Growth curves can be used to preliminarily discriminate between respiratory and fermentative phenotypes in the S. cerevisiae yeast. Therefore, we performed batch cultures of S. cerevisiae (BY4742) with different glucose concentrations that have been reported to induce fermentative growth: 1%, 2%, and 10% (w/v)9. Cultures showing a fermentative phenotype have a small lag phase and an exponential phase with a high growth rate (Figure 1). Ethanol, glycerol, and lactate are the carbon sources that can be metabolized only through respiration; thus, we performed cultures of the yeast using those carbon sources. Cultures that obtain energy mainly by oxidative phosphorylation showed a longer lag phase and slow rate of growth during the exponential phase (Figure 2).
Analysis of the growth curves provides only qualitative information; hence, it is important to calculate the kinetic parameters to obtain quantitative information. We calculated the Dt and μ using the exponential growth equation (Figure 3). We set a threshold for respiratory growth values at Dt ≥11.5 h and μ ≤0.059/h. The threshold for fermentative growth was set at Dt ≤6.5 h and μ ≥0.149/h (Figure 3).
To prove the usefulness of this screening tool we designed three experiments, with the first for evaluating the effects of different resveratrol (RSV) concentrations on S. cerevisiae BY4742 cells with different energetic status (Figure 4) in shaken flasks. The second experiment aimed to detect the effects of different ammonium sulfate (NH4+) concentrations on the energy metabolism of S. cerevisiae BY4742 (Figure 5) in a microplate. Finally, the third aimed to illustrate how changes in carbon source affect fermentative growth in two different S. cerevisiae strains (W303 and the industrial WLP530 used for beer fermentation) (Figure 6). In the experiment using RSV, the cell energetic status was modified by varying glucose concentration. At 10% glucose, all RSV concentrations tested did not change the respiro-fermentative phase of the yeast but did decrease the respiratory phase (during the diauxic shift, S. cerevisiae metabolized the ethanol produced during the exponential phase by oxidative phosphorylation). The μ values confirmed that under all conditions tested, S. cerevisiae showed fermentative behavior, contrary to its phenotype when grown in 2% glycerol (condition used as a respiratory control) (Figure 4a). When cells were energized with 1% glucose only, the μ values confirmed that at 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 µM RSV, fermentative behavior in the respiro-fermentative phase was not affected. However, a decrease in the respiratory phase during the diauxic shift was observed. Moreover, at a concentration of 1,000 µM, RSV completely inhibited cell growth.
In the second experiment, cells were supplemented with 10% glucose, a concentration considered sufficient to induce the Crabtree effect in S. cerevisiae. Hence, we could observe the effect promoted by the supplementation of different concentrations of NH4+ in fermentative metabolism. Dt values suggested that 0.13, 0.66, and 1.99% NH4+ favor fermentative metabolism, and it can be observed in the growth curves that these concentrations extended the culture's exponential phase. Nonetheless, at 3.31% mM NH4+, an increment in the Dt value showed that this concentration induces a respiro-fermentative metabolism. This phenotype showed an extended lag phase in the growth curves and slower growth rate in the exponential phase (Figure 5).
In the third experiment, cells of two different S. cerevisiae strains (W303 and WLP530) were grown in different concentrations of sucrose or galactose to test if the effects of the carbon source on Dt values were strain-dependent. As a fermentative control, both strains were grown in 2% glucose, and Dt values were calculated to set a threshold for fermentative growth. The fermentative Dt values for the strains were different, with ≤3.25 h for the W303 strain and ≤6.84 h for the WLP530 strain. Therefore, it is important to highlight the necessity for validating the Dt threshold for the different strains used. Moreover, when sucrose was used as the carbon source, a fermentative phenotype was observed at 2% and 10% in both strains. However, when galactose was used, the strain W303 did not show fermentative behavior in any of the concentrations tested, while the WLP530 strain showed a fermentative phenotype at 2% galactose. Interestingly, the W303 strain grew in all concentrations of both carbon sources tested. Though, the WLP530 strain did not show growth at the lowest concentration of carbon used (0.01%). This may be because WLP530 is used in the beer industry and the carbon concentrations to which it is exposed are generally much higher (Figure 6).
Altogether, the data from these three experiments prove that growth curves and kinetic parameters are useful for the preliminary discrimination between respiratory and fermentative growth in S. cerevisiae. Also, it is important to highlight that this is a versatile tool that may be used in different aspects of energy metabolism research.

Figure 1: Effect of different glucose concentrations on S. cerevisiae growth phenotype. Growth curves were constructed by measuring the optical density at 600 nm every 30 min for 48 h. When S. cerevisiae cells ferment, cultures showed a short lag phase and fast growth rate during the exponential phase. The respiro-fermentative phase could be followed by a growth deceleration phase (respiratory phase), where the ethanol produced by fermentation is metabolized using the oxidative phosphorylation pathway, then the stationary phase is reached. Data are presented as the mean ± standard error. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

Figure 2: Effect of respirable carbon sources on S. cerevisiae growth phenotype. Growth curves were constructed by measuring the optical density at 600 nm every 30 min for 48 h. Cells of S. cerevisiae showed a prolonged lag phase and slow growth rate during the exponential phase and generally did not show a diauxic shift. Data are presented as the mean ± standard error. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

Figure 3: Effect of carbon source and its concentration on S. cerevisiae kinetic parameters. (a) Dt values of S. cerevisiae BY4742 growth under different carbon sources; (b) μ values of S. cerevisiae BY4742 growth under different concentrations of diverse carbon sources. Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation. Statistical analyses were performed using a one-way ANOVA followed by a Dunnett's test (*p <0.01 vs. 2% glucose). Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

Figure 4: Effect of resveratrol supplementation on different cell energy statuses. (a) Growth phenotype and μ values using 10% glucose; (b) growth phenotype and μ values using 1% glucose. Data from growth curves are presented as the mean ± standard error, and μ values are presented as the mean ± standard deviation. Statistical analyses for μ values were performed using a one-way ANOVA followed by a Dunnett's test [*p <0.01 vs. respiratory control with 2% glycerol (RC)]. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

Figure 5: Effect of ammonium sulfate supplementation on S. cerevisiae energy metabolism. Growth curves were constructed by measuring the optical density at 600 nm every 30 min for 48 h. Data from growth curves are presented as the mean ± standard error, and μ values are presented as the mean ± standard deviation. Statistical analyses for Dt values were performed using a one-way ANOVA followed by a Dunnett's test [*p <0.01 vs. respiratory control with 2% glycerol (RC)]. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

Figure 6: Effect of galactose and sucrose concentration in the fermentative metabolism of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. (a) Dt values for the W303 lab strain and (b) Dt values for the WLP530 industrial strain. Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation. Statistical analyses for Dt values were performed using a one-way ANOVA followed by a Dunnett's test [*p <0.01 vs. 2% glucose (fermentative control)]. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.