Cell Biology: Marine Yeasts Deepen the Sea of Diversity

Abstract

Fewer than 10% of fungal species have been discovered, and the diversity and ecological roles of marine species are particularly enigmatic. A new study shows that exploration of this untapped fungal biodiversity may expand our understanding of basic cellular functions such as growth, polarization, and division.

Figure 1.. Diverse cell morphology and growth patterns for black yeasts from marine environments.

Yeast cells are traditionally categorized as budding or fission, as exemplified by Saccharomyces cerevisiae (A) and Schizosaccharomyces pombe (B), respectively. A new study [3] shows a new set of growth patterns for marine black yeasts (C). For example, Hortaea werneckii alternate between budding and fission cycles, Aureobasidium pullans form multiple buds simultaneously, and Phaeotheca salicorniae make meristems and filaments. These unexpected growth patterns raise new questions for how cells control their shapes and sizes.