Oscillations in Yeast Glycolysis

Abstract

Oscillations in yeast glycolysis have been known for more than six decades. In spite of intensive experimental and model studies there are still gaps in our understanding of these glycolytic oscillations, e.g. the mechanisms by which they arise, why they have been preserved throughout evolution, and what their potential functions in the cell could be. In the current paper new experimental observations will be presented showing that many variables, that were hitherto considered unrelated to glycolysis, oscillate synchronously with glycolytic intermediates. Furthermore, a strong coupling between glycolysis and the polarisation of intracellular water is presented, suggesting that water has a strong influence on metabolism. This challenges our current understanding of the mechanism behind the glycolytic oscillations. Finally, it is proposed that the function of metabolic oscillations is to maintain the cell in a state of constant low entropy.