The plb1 gene is required for viability of S. pombe cells on high osmolarity media. Wild type and plb1Δ S. pombe strains were streaked onto YEAU and EMM or on the same media supplemented with 1.2 M KCl, as indicated, and incubated at 30°C for 2-6 days (YEAU, 2 days; EMM, 3 days; YEAU+KCl, 4 days, EMM+KCl, 6 days). Wild-type cells grew on both YEAU and EMM plates containing 1.2 M KCl, whereas plb1Δ cells did not