{"id":686567,"date":"2025-08-22T16:20:19","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T13:20:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/surprising-adaptations-let-yeast-beat-the-heat\/"},"modified":"2025-08-22T16:20:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T13:20:19","slug":"surprising-adaptations-let-yeast-beat-the-heat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/surprising-adaptations-let-yeast-beat-the-heat\/","title":{"rendered":"Surprising adaptations let yeast beat the heat"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a23b12adb694\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a23b12adb694\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/surprising-adaptations-let-yeast-beat-the-heat\/#The_proteins_behind_heat_resistance\" >The proteins behind heat resistance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/surprising-adaptations-let-yeast-beat-the-heat\/#How_cells_give_proteins_an_assist\" >How cells give proteins an assist<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/surprising-adaptations-let-yeast-beat-the-heat\/#Mapping_adaptation\" >Mapping adaptation<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/surprising-adaptations-1.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/surprising-adaptations-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Biology professor Justin Fay and members of his lab collect yeast from bark, soil, fungus, and moss in Pennsylvania\u2019s Allegheny National Forest to study the genetic basis of evolutionary change, including how organisms adapt to heat. Credit: University of Rochester photo \/ J. Adam Fenster\">\n<figure class=\"article-img\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/surprising-adaptations-1.jpg\" alt=\"Surprising adaptations let yeast beat the heat\" title=\"Biology professor Justin Fay and members of his lab collect yeast from bark, soil, fungus, and moss in Pennsylvania\u2019s Allegheny National Forest to study the genetic basis of evolutionary change, including how organisms adapt to heat. Credit: University of Rochester photo \/ J. Adam Fenster\" width=\"800\" height=\"480\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up text-truncate-js text-truncate mt-3\">\n                Biology professor Justin Fay and members of his lab collect yeast from bark, soil, fungus, and moss in Pennsylvania\u2019s Allegheny National Forest to study the genetic basis of evolutionary change, including how organisms adapt to heat. Credit: University of Rochester photo \/ J. Adam Fenster<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>As global temperatures rise, scientists are turning to an unexpected source\u2014the same yeast that makes bread rise and beer fizz\u2014to uncover what allows some lifeforms to survive extreme heat while others cannot.<\/p>\n<p>In a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/mbe\/article\/42\/7\/msaf137\/8157655\" target=\"_blank\">study<\/a> published in <i>Molecular Biology and Evolution<\/i>, University of Rochester biologist Justin Fay and his colleagues compared two closely related species of yeast to understand how organisms cope with heat and why some species manage it better than others.<\/p>\n<p>Proteins\u2014the molecules responsible for most of a cell&#8217;s essential tasks\u2014are especially sensitive to heat, and if they lose their shape, cells can fail. The researchers found that survival depends not only on how sturdy proteins are but also on the cellular environment that supports them. These insights could reshape how we think about evolution, disease, and life in a warming world.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We studied yeast, but the findings are likely broadly relevant because mechanisms of protein stability are shared across many organisms,&#8221; says Fay, a professor in the Department of Biology.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;These insights are also important for understanding evolution and how human pathogens evolve, since growth at body temperature requires similar adaptations.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_proteins_behind_heat_resistance\"><\/span>The proteins behind heat resistance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The researchers compared Saccharomyces cerevisiae (commonly known as baker&#8217;s or brewer&#8217;s yeast) and Saccharomyces uvarum. Although these two yeast species are closely related, Saccharomyces cerevisiae can tolerate heat about 8 degrees Celsius (14.4 degrees Fahrenheit) better than Saccharomyces uvarum\u2014a considerable difference in microbial terms.<\/p>\n<p>Fay and his colleagues used a technique called thermal proteomic profiling, which involves treating proteins with heat and measuring which proteins remain soluble (folded). They found that 85% of the proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae were more heat-stable than their counterparts in Saccharomyces uvarum.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/surprising-adaptations.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/2025\/surprising-adaptations.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Fay collects yeast samples in old-growth Allegheny forests, which yield diverse yeast lineages instrumental to his research on evolutionary genetics. Credit: University of Rochester photo \/ J. Adam Fenster\">\n<figure class=\"article-img text-center\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/surprising-adaptations.jpg\" alt=\"Surprising adaptations let yeast beat the heat\" title=\"Fay collects yeast samples in old-growth Allegheny forests, which yield diverse yeast lineages instrumental to his research on evolutionary genetics. Credit: University of Rochester photo \/ J. Adam Fenster\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-left text-darken text-truncate text-low-up mt-3\">\n                Fay collects yeast samples in old-growth Allegheny forests, which yield diverse yeast lineages instrumental to his research on evolutionary genetics. Credit: University of Rochester photo \/ J. Adam Fenster<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_cells_give_proteins_an_assist\"><\/span>How cells give proteins an assist<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>However, the researchers found that protein design wasn&#8217;t the only factor contributing to an organism&#8217;s heat tolerance. The team created a hybrid yeast with genetic material from both Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces uvarum and discovered that even the more heat-sensitive proteins held up better inside the hybrid cell&#8217;s heat-friendly environment.<\/p>\n<p>In other words, cells don&#8217;t leave proteins to fend for themselves; they enlist other molecules, adjust chemical conditions, and use specialized &#8220;chaperon proteins&#8221; to help proteins keep their shape and function even under heat stress.<\/p>\n<p>The findings suggest that both protein structure and the cellular environment matter for survival, and species may be able to adapt to higher temperatures in more than one way.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Because the cellular environment is also important, there may be ways in which organisms can evolve some tolerance without changing all their proteins,&#8221; Fay says.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mapping_adaptation\"><\/span>Mapping adaptation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The work builds on Fay&#8217;s ongoing research: combining protein-level analysis with genetic <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>roaches to map the step-by-step genetic changes that make heat survival possible; uncover why certain species adapt more easily than others; and identify how these adaptive steps differ between species.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, these insights could reveal not only how yeast strains evolve to survive heat but also the broader rules that govern how life adapts\u2014or fails to adapt\u2014to changing environments.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-main__more p-4\">\n<p><strong>More information:<\/strong><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNilima Walunjkar et al, Pervasive Divergence in Protein Thermostability is <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Media<\/a>ted by Both Structural Changes and Cellular Environments, <i>Molecular Biology and Evolution<\/i> (2025). <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-doi=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1093\/molbev\/msaf137\" target=\"_blank\">DOI: 10.1093\/molbev\/msaf137<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"d-inline-block text-medium mt-4\">\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProvided by<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUniversity of Rochester<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"icon_open\" href=\"http:\/\/www.rochester.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<use href=\"https:\/\/phys.b-cdn.net\/tmpl\/v6\/img\/svg\/sprite.svg#icon_open\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- print only --><\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none d-print-block\">\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Citation<\/strong>:<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSurprising adaptations let yeast beat the heat (2025, August 22)<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tretrieved 22 August 2025<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfrom https:\/\/phys.org\/<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>\/2025-08-yeast.html\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script id=\"facebook-jssdk\" async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Science category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2025-08-yeast.html\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Biology professor Justin Fay and members of his lab collect yeast from bark, soil, fungus, and moss in Pennsylvania\u2019s Allegheny National Forest to study the genetic basis of evolutionary change, including how organisms adapt to heat. Credit: University of Rochester photo \/ J. Adam Fenster As global temperatures rise, scientists are turning to an unexpected&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":686568,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/surprising-adaptations-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-686567","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sciencee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/686567","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=686567"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/686567\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/686568"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=686567"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=686567"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=686567"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}