell protein. RNA, and DNA frequency functions. These measurements illustrate very clearly the degree of synchrony and patterns of macromolecular synthesis and also confirm previous estimates of the cellular protein contents characteristic of dividing cells. Additional insights into single‐cell kinetics and division controls are provided by two‐parameter flow microfluorometry measurements and by mathematical modeling of population dynamics. Such data are necessary foundations for robust population balance models of microbial processes.