Inositol-less death in yeast results in a simultaneous increase in intracellular viscosity.

Inositol auxotrophs of yeast developing on isositol-deficient medium continue protein synthesis for 4-6 h, lose viability rapidly after 6 h, and show an increase in cytoplasmic viscosity as measured by spin label rotational motion. Cycloheximide prevents the rapid loss of cell viability, stops protein synthesis, and simultaneously prevents an increase in cytoplasmic viscosity. From these observations, we infer that intracellular translational diffusion is upset as a consequence of inositol starvation. Cell death may be caused by a modified intracellular diffusion environment.