Effect of hydrostatic pressure on the morphology and ultrastructure of wild-type and trehalose synthase mutant cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

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Abstract
Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used for studying the physiological effects of hydrostatic pressure. The effects of hydrostatic pressure on the ultrastructure of wild-type and trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (tps1) mutant cells were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. Pressure induced several morphological changes in wild-type and tps1 cells, the latter showing greater structural alterations. When the cells were submitted to a preheat treatment they both acquired resistance to the pressure treatment. As the tps1 mutant was 1000-fold more barosensitive than its parental strain, it showed greater structural alterations compared with the wild-type. Microscopic images of the yeast cells suggested that hydrostatic pressure induced changes in the cytoskeleton and therefore, on the cell wall and in the dynamics of the organelles. This work presents the effects of hydrostatic pressure on the morphology of yeast cells and confirms the importance of several different factors in the protection of cells against stress.