Quantitative assessment of changes in cell growth, size and morphology during telomere-initiated cellular senescence in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Telomerase-deficient cells of the budding yeast S. cerevisiae experience progressive telomere shortening and undergo senescence in a manner similar to that seen in cultured human fibroblasts. The cells exhibit a DNA damage checkpoint-like stress response, undergo changes in size and morphology, and eventually stop dividing. In this study, a new assay is described that allowed quantitation of senescence in telomerase-deficient est2 cells with applied statistics. Use of the new technique revealed that senescence was strongly accelerated in est2 mutants that had homologous recombination genes RAD51, RAD52 or RAD54 co-inactivated, but was only modestly affected when RAD55, RAD57 or RAD59 were knocked out. Additionally, a new approach for calculating population doublings indicated that loss of growth capacity occurred after approximately 64 generations in est2 cells but only 42 generations in est2 rad52 cells. Phase contrast microscopy experiments demonstrated that senescing est2 cells became enlarged in a time-dependent manner, ultimately exhibiting a 60% increase in cell size. Progressive alterations in physical properties were also observed, including striking changes in light scattering characteristics and cellular sedimentation rates. The results described herein will facilitate future studies of genetic and environmental factors that affect telomere shortening-associated cell senescence rates using the yeast model system. •New techniques allowed quantitative analysis of senescence in the yeast model system.•Loss of recombination genes RAD51, RAD52 or RAD54 strongly accelerated senescence.•Senescence was only modestly affected by inactivation of RAD55, RAD57 or RAD59.•High resolution microscopy revealed 60% increases in cells' sizes during senescence.•New assays revealed time-dependent changes in physical properties of senescent cells.