Trapping induced budding directionality for Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract

We demonstrate optical trapping induced directionality in the bud formation of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cell in a dual-beam optical trap. 65% of the yeast cells formed within 45 degrees on either side of the trapping beam. In general, the growth of a daughter cell occurs in the vicinity of the higher-powered beam. In the case when the two beams had the same output power, 50% formed their buds in the upper semicircle and the other 50% formed in the lower semicircle.