Expression and function of the trehalase genes NTH1 and YBR0106 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Enigma of NTH2 Gene in Yeasts

The enzymatic hydrolysis of the non-reducing disaccharide trehalose in yeasts is carried out by trehalase, a highly specific α-glucosidase. Two types of such trehalase activity are present in yeasts, and are referred to as neutral and acid enzymes. They are encoded by distinct genes (NTH1 and ATH1, respectively) and exhibit strong differences in their biochemical and physiological properties as well as different subcellular location and regulatory mechanisms. Whereas a single gene ATH1 codes for acid trehalase, the genome of some yeasts appears to predict the existence of a second redundant neutral trehalase, encoded by the NTH2 gene, a paralog of NTH1. In S. cerevisiae the corresponding two proteins share 77% amino acid identity, leading to the suggestion that NTH2 codes for a functional trehalase activity. However, Nth2p lacks any measurable neutral trehalase activity and disruption of NTH2 gene has no effect on this activity compared to a parental strain. Likewise, single nth1Δ and double nth1Δ/nth2Δ null mutants display no detectable neutral activity. Furthermore, disruption of NTH2 does not cause any apparent phenotype apart from a slight involvement in thermotolerance. To date, no evidence of a duplicated NTH gene has been recorded in other archetypical yeasts, like C. albicans or C. parapsilosis, and a possible regulatory mechanism of Nth2p remains unknown. Therefore, although genomic analysis points to the existence, in some yeasts, of two distinct genes encoding trehalase activities, the large body of biochemical and physiological evidence gathered from NTH2 gene does not support this proposal. Indeed, much more experimental evidence would be necessary to firmly validate this hypothesis.

NTH2 1271_1272delTA Gene Disruption Results in Salt Tolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Trehalose is a common energy reservoir, and its accumulation results in osmotic protection. This sugar can accumulate through its synthesis or slow degradation of the reservoir by trehalase enzymes. Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains two neutral trehalases, NTH1 and NTH2, responsible for 75% and 25% of the enzymatic metabolism. We were interested in the loss-of-function of both enzymes with CRISPR/Cas9. The later NTH2 was of great importance since it is responsible for minor metabolic degradation of this sugar. It was believed that losing its functionality results in limited osmotic protection. We constructed an osmotolerant superior yeast capable of growing in 0.85 M NaCl after independent nth2 1271_1272delTA mutation by CRISPR/Cas9 technology, compared with nth1 893_894insT and wild type. We suggest that this yeast model could give clues to breeding commercial yeast resulting in non-GMO salinity-tolerant strains.

Validamycin A Enhances the Interaction Between Neutral Trehalase and 14-3-3 Protein Bmh1 in Fusarium graminearum

In agriculture, Trehalase is considered the main target of the biological fungicide validamycin A, and the toxicology mechanism of validamycin A is unknown. 14-3-3 proteins, highly conserved proteins, participate in diverse cellular processes, including enzyme activation, protein localization, and acting as a molecular chaperone. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the 14-3-3 protein Bmh1could interact with Nth1 to respond to specific external stimuli. Here, we characterized FgNth, FgBmh1, and FgBmh2 in Fusarium graminearum. ΔFgNth, ΔFgBmh1, and ΔFgBmh2 displayed great growth defects and their peripheral tips hyphae generated more branches when compared with wild-type (WT) PH-1. When exposed to validamycin A as well as high osmotic and high temperature stresses, ΔFgNth, ΔFgBmh1, and ΔFgBmh2 showed more tolerance than WT. Both ΔFgNth and ΔFgBmh1 displayed reduced deoxynivalenol production but opposite for ΔFgBmh2, and all three deletion mutants showed reduced virulence on wheat coleoptiles. In addition, coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP) experiments suggested that FgBmh1 and FgBmh2 both interact with FgNth, but no interaction was detected between FgBmh1 and FgBmh2 in our experiments. Further, validamycin A enhances the interaction between FgBmh1 and FgNth in a positive correlation under concentrations of 1 to 100 μg/ml. In addition, both high osmotic and high temperature stresses promote the interaction between FgBmh1 and FgNth. Co-IP assay also showed that neither FgBmh1 nor FgBmh2 could interact with FgPbs2, a MAPKK kinase in the high-osmolarity glycerol pathway. However, FgBmh2 but not FgBmh1 binds to the heat shock protein FgHsp70 in F. graminearum. Taken together, our results demonstrate that FgNth and FgBmh proteins are involved in growth and responses to external stresses and virulence; and validamycin enhanced the interaction between FgNth and FgBmh1in F. graminearum.

The involvement of the Candida glabrata trehalase enzymes in stress resistance and gut colonization

Candida glabrata is an opportunistic human fungal pathogen and is frequently present in the human microbiome. It has a high relative resistance to environmental stresses and several antifungal drugs. An important component involved in microbial stress tolerance is trehalose. In this work, we characterized the three C. glabrata trehalase enzymes Ath1, Nth1 and Nth2. Single, double and triple deletion strains were constructed and characterized both in vitro and in vivo to determine the role of these enzymes in virulence. Ath1 was found to be located in the periplasm and was essential for growth on trehalose as sole carbon source, while Nth1 on the other hand was important for oxidative stress resistance, an observation which was consistent by the lower survival rate of the NTH1 deletion strain in human macrophages. No significant phenotype was observed for Nth2. The triple deletion strain was unable to establish a stable colonization of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in mice indicating the importance of having trehalase activity for colonization in the gut.

Deletion of the trehalose tps1 gene in Kluyveromyces lactis does not impair growth in glucose

Trehalose is a non-reducing disaccharide composed of two α-glucose molecules and synthesized by an enzyme complex containing four subunits TPS1 (EC 2.4.1.15), TPS2 (EC 3.1.3.12), TPS3 and TSL1. First reports about trehalose classified this sugar as an energy reserve compound like glycogen. However, lately, trehalose is known to assist yeast cells during heat, osmotic and starvation stresses. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the deletion of the tps1 encoding gene eliminated the yeast ability to grow on glucose as the sole carbon source. Kluyveromyces lactis is a yeast present in various dairy products and is currently utilized for the synthesis of more than 40 industrial heterologous products. In this study, the deletion of the tps1 gene in K. lactis showed that unlike S. cerevisiae, tps1 gene disruption does not cause growth failure in glucose, galactose, or fructose. The µMAX rate values of K. lactis tps1Δ strains were equal than the non-disrupted strains, showing that the gene deletion does not affect the yeast growth. After gene disruption, the absence of trehalose into the metabolism of K. lactis was also confirmed.

Diverse and common features of trehalases and their contributions to microbial trehalose metabolism

Trehalose is a stable disaccharide that consists of two glucose units linked primarily by an α,α-(1 → 1)-linkage, and it has been found in a wide variety of organisms. In these organisms, trehalose functions not only as a source of carbon energy but also as a protector against various stress conditions. In addition, this disaccharide is attractive for use in a wide range of applications due to its bioactivities. In trehalose metabolism, direct trehalose-hydrolyzing enzymes are known as trehalases, which have been reported for bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes, and are classified into glycoside hydrolase 37 (GH37), GH65, and GH15 families according to the Carbohydrate-Active enZyme (CAZy) database. The catalytic domains (CDs) of these enzymes commonly share (α/α)₆-barrel structures and have two amino acid residues, Asp and/or Glu, that function as catalytic residues in an inverting mechanism. In this review, I focus on diverse and common features of trehalases within different GH families and their contributions to microbial trehalose metabolism.

Ssd1 and the cell wall integrity pathway promote entry, maintenance, and recovery from quiescence in budding yeast

Wild Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains are typically diploid. When faced with glucose and nitrogen limitation they can undergo meiosis and sporulate. Diploids can also enter a protective, nondividing cellular state or quiescence. The ability to enter quiescence is highly reproducible but shows broad natural variation. Some wild diploids can only enter cellular quiescence, which indicates that there are conditions in which sporulation is lost or selected against. Others only sporulate, but if sporulation is disabled by heterozygosity at the IME1 locus, those diploids can enter quiescence. W303 haploids can enter quiescence, but their diploid counterparts cannot. This is the result of diploidy, not mating type regulation. Introduction of SSD1 to W303 diploids switches fate, in that it rescues cellular quiescence and disrupts the ability to sporulate. Ssd1 and another RNA-binding protein, Mpt5 (Puf5), have parallel roles in quiescence in haploids. The ability of these mutants to enter quiescence, and their long-term survival in the quiescent state, can be rescued by exogenously added trehalose. The cell wall integrity pathway also promotes entry, maintenance, and recovery from quiescence through the Rlm1 transcription factor.

Allosteric activation of yeast enzyme neutral trehalase by calcium and 14-3-3 protein

Neutral trehalase 1 (Nth1) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae catalyzes disaccharide trehalose hydrolysis and helps yeast to survive adverse conditions, such as heat shock, starvation or oxidative stress. 14-3-3 proteins, master regulators of hundreds of partner proteins, participate in many key cellular processes. Nth1 is activated by phosphorylation followed by 14-3-3 protein (Bmh) binding. The activation mechanism is also potentiated by Ca(2+) binding within the EF-hand-like motif. This review summarizes the current knowledge about trehalases and the molecular and structural basis of Nth1 activation. The crystal structure of fully active Nth1 bound to 14-3-3 protein provided the first high-resolution view of a trehalase from a eukaryotic organism and showed 14-3-3 proteins as structural modulators and allosteric effectors of multi-domain binding partners.

Mechanism of neuroprotection by trehalose: controversy surrounding autophagy induction

Trehalose is a non-reducing disaccharide with two glucose molecules linked through an α, α-1,1-glucosidic bond. Trehalose has received attention for the past few decades for its role in neuroprotection especially in animal models of various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson and Huntington diseases. The mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effects of trehalose remains elusive. The prevailing hypothesis is that trehalose protects neurons by inducing autophagy, thereby clearing protein aggregates. Some of the animal studies showed activation of autophagy and reduced protein aggregates after trehalose administration in neurodegenerative disease models, seemingly supporting the autophagy induction hypothesis. However, results from cell studies have been less certain; although many studies claim that trehalose induces autophagy and reduces protein aggregates, the studies have their weaknesses, failing to provide sufficient evidence for the autophagy induction theory. Furthermore, a recent study with a thorough examination of autophagy flux showed that trehalose interfered with the flux from autophagosome to autolysosome, raising controversy on the direct effects of trehalose on autophagy. This review summarizes the fundamental properties of trehalose and the studies on its effects on neurodegenerative diseases. We also discuss the controversy related to the autophagy induction theory and seek to explain how trehalose works in neuroprotection.

Central Role of the Trehalose Biosynthesis Pathway in the Pathogenesis of Human Fungal Infections: Opportunities and Challenges for Therapeutic Development

Invasive fungal infections cause significant morbidity and mortality in part due to a limited antifungal drug arsenal. One therapeutic challenge faced by clinicians is the significant host toxicity associated with antifungal drugs. Another challenge is the fungistatic mechanism of action of some drugs. Consequently, the identification of fungus-specific drug targets essential for fitness in vivo remains a significant goal of medical mycology research. The trehalose biosynthetic pathway is found in a wide variety of organisms, including human-pathogenic fungi, but not in humans. Genes encoding proteins involved in trehalose biosynthesis are mechanistically linked to the metabolism, cell wall homeostasis, stress responses, and virulence of Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus fumigatus. While there are a number of pathways for trehalose production across the tree of life, the TPS/TPP (trehalose-6-phosphate synthase/trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase) pathway is the canonical pathway found in human-pathogenic fungi. Importantly, data suggest that proteins involved in trehalose biosynthesis play other critical roles in fungal metabolism and in vivo fitness that remain to be fully elucidated. By further defining the biology and functions of trehalose and its biosynthetic pathway components in pathogenic fungi, an opportunity exists to leverage this pathway as a potent antifungal drug target. The goal of this review is to cover the known roles of this important molecule and its associated biosynthesis-encoding genes in the human-pathogenic fungi studied to date and to employ these data to critically assess the opportunities and challenges facing development of this pathway as a therapeutic target.

Identification of GH15 Family Thermophilic Archaeal Trehalases That Function within a Narrow Acidic-pH Range

Two glucoamylase-like genes, TVN1315 and Ta0286, from the archaea Thermoplasma volcanium and T. acidophilum, respectively, were expressed in Escherichia coli. The gene products, TVN1315 and Ta0286, were identified as archaeal trehalases. These trehalases belong to the CAZy database family GH15, although they have putative (α/α)6 barrel catalytic domain structures similar to those of GH37 and GH65 family trehalases from other organisms. These newly identified trehalases function within a narrow range of acidic pH values (pH 3.2 to 4.0) and at high temperatures (50 to 60°C), and these enzymes display Km values for trehalose higher than those observed for typical trehalases. These enzymes were inhibited by validamycin A; however, the inhibition constants (Ki) were higher than those of other trehalases. Three TVN1315 mutants, corresponding to E408Q, E571Q, and E408Q/E571Q mutations, showed reduced activity, suggesting that these two glutamic acid residues are involved in trehalase catalysis in a manner similar to that of glucoamylase. To date, TVN1315 and Ta0286 are the first archaeal trehalases to be identified, and this is the first report of the heterologous expression of GH15 family trehalases. The identification of these trehalases could extend our understanding of the relationships between the structure and function of GH15 family enzymes as well as glycoside hydrolase family enzymes; additionally, these enzymes provide insight into archaeal trehalose metabolism.

Mechanism of high trehalose accumulation in a spore clone isolated from Shirakami kodama yeast

The intracellular trehalose levels in Shirakami kodama yeast, a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, isolated in 1997 from leaf mold in the Shirakami Mountains and since used as a commercial baker's yeast, are remarkably high, which presumably is related to its tolerance of freezing and drought conditions. We isolated a spore clone from Shirakami kodama yeast with about 1.7-fold higher intracellular trehalose levels than the parental strain and set out to elucidate how this spore clone can accumulate intracellular trehalose to such a high concentration. The gene for trehalose 6-phosphate synthase, TPS1, was duplicated in this spore clone. Both TPS1 genes contributed to the high level of intracellular trehalose as a 3.4-fold decrease resulted from the disruption of one of the two TPS1 genes. Both Msn2 and Msn4, which bind to stress responsive elements in the promoter region of TPS1, were required for production of high levels of trehalose. Furthermore, the neutral trehalase activity of this spore clone is about 3-fold less than that of the laboratory strain although the gene for neutral trehalase, NTH1, functioned normally. These findings indicate that two TPS1 genes and the low trehalase activity are associated with high trehalose accumulation in this spore clone. The wide range of stresses of which we found the spore clone to be tolerant makes this yeast very attractive for commercial application and for further research into the mechanisms underlying stress responses and trehalose metabolism.

Enhanced freeze tolerance of baker’s yeast by overexpressed trehalose-6-phosphate synthase gene (TPS1) and deleted trehalase genes in frozen dough

Several recombinant strains with overexpressed trehalose-6-phosphate synthase gene (TPS1) and/or deleted trehalase genes were obtained to elucidate the relationships between TPS1, trehalase genes, content of intracellular trehalose and freeze tolerance of baker’s yeast, as well as improve the fermentation properties of lean dough after freezing. In this study, strain TL301TPS1 overexpressing TPS1 showed 62.92 % higher trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (Tps1) activity and enhanced the content of intracellular trehalose than the parental strain. Deleting ATH1 exerted a significant effect on trehalase activities and the degradation amount of intracellular trehalose during the first 30 min of prefermentation. This finding indicates that acid trehalase (Ath1) plays a role in intracellular trehalose degradation. NTH2 encodes a functional neutral trehalase (Nth2) that was significantly involved in intracellular trehalose degradation in the absence of the NTH1 and/or ATH1 gene. The survival ratio, freeze-tolerance ratio and relative fermentation ability of strain TL301TPS1 were approximately twice as high as those of the parental strain (BY6-9α). The increase in freeze tolerance of strain TL301TPS1 was accompanied by relatively low trehalase activity, high Tps1 activity and high residual content of intracellular trehalose. Our results suggest that overexpressing TPS1 and deleting trehalase genes are sufficient to improve the freeze tolerance of baker’s yeast in frozen dough. The present study provides guidance for the commercial baking industry as well as the research on the intracellular trehalose mobilization and freeze tolerance of baker’s yeast.

Proteomic analysis reveals complex metabolic regulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells against multiple inhibitors stress

Toxic compounds including acids, furans, and phenols (AFP) were generated from the pretreatment of lignocellulose. We cultivated Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells in a batch mode, besides the cell culture of original yeast strain in AFP-free medium which was referred as C0, three independent subcultures were cultivated under multiple inhibitors AFP and were referred as C1, C2, and C3 in time sequence. Comparing to C0, the cell density was lowered while the ethanol yield was maintained stably in the three yeast cultures under AFP stress, and the lag phase of C1 was extended while the lag phases of C2 and C3 were not extended. In proteomic analysis, 194 and 215 unique proteins were identified as differently expressed proteins at lag phase and exponential phase, respectively. Specifically, the yeast cells co-regulated protein folding and protein synthesis process to prevent the generation of misfolded proteins and to save cellular energy, they increased the activity of glycolysis, redirected metabolic flux towards phosphate pentose pathway and the biosynthesis of ethanol instead of the biosynthesis of glycerol and acetic acid, and they upregulated several oxidoreductases especially at lag phase and induced programmed cell death at exponential phase. When the yeast cells were cultivated under AFP stress, the new metabolism homeostasis in favor of cellular energy and redox homeostasis was generated in C1, then it was inherited and optimized in C2 and C3, enabling the yeast cells in C2 and C3 to enter the exponential phase in a short period after inoculation, which thus significantly shortened the fermentation time.

Quercetin protects Saccharomyces cerevisiae against oxidative stress by inducing trehalose biosynthesis and the cell wall integrity pathway

BACKGROUND

Quercetin is a naturally occurring flavonol with antioxidant, anticancer and anti-ageing properties. In this study we aimed to identify genes differentially expressed in yeast cells treated with quercetin and its role in oxidative stress protection.

METHODS

A microarray analysis was performed to characterize changes in the transcriptome and the expression of selected genes was validated by RT-qPCR. Biological processes significantly affected were identified by using the FUNSPEC software and their relevance in H(2)O(2) resistance induced by quercetin was assessed.

RESULTS

Genes associated with RNA metabolism and ribosome biogenesis were down regulated in cells treated with quercetin, whereas genes associated with carbohydrate metabolism, endocytosis and vacuolar proteolysis were up regulated. The induction of genes related to the metabolism of energy reserves, leading to the accumulation of the stress protectant disaccharide trehalose, and the activation of the cell wall integrity pathway play a key role in oxidative stress resistance induced by quercetin.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that quercetin may act as a modulator of cell signaling pathways related to carbohydrate metabolism and cell integrity to exert its protective effects against oxidative stress.

Genetically altering the expression of neutral trehalase gene affects conidiospore thermotolerance of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium acridum

BACKGROUND

The entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium acridum has been used as an important biocontrol agent instead of insecticides for controlling crop pests throughout the world. However, its virulence varies with environmental factors, especially temperature. Neutral trehalase (Ntl) hydrolyzes trehalose, which plays a role in environmental stress response in many organisms, including M. acridum. Demonstration of a relationship between Ntl and thermotolerance or virulence may offer a new strategy for enhancing conidiospore thermotolerance of entomopathogenic fungi through genetic engineering.

RESULTS

We selected four Ntl over-expression and four Ntl RNA interference (RNAi) transformations in which Ntl expression is different. Compared to the wild-type, Ntl mRNA expression was reduced to 35-66% in the RNAi mutants and increased by 2.5-3.5-fold in the over-expression mutants. The RNAi conidiospores exhibited less trehalase activity, accumulated more trehalose, and were much more tolerant of heat stress than the wild-type. The opposite effects were found in conidiospores of over-expression mutants compared to RNAi mutants. Furthermore, virulence was not altered in the two types of mutants compared to the wild type.

CONCLUSIONS

Ntl controlled trehalose accumulation in M. acridum by degrading trehalose, and thus affected conidiospore thermotolerance. These results offer a new strategy for enhancing conidiospore thermotolerance of entomopathogenic fungi without affecting virulence.

Differential importance of trehalose accumulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in response to various environmental stresses

Trehalose is believed to play an important role in stress tolerance in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this research, the responses to various environmental stresses, such as high ethanol concentration, heat, oxidative, and freezing stresses, were investigated in a strain with deletion of the NTH1, NTH2, and ATH1 genes encoding trehalases that are involved in trehalose degradation and the triple deletion strains overexpressing TPS1 or TPS2, both of which encode trehalose biosynthesis enzymes in S. cerevisiae. The contents of trehalose constitutively accumulated in the TPS1- and TPS2-overexpressing triple deletion strains were higher than that in the original triple deletion strain. High trehalose accumulation and growth activity were observed in the TPS2-overexpressing triple deletion strain after ethanol stress induction. The same was also observed in the triple deletion and the TPS1- and TPS2-overexpressing triple deletion strains after heat stress induction. In case of freezing stress, all the recombinant strains with high constitutive trehalose content showed high tolerance. However, in case of oxidative stress, trehalose accumulation could not make the yeast cells tolerant. Our results indicated that high trehalose accumulation can make yeast cells resistant to multiple stresses, but the importance of this accumulation before or after stress induction is varied depending on the type of stress.

Identity of the growth-limiting nutrient strongly affects storage carbohydrate accumulation in anaerobic chemostat cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Accumulation of glycogen and trehalose in nutrient-limited cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is negatively correlated with the specific growth rate. Additionally, glucose-excess conditions (i.e., growth limitation by nutrients other than glucose) are often implicated in high-level accumulation of these storage carbohydrates. The present study investigates how the identity of the growth-limiting nutrient affects accumulation of storage carbohydrates in cultures grown at a fixed specific growth rate. In anaerobic chemostat cultures (dilution rate, 0.10 h(-1)) of S. cerevisiae, the identity of the growth-limiting nutrient (glucose, ammonia, sulfate, phosphate, or zinc) strongly affected storage carbohydrate accumulation. The glycogen contents of the biomass from glucose- and ammonia-limited cultures were 10- to 14-fold higher than those of the biomass from cultures grown under the other three glucose-excess regimens. Trehalose levels were specifically higher under nitrogen-limited conditions. These results demonstrate that storage carbohydrate accumulation in nutrient-limited cultures of S. cerevisiae is not a generic response to excess glucose but instead is strongly dependent on the identity of the growth-limiting nutrient. While transcriptome analysis of wild-type and msn2Delta msn4Delta strains confirmed that transcriptional upregulation of glycogen and trehalose biosynthesis genes is mediated by Msn2p/Msn4p, transcriptional regulation could not quantitatively account for the drastic changes in storage carbohydrate accumulation. The results of assays of glycogen synthase and glycogen phosphorylase activities supported involvement of posttranscriptional regulation. Consistent with the high glycogen levels in ammonia-limited cultures, the ratio of glycogen synthase to glycogen phosphorylase in these cultures was up to eightfold higher than the ratio in the other glucose-excess cultures.

The trehalose synthesis pathway is an integral part of the virulence composite for Cryptococcus gattii

The trehalose pathway is essential for stress tolerance and virulence in fungi. We investigated the importance of this pathway for virulence of the pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus gattii using the highly virulent Vancouver Island, Canada, outbreak strain R265. Three genes putatively involved in trehalose biosynthesis, TPS1 (trehalose-6-phosphate [T6P] synthase) and TPS2 (T6P phosphatase), and degradation, NTH1 (neutral trehalose), were deleted in this strain, creating the R265tps1 Delta, R265tps2 Delta, and R265nth1 Delta mutants. As in Cryptococcus neoformans, cellular trehalose was reduced in the R265tps1 Delta and R265tps2 Delta mutants, which could not grow and died, respectively, at 37 degrees C on yeast extract-peptone-dextrose agar, suggesting that T6P accumulation in R265tps2 Delta is directly toxic. Characterizations of the cryptococcal hexokinases and trehalose mutants support their linkage to the control of glycolysis in this species. However, unlike C. neoformans, the C. gattii R265tps1 Delta mutant demonstrated, in addition, defects in melanin and capsule production, supporting an influence of T6P on these virulence pathways. Attenuated virulence of the R265tps1 Delta mutant was not due solely to its 37 degrees C growth defect, as shown in worm studies and confirmed by suppressor mutants. Furthermore, an intact trehalose pathway controls protein secretion, mating, and cell wall integrity in C. gattii. Thus, the trehalose synthesis pathway plays a central role in the virulence composites of C. gattii through multiple mechanisms. Deletion of NTH1 had no effect on virulence, but inactivation of the synthesis genes, TPS1 and TPS2, has profound effects on survival of C. gattii in the invertebrate and mammalian hosts. These results highlight the central importance of this pathway in the virulence composites of both pathogenic cryptococcal species.

The three trehalases Nth1p, Nth2p and Ath1p participate in the mobilization of intracellular trehalose required for recovery from saline stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Trehalose accumulation is a common response to several stresses in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This metabolite protects proteins and membrane lipids from structural damage and helps cells to maintain integrity. Based on genetic studies, degradation of trehalose has been proposed as a required mechanism for growth recovery after stress, and the neutral trehalase Nth1p as the unique degradative activity involved. Here we constructed a collection of mutants for several trehalose metabolism and transport genes and analysed their growth and trehalose mobilization profiles during experiments of saline stress recovery. The behaviour of the triple Deltanth1Deltanth2Deltaath1 and quadruple Deltanth1Deltanth2Deltaath1Deltaagt1 mutant strains in these experiments demonstrates the participation of the three known yeast trehalases Nth1p, Nth2p and Ath1p in the mobilization of intracellular trehalose during growth recovery after saline stress, rules out the participation of the Agt1p H(+)-disaccharide symporter, and allows us to propose the existence of additional new mechanisms for trehalose mobilization after saline stress.

Effect of trehalose accumulation on response to saline stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

To examine the effect of trehalose accumulation on response to saline stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we constructed deletion strains of all combinations of the trehalase genes ATH1, NTH1 and NTH2 and examined their growth behaviour and intracellular trehalose accumulation under non-stress and saline-stress conditions. Saline stress was induced in yeast cells by NaCl addition at the exponential growth phase. All deletion strains showed similar specific growth rates and trehalose accumulation to their parent strain under non-stress conditions. However, under the saline stress condition, one single deletion strain, nth1Delta, two double deletion strains, nth1Delta ath1Delta and nth1Delta nth2Delta, and the triple deletion strain nth1Deltanth2Delta ath1Delta, all of which carry the nth1Delta deletion, showed increased trehalose accumulation as compared to the parent and other deletion strains. In particular, our statistical analysis revealed that the triple deletion strain showed a higher growth rate under the saline stress condition than the parent strain. Moreover, some deletion strains showed further trehalose accumulation under non-stress conditions by overexpression of the TPS1 or TPS2 genes encoding the enzymes related to trehalose biosynthesis at the mid-exponential phase. Such increased trehalose accumulation prior to NaCl addition could improve the growth of these strains under saline stress. Our results indicate that high trehalose accumulation prior to NaCl addition, rather than after NaCl addition, is necessary to achieve high growth activity under stress conditions.

New insights into trehalose metabolism by Saccharomyces cerevisiae: NTH2 encodes a functional cytosolic trehalase, and deletion of TPS1 reveals Ath1p-dependent trehalose mobilization

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the synthesis of endogenous trehalose is catalyzed by a trehalose synthase complex, TPS, and its hydrolysis relies on a cytosolic/neutral trehalase encoded by NTH1. In this work, we showed that NTH2, a paralog of NTH1, encodes a functional trehalase that is implicated in trehalose mobilization. Yeast is also endowed with an acid trehalase encoded by ATH1 and an H+/trehalose transporter encoded by AGT1, which can together sustain assimilation of exogenous trehalose. We showed that a tps1 mutant defective in the TPS catalytic subunit cultivated on trehalose, or on a dual source of carbon made of galactose and trehalose, accumulated high levels of intracellular trehalose by its Agt1p-mediated transport. The accumulated disaccharide was mobilized as soon as cells entered the stationary phase by a process requiring a coupling between its export and immediate extracellular hydrolysis by Ath1p. Compared to what is seen for classical growth conditions on glucose, this mobilization was rather unique, since it took place prior to that of glycogen, which was postponed until the late stationary phase. However, when the Ath1p-dependent mobilization of trehalose identified in this study was impaired, glycogen was mobilized earlier and faster, indicating a fine-tuning control in carbon storage management during periods of carbon and energy restriction.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains from traditional fermentations of Brazilian cachaça: trehalose metabolism, heat and ethanol resistance

Nine indigenous cachaça Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains and one wine strain were compared for their trehalose metabolism characteristics under non-lethal (40 degrees C) and lethal (52 degrees C) heat shock, ethanol shock and combined heat and ethanol stresses. The yeast protection mechanism was studied through trehalose concentration, neutral trehalase activity and expression of heat shock proteins Hsp70 and Hsp104. All isolates were able to accumulate trehalose and activate neutral trehalase under stress conditions. No correlation was found between trehalose levels and neutral trehalase activity under heat or ethanol shock. However, when these stresses were combined, a positive relationship was found. After pre-treatment at 40 degrees C for 60 min, and heat shock at 52 degrees C for 8 min, eight strains maintained their trehalose levels and nine strains improved their resistance against lethal heat shock. Among the investigated stresses, heat treatment induced the highest level of trehalose and combined heat and ethanol stresses activated the neutral trehalase most effectively. Hsp70 and Hsp104 were expressed by all strains at 40 degrees C and all of them survived this temperature although a decrease in cell viability was observed at 52 degrees C. The stress imposed by more than 5% ethanol (v/v) represented the best condition to differentiate strains based on trehalose levels and neutral trehalase activity. The investigated S. cerevisiae strains exhibited different characteristics of trehalose metabolism, which could be an important tool to select strains for the cachaça fermentation process.

The natural osmolyte trehalose is a positive regulator of the heat-induced activity of yeast heat shock transcription factor

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the intracellular concentration of trehalose increases rapidly in response to many environmental stresses, including heat shock. These high trehalose levels have been correlated with tolerance to adverse conditions and led to the model that trehalose functions as a chemical cochaperone. Here, we show that the transcriptional activity of Hsf1 during the heat shock response depends on trehalose. Strains with low levels of trehalose have a diminished transcriptional response to heat shock, while strains with high levels of trehalose have an enhanced transcriptional response to heat shock. The enhanced transcriptional response does not require the other heat-responsive transcription factors Msn2/4 but is dependent upon heat and Hsf1. In addition, the phosphorylation levels of Hsf1 correlate with both transcriptional activity and the presence of trehalose. These in vivo results support a new role for trehalose, where trehalose directly modifies the dynamic range of Hsf1 activity and therefore influences heat shock protein mRNA levels in response to stress.

A potential mechanism of energy-metabolism oscillation in an aerobic chemostat culture of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The energy-metabolism oscillation in aerobic chemostat cultures of yeast is a periodic change of the respiro-fermentative and respiratory phase. In the respiro-fermentative phase, the NADH level was kept high and respiration was suppressed, and glucose was anabolized into trehalose and glycogen at a rate comparable to that of catabolism. On the transition to the respiratory phase, cAMP levels increased triggering the breakdown of storage carbohydrates and the increased influx of glucose into the glycolytic pathway activated production of glycerol and ethanol consuming NADH. The resulting increase in the NAD(+)/NADH ratio stimulated respiration in combination with a decrease in the level of ATP, which was consumed mainly in the formation of biomass accompanying budding, and the accumulated ethanol and glycerol were gradually degraded by respiration via NAD(+)-dependent oxidation to acetate and the respiratory phase ceased after the recovery of NADH and ATP levels. However, the mRNA levels of both synthetic and degradative enzymes of storage carbohydrates were increased around the early respiro-fermentative phase, when storage carbohydrates are being synthesized, suggesting that the synthetic enzymes were expressed directly as active forms while the degradative enzymes were activated late by cAMP. In summary, the energy-metabolism oscillation is basically regulated by a feedback loop of oxido-reductive reactions of energy metabolism mediated by metabolites like NADH and ATP, and is modulated by metabolism of storage carbohydrates in combination of post-translational and transcriptional regulation of the related enzymes. A potential mechanism of energy-metabolism oscillation is proposed.

Acid trehalase in yeasts and filamentous fungi: Localization, regulation and physiological function

Yeasts and filamentous fungi are endowed with two different trehalose-hydrolysing activities, termed acid and neutral trehalases according to their optimal pH for enzymatic activity. A wealth of information already exists on fungal neutral trehalases, while data on localization, regulation and function of fungal acid trehalases have remained elusive. The gene encoding the latter enzyme has now been isolated from two yeast species and two filamentous fungi, and sequences encoding putative acid trehalase can be retrieved from available public sequences. Despite weak similarities between amino acids sequences, this type of trehalase potentially harbours either a transmembrane segment or a signal peptide at the N-terminal sequence, as deduced from domain prediction algorithms. This feature, together with the demonstration that acid trehalase from yeasts and filamentous fungi is localized at the cell surface, is consistent with its main role in the utilisation of exogenous trehalose as a carbon source. The growth on this disaccharide is in fact pretty effective in most fungi except in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This yeast species actually exhibits a "Kluyver effect" on trehalose. Moreover, an oscillatory behaviour reminiscent of what is observed in aerobic glucose-limited continuous cultures at low dilution rate is also observed in batch growth on trehalose. Finally, the S. cerevisiae acid trehalase may also participate in the catabolism of endogenous trehalose by a mechanism that likely requires the export of the disaccharide, its extracellular hydrolysis, and the subsequent uptake of the glucose released. Based on these recent findings, we suggest to rename "acid" and "neutral" trehalases as "extracellular" and "cytosolic" trehalases, which is more adequate to describe their localization and function in the fungal cell.

Inhibition of yeast glutathione reductase by trehalose: possible implications in yeast survival and recovery from stress

Accumulation of trehalose has been implicated in the tolerance of yeast cells to several forms of stress, including heat-shock and high ethanol levels. However, yeast lacking trehalase, the enzyme that degrades trehalose, exhibit poor survival after exposure to stress conditions. This suggests that optimal cell viability also depends on the capacity to rapidly degrade the high levels of trehalose that build up under stress. Here, we initially examined the effects of trehalose on the activity of an important antioxidant enzyme, glutathione reductase (GR), from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. At 25 degrees C, GR was inhibited by trehalose in a dose-dependent manner, with 70% inhibition at 1.5M trehalose. The inhibition was practically abolished at 40 degrees C, a temperature that induces a physiological response of trehalose accumulation in yeast. The inhibition of GR by trehalose was additive to the inhibition caused by ethanol, indicating that enzyme function is drastically affected upon ethanol-induced stress. Moreover, two other yeast enzymes, cytosolic pyrophosphatase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, showed temperature dependences on inhibition by trehalose that were similar to the temperature dependence of GR inhibition. These results are discussed in terms of the apparent paradox represented by the induction of enzymes involved in both synthesis and degradation of trehalose under stress, and suggest that the persistence of high levels of trehalose after recovery from stress could lead to the inactivation of important yeast enzymes.

Two distinct pathways for trehalose assimilation in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae can synthesize trehalose and also use this disaccharide as a carbon source for growth. However, the molecular mechanism by which extracellular trehalose can be transported to the vacuole and degraded by the acid trehalase Ath1p is not clear. By using an adaptation of the assay of invertase on whole cells with NaF, we showed that more than 90% of the activity of Ath1p is extracellular, splitting of the disaccharide into glucose. We also found that Agt1p-mediated trehalose transport and the hydrolysis of the disaccharide by the cytosolic neutral trehalase Nth1p are coupled and represent a second, independent pathway, although there are several constraints on this alternative route. First, the AGT1/MAL11 gene is controlled by the MAL system, and Agt1p was active in neither non-maltose-fermenting nor maltose-inducible strains. Second, Agt1p rapidly lost activity during growth on trehalose, by a mechanism similar to the sugar-induced inactivation of the maltose permease. Finally, both pathways are highly pH sensitive and effective growth on trehalose occurred only when the medium was buffered at around pH 5.0. The catabolism of trehalose was purely oxidative, and since levels of Ath1p limit the glucose flux in the cells, batch cultures on trehalose may provide a useful alternative to glucose-limited chemostat cultures for investigation of metabolic responses in yeast.

A role for calcium in the regulation of neutral trehalase activity in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Neutral trehalases mobilize trehalose accumulated by fungal cells as a protective and storage carbohydrate. A structural feature of these enzymes is the presence of an EF-like motif similar to that shown by many Ca2+-binding proteins. In this study we provide direct evidence for physical binding of Ca2+ to neutral trehalase (Ntp1p) of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and show that aspartic residues at positions 97 and 108 in the conserved putative Ca2+-binding motif of Ntp1p appear to be responsible for this interaction. Mutations in these residues do not interfere with the ability of Ntp1p to associate in vivo with trehalose-6-phosphate synthase, but prevent activation of neutral trehalase triggered by the addition of glucose or by subjecting cells to stressing conditions. Strains expressing Ntp1p variants that are unable to bind Ca2+ partially resemble those devoid of the ntp1+ gene in terms of trehalose hyperaccumulation. Gel filtration of cell extracts from wild-type cells after EDTA treatment or from cells containing Ntp1p with mutations in aspartic acid residues within the Ca2+-binding site revealed that Ntp1p eluted mainly in an inactive conformation instead of the dimeric or trimeric active form of the enzyme. These results suggest that activation of S. pombe Ntp1p under different conditions depends upon Ca2+ binding through the Ca2+-binding motif as a prerequisite for correct enzyme oligomerization to its active form. Given the high degree of conservation of the Ca2+ accommodation site, this might be a general mechanism regulating neutral trehalase activity in other yeasts and filamentous fungi.

Three pathways for trehalose metabolism in Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC13032 and their significance in response to osmotic stress

Genome scanning of Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC13032 revealed the presence of five different genes encoding enzymes belonging to three putative trehalose biosynthesis pathways (OtsAB, TreYZ, TreS). The function of the different pathways and of trehalose as an osmoprotectant was studied by characterizing several strains defective for individual trehalose biosynthetic routes. Trehalose synthesis was shown to increase upon hyperosmotic conditions. Cytoplasmic trehalose levels varied considerably depending on kind and accessibility of carbon and nitrogen sources. In contrast to other organisms, osmoregulated trehalose synthesis in C. glutamicum is mediated by the TreYZ and not by the OtsAB pathway. Irrespective of their significance for the osmotic response, otsA and treS were upregulated at the transcriptional level after hyperosmotic shock. In vivo, TreS-mediated trehalose synthesis only occurred if maltose was used as the carbon source. In vitro, TreS catalysed the conversion of maltose into trehalose and, conversely, trehalose into maltose. As the reaction seems to be near equilibrium, TreS appears to be important for trehalose degradation rather than synthesis because a 1000-fold excess of trehalose to maltose was detected in the cytoplasm. Also, evidence is given that both the OtsAB and the TreYZ pathways are involved, but not essential, in supplying trehalose for mycolic acid biosynthesis.

Biochemical and genomic regulation of the trehalose cycle in yeast: review of observations and canonical model analysis

The physiological hallmark of heat-shock response in yeast is a rapid, enormous increase in the concentration of trehalose. Normally found in growing yeast cells and other organisms only as traces, trehalose becomes a crucial protector of proteins and membranes against a variety of stresses, including heat, cold, starvation, desiccation, osmotic or oxidative stress, and exposure to toxicants. Trehalose is produced from glucose 6-phosphate and uridine diphosphate glucose in a two-step process, and recycled to glucose by trehalases. Even though the trehalose cycle consists of only a few metabolites and enzymatic steps, its regulatory structure and operation are surprisingly complex. The article begins with a review of experimental observations on the regulation of the trehalose cycle in yeast and proposes a canonical model for its analysis. The first part of this analysis demonstrates the benefits of the various regulatory features by means of controlled comparisons with models of otherwise equivalent pathways lacking these features. The second part elucidates the significance of the expression pattern of the trehalose cycle genes in response to heat shock. Interestingly, the genes contributing to trehalose formation are up-regulated to very different degrees, and even the trehalose degrading trehalases show drastically increased activity during heat-shock response. Again using the method of controlled comparisons, the model provides rationale for the observed pattern of gene expression and reveals benefits of the counterintuitive trehalase up-regulation.

Trehalose synthesis and metabolism are required at different stages of plant infection by Magnaporthe grisea

The relationship of trehalose metabolism to fungal virulence was explored in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe grisea. To determine the role of trehalose synthesis in pathogenesis, we identified and deleted TPS1, encoding trehalose-6-phosphate synthase. A Deltatps1 mutant failed to synthesize trehalose, sporulated poorly and was greatly attenuated in pathogenicity. Appressoria produced by Deltatps1 did not develop full turgor or elaborate penetration hyphae efficiently. To determine the role of subsequent trehalose breakdown, we deleted NTH1, which encodes a neutral trehalase. Nth1 mutants infected plants normally, but showed attenuated pathogenicity due to a decreased ability to colonize plant tissue. A second trehalase was also identified, required both for growth on trehalose and mobilization of intracellular trehalose during infection-related development. TRE1 encodes a cell wall-localized enzyme with characteristics of both neutral and acidic trehalases, but is dispensable for pathogenicity. Our results indicate that trehalose synthesis, but not its subsequent breakdown, is required for primary plant infection by M.grisea, while trehalose degradation is important for efficient development of the fungus in plant tissue following initial infection.

Comprehensive expression analysis of time-dependent genetic responses in yeast cells to low temperature

We performed genome-wide expression analysis to determine genetic responses in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to a low temperature environment using a cDNA microarray. Approximately 25% of the genes in the yeast genome were found to be involved in the response of yeast to low temperature. This finding of a large number of genes being involved in the response to low temperature enabled us to give a functional interpretation to the genetic responses to the stimulus. Functional and clustering analyses of temporal changes in gene expression revealed that global states of the expressions of up-regulated genes could be characterized as having three phases (the early, middle, and late phases). In each phase, genes related to rRNA synthesis, ribosomal proteins, or several stress responses are time-dependently up-regulated, respectively. Through these phases, yeast cells may improve reduced efficiency of translation and enhance cell protection mechanisms to survive under a low temperature condition. Furthermore, these time-dependent regulations of these genes would be controlled by the cAMP-protein kinase A pathway. The results of our study provide a global description of transcriptional response for adaptation to low temperature in yeast cells.

Protective role of trehalose during severe oxidative stress caused by hydrogen peroxide and the adaptive oxidative stress response in Candida albicans

The cellular response to the oxidative stress caused by hydrogen peroxide and its putative correlation with the stress protector trehalose was investigated in Candida albicans CAI.4 and the tps1/tps1 double mutant, which is deficient in trehalose synthesis. When exponential wild-type blastoconidia were exposed to high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, they displayed a high cell survival, accompanied by a marked rise of intracellular trehalose. The latter is due to a moderate activation of trehalose synthase and the concomitant inactivation of neutral trehalase. Identical challenge in the tps1/tps1 double mutant severely reduced cell viability, a phenotype which was suppressed by overexpression of the TPS1 gene. Pretreatment of growing cultures from both strains with either a low, non-lethal concentration of H(2)O(2) (0.5 mM) or a preincubation at 37 degrees C, induced an adaptive response that protected cells from being killed by a subsequent exposure to oxidative stress. During these mild oxidative preincubations, trehalose was not induced in CAI.4 cells and remained undetectable in their tps1/tps1 counterpart. Blastoconidia from the two strains exhibited a similar degree of cell protection during the adaptive response. The induction of trehalose accumulation by H(2)O(2) was not due to an increased expression of TPS1 mRNA. These results are consistent with a mainly protective role of trehalose in C. albicans during direct oxidative stress but not during acquired oxidative tolerance.

Molecular cloning, characterisation, and expression of a neutral trehalase from the insect pathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae

A neutral trehalase gene (NTH1) was isolated from a lambdaEMBL3 genomic library of the insect pathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. Sequencing of the gene revealed extensive homology with other fungal neutral trehalases. The NTH1 gene exists as a single copy in the genome. Two STREs exist in the 5'UTR of NTH1, which may mediate transcriptional activation of the NTH1 gene in response to various stresses. The NTH1 gene encodes a protein of 737 amino acids with a calculated M(r) of 83.1kDa. A cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-dependent phosphorylation consensus site and a putative calcium binding site were found in the amino-terminal domain of NTH1, consistent with a regulatory enzyme. Expression of the trehalase cDNA was achieved in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Southern blot analysis of RT-PCR products indicated that the neutral trehalase gene is transcribed in vitro in cell-free haemolymph of the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta and in vivo in the early stage of infection.

Osmotic stress signaling and osmoadaptation in yeasts

The ability to adapt to altered availability of free water is a fundamental property of living cells. The principles underlying osmoadaptation are well conserved. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an excellent model system with which to study the molecular biology and physiology of osmoadaptation. Upon a shift to high osmolarity, yeast cells rapidly stimulate a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade, the high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway, which orchestrates part of the transcriptional response. The dynamic operation of the HOG pathway has been well studied, and similar osmosensing pathways exist in other eukaryotes. Protein kinase A, which seems to mediate a response to diverse stress conditions, is also involved in the transcriptional response program. Expression changes after a shift to high osmolarity aim at adjusting metabolism and the production of cellular protectants. Accumulation of the osmolyte glycerol, which is also controlled by altering transmembrane glycerol transport, is of central importance. Upon a shift from high to low osmolarity, yeast cells stimulate a different MAP kinase cascade, the cell integrity pathway. The transcriptional program upon hypo-osmotic shock seems to aim at adjusting cell surface properties. Rapid export of glycerol is an important event in adaptation to low osmolarity. Osmoadaptation, adjustment of cell surface properties, and the control of cell morphogenesis, growth, and proliferation are highly coordinated processes. The Skn7p response regulator may be involved in coordinating these events. An integrated understanding of osmoadaptation requires not only knowledge of the function of many uncharacterized genes but also further insight into the time line of events, their interdependence, their dynamics, and their spatial organization as well as the importance of subtle effects.

Ultradian rhythm of trehalose levels coupled to heat resistance in continuous cultures of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Heat resistance appears to cycle in concert with energy metabolism in continuous culture of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To study the mechanism of this oscillation, the authors first examined if heat shock proteins (Hsps) are involved. Neither the protein levels of major Hsps nor the expression of the beta-galactosidase gene as a reporter under the control of the promoter carrying heat-shock element oscillated during the metabolic oscillation. The level of trehalose in yeast cycled with the same periodicity, as did energy metabolism. This oscillation was not found in a GTS1-deleted mutant that also did not show cyclic changes in heat resistance. These results suggest that heat resistance oscillation is induced by fluctuations in trehalose level and not by an oscillatory expression of Hsps. The increase in trehalose began at the start of the respiro-fermentative phase and the decrease began after the elevation of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) level. The authors hypothesize that the synthesis of trehalose parallels the activation of the glycolytic pathway and that trehalose is degraded by trehalase activated by cAMP coupled with the metabolic oscillation in the continuous culture of yeast.

Identification of 3,4-dihydroxy-2-oxo-butanal (L-threosone) as an intermediate compound in oxidative degradation of dehydro-L-ascorbic acid and 2,3-diketo-L-gulonic acid in a deuterium oxide phosphate buffer

Dehydro-L-ascorbic acid (DAA), an oxidation product of L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C), is unstable in the neutral and basic pH regions. When DAA was incubated in a phosphate buffer with deuterium oxide (pH 7.4), it was degraded to form the main degradation compound, which was identified as 3,4-dihydroxy-2-oxobutanal (L-threosone). This compound was also formed from diketo-L-gulonic acid (DKG) in a phosphate buffer with deuterium oxide. L-threosone had reducing activity, probably due to its enolization, and is likely to have been involved in the formation of the reducing activity that was observed in aqueous DAA and DKG solutions. As a reactive dicarbonyl compound, L-threosone might also take some role in the cross-linking of tissue proteins that are formed in vivo in the Maillard reaction.

Reserve carbohydrates metabolism in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Glycogen and trehalose are the two glucose stores of yeast cells. The large variations in the cell content of these two compounds in response to different environmental changes indicate that their metabolism is controlled by complex regulatory systems. In this review we present information on the regulation of the activity of the enzymes implicated in the pathways of synthesis and degradation of glycogen and trehalose as well as on the transcriptional control of the genes encoding them. cAMP and the protein kinases Snf1 and Pho85 appear as major actors in this regulation. From a metabolic point of view, glucose-6-phosphate seems the major effector in the net synthesis of glycogen and trehalose. We discuss also the implication of the recently elucidated TOR-dependent nutrient signalling pathway in the control of the yeast glucose stores and its integration in growth and cell division. The unexpected roles of glycogen and trehalose found in the control of glycolytic flux, stress responses and energy stores for the budding process, demonstrate that their presence confers survival and reproductive advantages to the cell. The findings discussed provide for the first time a teleonomic value for the presence of two different glucose stores in the yeast cell.

Evidence for contribution of neutral trehalase in barotolerance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In yeast, trehalose accumulation and its hydrolysis, which is catalyzed by neutral trehalase, are believed to be important for thermotolerance. We have shown that trehalose is one of the important factors for barotolerance (resistance to hydrostatic pressure); however, nothing is known about the role of neutral trehalase in barotolerance. To estimate the contribution of neutral trehalase in resisting high hydrostatic pressure, we measured the barotolerance of neutral trehalase I and/or neutral trehalase II deletion strains. Under 180 MPa of pressure for 2 h, the neutral trehalase I deletion strain showed higher barotolerance in logarithmic-phase cells and lower barotolerance in stationary-phase cells than the wild-type strain. Introduction of the neutral trehalase I gene (NTH1) into the deletion mutant restored barotolerance defects in stationary-phase cells. Furthermore, we assessed the contribution of neutral trehalase during pressure and recovery conditions by varying the expression of NTH1 or neutral trehalase activity with a galactose-inducible GAL1 promoter with either glucose or galactose. The low barotolerance observed with glucose repression of neutral trehalase from the GAL1 promoter was restored during recovery with galactose induction. Our results suggest that neutral trehalase contributes to barotolerance, especially during recovery.

Stress-controlled transcription factors, stress-induced genes and stress tolerance in budding yeast

The transcriptional response to environmental changes is a major topic in both basic and applied research. From a basic point of view, to understand this response includes unravelling how the stress signal is sensed and transduced to the nucleus, to identify which genes are induced under each stress condition and, finally, to establish the phenotypic consequences of this induction in stress tolerance. The possibility of using genetic approaches has made the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae a compelling model to study stress response at a molecular level. Moreover, this information can be used to isolate and characterise stress-related proteins in higher eukaryotes and to design strategies to increase stress resistance in organisms of industrial interest. In this review the progress made in recent years is discussed.

Internal trehalose protects endocytosis from inhibition by ethanol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Endocytosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is inhibited by concentrations of ethanol of 2 to 6% (vol/vol), which are lower than concentrations commonly present in its natural habitats. In spite of this inhibition, endocytosis takes place under enological conditions when high concentrations of ethanol are present. Therefore, it seems that yeast has developed some means to circumvent the inhibition. In this work we have investigated this possibility. We identified two stress conditions under which endocytosis was resistant to inhibition by ethanol: fermentation during nitrogen starvation and growth on nonfermentable substrates. Under these conditions, yeast accumulates stress protectors, primarily trehalose and Hsp104, a protein required for yeast to survive ethanol stress. We found the following. (i) The appearance of ethanol resistance was accompanied by trehalose accumulation. (ii) Mutant cells unable to synthesize trehalose also were unable to develop resistance. (iii) Mutant cells that accumulated trehalose during growth on sugars were resistant to ethanol even under this nonstressing condition. (iv) Mutant cells unable to synthesize Hsp104 were able to develop resistance. We conclude that trehalose is the major factor in the protection of endocytosis from ethanol. Our results suggest another important physiological role for trehalose in yeast.