A predictive model for the spontaneous synchronization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae grown in continuous culture. I. Concept

A structured segregated model was developed for studying spontaneous oscillations of S. cerevisiae in continuous culture. The model is based on cells of a simple metabolic structure and assumptions about the modification of this structure during the cell cycle. The most important features of the model cells are the ability to grow on ethanol and glucose simultaneously in continuous culture, the accumulation of intracellular storage carbohydrates during the single cell phase and their mobilization during the budding phase. The model predicts oscillations of considerable similarity to those observed in experiments.