Defects in mitochondrial distribution during the prolonged lag phase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae preceding growth in glycerol as the sole source of carbon

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain CBS6412 has been shown to be able to grow in synthetic medium containing glycerol as the sole carbon source, conditions under which laboratory strains such as CEN.PK and S288c cannot grow. Nonetheless, this strain exhibits a lag phase of c. 30-40h following transition to glycerol medium. As mitochondria play a critical role in the dissimilation of the respiratory carbon source glycerol, we investigated mitochondrial function and dynamics throughout the lag phase using mitochondria-targeted roGFP, a redox-sensitive GFP variant. We found that following transition to glycerol medium, mitochondria become more oxidizing, accumulate near the bud neck, and exhibit decreased inheritance into daughter cells. Directly preceding entry into exponential growth phase, mitochondria become more reducing, mitochondrial accumulations at the bud neck decrease, and inheritance of mitochondria into daughter cells is restored.