Formation of self-organized periodic patterns around yeasts secreting a precursor of a red pigment

• Published in: Microbiological research 2016-12, Vol.193, p.87-93
• Main Authors: Melvydas, Vytautas, Staneviciene, Ramune, Balynaite, Algima, Vaiciuniene, Jurate, Garjonyte, Rasa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Candida pulcherrima; Culture Media - chemistry; Diffusion; Ferric Compounds - metabolism; Pigments, Biological - metabolism; Precursor; Pulcherrimin; Reaction-diffusion; Red pigment; Self-organized patterns; Temperature; Yeast; Yeasts - growth & development; Yeasts - metabolism
• ISSN: 0944-5013; 1618-0623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2016.09.007

[Display omitted] •The formation of Liesegang patterns is related to vital activity of yeasts.•Yeasts secrete a precursor of a red pigment.•Precursor reacts with iron ions giving red sediments.•Regular Liesegang patterns are formed due to reaction-diffusion in a gel layer.•Reproducibility can be achieved if only the conditions are precisely reproduced. Formation of self-organized regular patterns (Liesegang patterns) due to reaction-diffusion process in the gel medium and related to vital activity of yeasts is presented. Two different yeast strains (Candida pulcherrima and non-Candida pulcherrima) possess a common characteristic feature to secrete a precursor which in the presence of iron(III) ions forms an insoluble red pigment. During yeast cultivation onto solid agar media, periodic spontaneous distinctly spaced red-colored patterns around the yeasts can are formed if the concentration of elemental iron in the growth media is in the range 4–12mg/L. By changing the composition yeast growth media (YEPD or minimal), growth time and temperature, the mode of yeast inoculation, a variety of red-pigmented patterns around live and proliferating yeasts can be obtained.