The key difference between Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe is that Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a budding yeast which reproduces by budding while Schizosaccharomyces pombe is a fission yeast which reproduces by fission.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe are two yeast species which are used for brewing and baking. Moreover, both are useful as eukaryotic model organisms in molecular and cell biology. They are unicellular fungi. However, their reproduction methods are different. Saccharomyces cerevisiae reproduces via budding while Schizosaccharomyces pombe reproduces via fission. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is round to ovoid in shape while Schizosaccharomyces pombe is rod-shaped. They have similar gene numbers and share genes with higher eukaryotes.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Saccharomyces cerevisiae
3. What is Schizosaccharomyces pombe
4. Similarities Between Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe
5. Side by Side Comparison – Saccharomyces cerevisiae vs Schizosaccharomyces pombe in Tabular Form
6. Summary
What is Saccharomyces cerevisiae?
Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a budding yeast. It is commonly known as sugar fungus or brewer’s yeast. It is one of the best-studied eukaryotic model organisms in molecular and cell biology. S. cerevisiae can also be easily manipulated genetically. Hence, it is useful in various biotechnological applications as well. Moreover, this organism is used in baking, winemaking and brewing since ancient times. It is also used for the industrial production of some biopharmaceuticals. S. cerevisiae have some negative impacts as well. It is related to a wide variety of infections, including vaginitis in healthy patients, cutaneous infections, systemic bloodstream infections and infections of essential organs in immunocompromised and critically ill patients.
Figure 01: Budding of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Structurally, S. cerevisiae is round or ovoid in shape. Moreover, it is 5–10 μm in diameter. Most importantly, S cerevisiae reproduces by budding. Cytokinesis enables the budding yeast to form two daughter cells. From the mother cell, budding yeast develops a bud, and then it grows and detaches from the mother yeast. This species is not airborne. It is primarily found on ripe fruits. S. cerevisiae is the first genome which is completely sequenced. The genome has 16 chromosomes and comprises about 6000 genes.
What is Schizosaccharomyces pombe?
Schizosaccharomyces pombe, also known as fission yeast, is a yeast species which is used in brewing and baking. Similar to S. cerevisiae, S. pombe is one of the best-studied organisms which uses as a eukaryotic model organism in molecular and cell biology.
Figure 02: Fission of Schizosaccharomyces pombe
Structurally, S. pombe is rod-shaped and 3 to 4 micrometres in diameter and 7 to 14 micrometres in length. The genome is fully characterized and contains 3 chromosomes, comprising approximately 5000 genes. S. pombe reproduces via fission. It employs medial fission and produces two equal size daughter cells. During fission, it forms a septum or cell plate which cleaves the cell at its midpoint.
What are the Similarities Between Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe?
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe are two yeast species with single cells.
- They are ascomycetes fungi.
- They are free-living cells.
- Both are used as eukaryotic model organisms in molecular and cell biology.
- They are extensively used in brewing and baking.
- They have somewhat similar gene numbers.
- Moreover, t they share genes with higher eukaryotes.
- The 2001 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to Lee Hartwell and Paul Nurse for their studies of the genetics and molecular biology of cerevisiae and Schiz. pombe, respectively.
What is the Difference Between Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe?
The key difference between Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe depends on the reproduction. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is known as budding yeast since it reproduces through budding. In contrast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe is known as fission yeast since it reproduces through fission.
The below infographic tabulates more differences between Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe for side by side comparison.
Summary – Saccharomyces cerevisiae vs Schizosaccharomyces pombe
Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosacchromyces pombe are two widely studied yeast species, which are ascomycetes. They are single-celled free-living fungi. The key difference between Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe is that S. cerevisiae reproduces through budding while S. pombe reproduces through fission. Moreover, S. cerevisiae is round or ovoid in shape while S. pombe is rod-shaped. Both are extensively used as eukaryotic model organisms. These species share genes homologous to the human genes.
Reference:
1. “Schizosaccharomyces Pombe.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 Dec. 2020, Available here.
2. Parapouli, Maria, et al. “Saccharomyces Cerevisiae and Its Industrial Applications.” AIMS Microbiology, AIMS Press, 11 Feb. 2020, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “S cerevisiae under DIC microscopy” By Masur – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
1. “Schizosaccharomyces pombe division” By Roland Gromes – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia