Nature of sterols affects plasma membrane behavior and yeast survival during dehydration

► Yeast mutant in sterol synthetic pathway (erg6Δ) is sensitive to hydric stress. ► Sterol nature affects plasma membrane integrity during hydric perturbation. ► Sterol structure influences plasma membrane deformation and resistance to stretching. ► Ergosterol complementation restores osmotic resistance in a sensitive mutant (erg6Δ). ► Ergosterol is involved in survival of wild-type yeast during hydric fluctuations.