OUP accepted manuscript

The sensor protein AaSho1 regulates infection structures differentiation, osmotic stress tolerance and virulence via MAPK module AaSte11-AaPbs2-AaHog1 in Alternaria alternata

The high-osmolarity-sensitive protein Sho1 functions as a key membrane receptor in phytopathogenic fungi, which can sense and respond to external stimuli or stresses, and synergistically regulate diverse fungal biological processes through cellular signaling pathways. In this study, we investigated the biological functions of AaSho1 in Alternaria alternata, the causal agent of pear black spot. Targeted gene deletion revealed that AaSho1 is essential for infection structure differentiation, response to external stresses and synthesis of secondary metabolites. Compared to the wild-type (WT), the ∆AaSho1 mutant strain showed no significant difference in colony growth, morphology, conidial production and biomass accumulation. However, the mutant strain exhibited significantly reduced levels of melanin production, cellulase (CL) and ploygalacturonase (PG) activities, virulence, resistance to various exogenous stresses. Moreover, the appressorium and infection hyphae formation rates of the ∆AaSho1 mutant strain were significantly inhibited. RNA-Seq results showed that there were four branches including pheromone, cell wall stress, high osmolarity and starvation in the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) cascade pathway. Furthermore, yeast two-hybrid experiments showed that AaSho1 activates the MAPK pathway via AaSte11-AaPbs2-AaHog1. These results suggest that AaSho1 of A. alternata is essential for fungal development, pathogenesis and osmotic stress response by activating the MAPK cascade pathway via Sho1-Ste11-Pbs2-Hog1.

Genetic evidence for a regulated cysteine protease catalytic triad in LegA7, a Legionella pneumophila protein that impinges on a stress response pathway

Legionella pneumophila grows within membrane-bound vacuoles in phylogenetically diverse hosts. Intracellular growth requires the function of the Icm/Dot type-IVb secretion system, which translocates more than 300 proteins into host cells. A screen was performed to identify L. pneumophila proteins that stimulate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, using Icm/Dot translocated proteins ectopically expressed in mammalian cells. In parallel, a second screen was performed to identify L. pneumophila proteins expressed in yeast that cause growth inhibition in MAPK pathway-stimulatory high-osmolarity medium. LegA7 was shared in both screens, a protein predicted to be a member of the bacterial cysteine protease family that has five carboxyl-terminal ankyrin repeats. Three conserved residues in the predicted catalytic triad of LegA7 were mutated. These mutations abolished the ability of LegA7 to inhibit yeast growth. To identify other residues important for LegA7 function, a generalizable selection strategy in yeast was devised to isolate mutants that have lost function and no longer cause growth inhibition on a high-osmolarity medium. Mutations were isolated in the two carboxyl-terminal ankyrin repeats, as well as an inter-domain region located between the cysteine protease domain and the ankyrin repeats. These mutations were predicted by AlphaFold modeling to localize to the face opposite from the catalytic site, arguing that they interfere with the positive regulation of the catalytic activity. Based on our data, we present a model in which LegA7 harbors a cysteine protease domain with an inter-domain and two carboxyl-terminal ankyrin repeat regions that modulate the function of the catalytic domain.

IMPORTANCE

Legionella pneumophila grows in a membrane-bound compartment in macrophages during disease. Construction of the compartment requires a dedicated secretion system that translocates virulence proteins into host cells. One of these proteins, LegA7, is shown to activate a stress response pathway in host cells called the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. The effects on the mammalian MAPK pathway were reconstructed in yeast, allowing the development of a strategy to identify the role of individual domains of LegA7. A domain similar to cysteine proteases is demonstrated to be critical for impinging on the MAPK pathway, and the catalytic activity of this domain is required for targeting this path. In addition, a conserved series of repeats, called ankyrin repeats, controls this activity. Data are provided that argue the interaction of the ankyrin repeats with unknown targets probably results in activation of the cysteine protease domain.

How to Survive without Water: A Short Lesson on the Desiccation Tolerance of Budding Yeast

Water is essential to all life on earth. It is a major component that makes up living organisms and plays a vital role in multiple biological processes. It provides a medium for chemical and enzymatic reactions in the cell and is a major player in osmoregulation and the maintenance of cell turgidity. Despite this, many organisms, called anhydrobiotes, are capable of surviving under extremely dehydrated conditions. Less is known about how anhydrobiotes adapt and survive under desiccation stress. Studies have shown that morphological and physiological changes occur in anhydrobiotes in response to desiccation stress. Certain disaccharides and proteins, including heat shock proteins, intrinsically disordered proteins, and hydrophilins, play important roles in the desiccation tolerance of anhydrobiotes. In this review, we summarize the recent findings of desiccation tolerance in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We also propose that the yeast under desiccation could be used as a model to study neurodegenerative disorders.

Genetic evidence for a regulated cysteine protease catalytic triad in LegA7, a Legionella pneumophila protein that impinges on a stress response pathway

Legionella pneumophila grows within membrane-bound vacuoles in phylogenetically diverse hosts. Intracellular growth requires the function of the Icm/Dot type-IVb secretion system, which translocates more than 300 proteins into host cells. A screen was performed to identify L. pneumophila proteins that stimulate MAPK activation, using Icm/Dot translocated proteins ectopically expressed in mammalian cells. In parallel, a second screen was performed to identify L. pneumophila proteins expressed in yeast that cause growth inhibition in MAPK pathway-stimulatory high osmolarity medium. LegA7 was shared in both screens, a protein predicted to be a member of the bacterial cysteine protease family that has five carboxyl-terminal ankyrin repeats. Three conserved residues in the predicted catalytic triad of LegA7 were mutated. These mutations abolished the ability of LegA7 to inhibit yeast growth. To identify other residues important for LegA7 function, a generalizable selection strategy in yeast was devised to isolate mutants that have lost function and no longer cause growth inhibition on high osmolarity medium. Mutations were isolated in the two carboxyl-terminal ankyrin repeats, as well as an inter-domain region located between the cysteine protease domain and the ankyrin repeats. These mutations were predicted by AlphaFold modeling to localize to the face opposite from the catalytic site, arguing that they interfere with the positive regulation of the catalytic activity. Based on our data, we present a model in which LegA7 harbors a cysteine protease domain with an inter-domain and two carboxyl-terminal ankyrin repeat regions that modulate the function of the catalytic domain.

Hog1 acts in a Mec1-independent manner to counteract oxidative stress following telomerase inactivation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Replicative senescence is triggered when telomeres reach critically short length and activate permanent DNA damage checkpoint-dependent cell cycle arrest. Mitochondrial dysfunction and increase in oxidative stress are both features of replicative senescence in mammalian cells. However, how reactive oxygen species levels are controlled during senescence is elusive. Here, we show that reactive oxygen species levels increase in the telomerase-negative cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae during replicative senescence, and that this coincides with the activation of Hog1, a mammalian p38 MAPK ortholog. Hog1 counteracts increased ROS levels during replicative senescence. While Hog1 deletion accelerates replicative senescence, we found this could stem from a reduced cell viability prior to telomerase inactivation. ROS levels also increase upon telomerase inactivation when Mec1, the yeast ortholog of ATR, is mutated, suggesting that oxidative stress is not simply a consequence of DNA damage checkpoint activation in budding yeast. We speculate that oxidative stress is a conserved hallmark of telomerase-negative eukaryote cells, and that its sources and consequences can be dissected in S. cerevisiae.

Lack of Mitochondrial DNA Provides Metabolic Advantage in Yeast Osmoadaptation

Alterations in mitochondrial function have been linked to a variety of cellular and organismal stress responses including apoptosis, aging, neurodegeneration and tumorigenesis. However, adaptation to mitochondrial dysfunction can occur through the activation of survival pathways, whose mechanisms are still poorly understood. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an invaluable model organism for studying how mitochondrial dysfunction can affect stress response and adaptation processes. In this study, we analyzed and compared in the absence and in the presence of osmostress wild-type cells with two models of cells lacking mitochondrial DNA: ethidium bromide-treated cells (ρ0) and cells lacking the mitochondrial pyrimidine nucleotide transporter RIM2 (ΔRIM2). Our results revealed that the lack of mitochondrial DNA provides an advantage in the kinetics of stress response. Additionally, wild-type cells exhibited higher osmosensitivity in the presence of respiratory metabolism. Mitochondrial mutants showed increased glycerol levels, required in the short-term response of yeast osmoadaptation, and prolonged oxidative stress. The involvement of the mitochondrial retrograde signaling in osmoadaptation has been previously demonstrated. The expression of CIT2, encoding the peroxisomal isoform of citrate synthase and whose up-regulation is prototypical of RTG pathway activation, appeared to be increased in the mutants. Interestingly, selected TCA cycle genes, CIT1 and ACO1, whose expression depends on RTG signaling upon stress, showed a different regulation in ρ0 and ΔRIM2 cells. These data suggest that osmoadaptation can occur through different mechanisms in the presence of mitochondrial defects and will allow us to gain insight into the relationships among metabolism, mitochondria-mediated stress response, and cell adaptation.

Yeast cell responses and survival during periodic osmotic stress are controlled by glucose availability

Natural environments of living organisms are often dynamic and multifactorial, with multiple parameters fluctuating over time. To better understand how cells respond to dynamically interacting factors, we quantified the effects of dual fluctuations of osmotic stress and glucose deprivation on yeast cells using microfluidics and time-lapse microscopy. Strikingly, we observed that cell proliferation, survival, and signaling depend on the phasing of the two periodic stresses. Cells divided faster, survived longer, and showed decreased transcriptional response when fluctuations of hyperosmotic stress and glucose deprivation occurred in phase than when the two stresses occurred alternatively. Therefore, glucose availability regulates yeast responses to dynamic osmotic stress, showcasing the key role of metabolic fluctuations in cellular responses to dynamic stress. We also found that mutants with impaired osmotic stress response were better adapted to alternating stresses than wild-type cells, showing that genetic mechanisms of adaptation to a persistent stress factor can be detrimental under dynamically interacting conditions.

Quantitative trait locus mapping of osmotic stress response in the fungal wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici

Osmotic stress is a ubiquitous and potent stress for all living organisms, but few studies have investigated the genetic basis of salt tolerance in filamentous fungi. The main aim of this study was to identify regions of the genome associated with tolerance to potassium chloride (KCl) in the wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici. A secondary aim was to identify candidate genes affecting salt tolerance within the most promising chromosomal regions. We achieved these aims with a quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping study using offspring from 2 crosses grown in vitro in the presence or absence of osmotic stress imposed by 0.75 M KCl. We identified significant QTL for most of the traits in both crosses. Several QTLs overlapped with QTL identified in earlier studies for other traits, and some QTL explained trait variation in both the control and salt stress environments. A significant QTL on chromosome 3 explained variation in colony radius at 8-day postinoculation (dpi) in the KCl environment as well as colony radius KCl tolerance at 8 dpi. The QTL peak had a high logarithm of the odds ratio (LOD) and encompassed an interval containing only 36 genes. Six of these genes present promising candidates for functional analyses. A gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of QTL unique to the KCl environment found evidence for the enrichment of functions involved in osmotic stress responses.

Crucial Roles of the High-Osmolarity Glycerol Pathway in the Antifungal Activity of Isothiocyanates against Cochliobolus heterostrophus

Isothiocyanates (ITCs) that are found in Brassicaceae exhibited obvious antifungal activity against Cochliobolus heterostrophus, which is the causal agent of southern corn leaf blight. However, the underlying antifungal mechanism of allyl-ITCs (A-ITCs) against C. heterostrophus remains largely unknown. Here, we used transcriptomic analysis to find that the high osmolarity pathway was upregulated significantly when treated with A-ITCs. To investigate the roles of the high osmolarity pathway in adaption to A-ITCs, we constructed Δssk2, Δpbs2, and Δhog1 mutant strains. Deletion of three genes (ChSSK2, ChPBS2, and ChHOG1) involved in the high osmolarity pathway resulted in significantly increased sensitivity of C. heterostrophus to ITCs. In addition, the phosphorylation level of ChHog1 was induced by A-ITC and was dependent on the presence of ChSsk2 and ChPbs2. Moreover, Δssk2, Δpbs2, and Δhog1 mutants exhibited a dramatically decreased virulence on maize leaves. Our findings demonstrated that the high osmolarity pathway played a positive role in ITC tolerance and virulence, which may provide novel insights into developing ITCs as a new fungicide against C. heterostrophus.

Antifungal mechanism of volatile compounds emitted by Actinomycetota Paenarthrobacter ureafaciens from a disease-suppressive soil on Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Increasing evidence suggests that in disease-suppressive soils, microbial volatile compounds (mVCs) released from bacteria may inhibit the growth of plant-pathogenic fungi. However, the antifungal activities and molecular responses of fungi to different mVCs remain largely undescribed. In this study, we first evaluated the responses of pathogenic fungi to treatment with mVCs from Paenarthrobacter ureafaciens. Then, we utilized the well-characterized fungal model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae to study the potential mechanistic effects of the mVCs. Our data showed that exposure to P. ureafaciens mVCs leads to reduced growth of several pathogenic fungi, and in yeast cells, mVC exposure prompts the accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Further experiments with S. cerevisiae deletion mutants indicated that Slt2/Mpk1 and Hog1 MAPKs play major roles in the yeast response to P. ureafaciens mVCs. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that exposure to mVCs was associated with 1,030 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in yeast. According to gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses, many of these DEGs are involved in mitochondrial dysfunction, cell integrity, mitophagy, cellular metabolism, and iron uptake. Genes encoding antimicrobial proteins were also significantly altered in the yeast after exposure to mVCs. These findings suggest that oxidative damage and mitochondrial dysfunction are major contributors to the fungal toxicity of mVCs. Furthermore, our data showed that cell wall, antioxidant, and antimicrobial defenses are induced in yeast exposed to mVCs. Thus, our findings expand upon previous research by delineating the transcriptional responses of the fungal model. IMPORTANCE Since the use of bacteria-emitted volatile compounds in phytopathogen control is of considerable interest, it is important to understand the molecular mechanisms by which fungi may adapt to microbial volatile compounds (mVCs). Paenarthrobacter ureafaciens is an isolated bacterium from disease-suppressive soil that belongs to the Actinomycetota phylum. P. ureafaciens mVCs showed a potent antifungal effect on phytopathogens, which may contribute to disease suppression in soil. However, our knowledge about the antifungal mechanism of mVCs is limited. This study has proven that mVCs are toxic to fungi due to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. To deal with mVC toxicity, antioxidants and physical defenses are required. Furthermore, iron uptake and CAP proteins are required for antimicrobial defense, which is necessary for fungi to deal with the thread from mVCs. This study provides essential foundational knowledge regarding the molecular responses of fungi to inhibitory mVCs.

Gene-by-environment interactions influence the fitness cost of gene copy-number variation in yeast

Variation in gene copy number can alter gene expression and influence downstream phenotypes; thus copy-number variation provides a route for rapid evolution if the benefits outweigh the cost. We recently showed that genetic background significantly influences how yeast cells respond to gene overexpression, revealing that the fitness costs of copy-number variation can vary substantially with genetic background in a common-garden environment. But the interplay between copy-number variation tolerance and environment remains unexplored on a genomic scale. Here, we measured the tolerance to gene overexpression in four genetically distinct Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains grown under sodium chloride stress. Overexpressed genes that are commonly deleterious during sodium chloride stress recapitulated those commonly deleterious under standard conditions. However, sodium chloride stress uncovered novel differences in strain responses to gene overexpression. West African strain NCYC3290 and North American oak isolate YPS128 are more sensitive to sodium chloride stress than vineyard BC187 and laboratory strain BY4743. Consistently, NCYC3290 and YPS128 showed the greatest sensitivities to overexpression of specific genes. Although most genes were deleterious, hundreds were beneficial when overexpressed-remarkably, most of these effects were strain specific. Few beneficial genes were shared between the sodium chloride-sensitive isolates, implicating mechanistic differences behind their sodium chloride sensitivity. Transcriptomic analysis suggested underlying vulnerabilities and tolerances across strains, and pointed to natural copy-number variation of a sodium export pump that likely contributes to strain-specific responses to overexpression of other genes. Our results reveal extensive strain-by-environment interactions in the response to gene copy-number variation, raising important implications for the accessibility of copy-number variation-dependent evolutionary routes under times of stress.

Activation of CWI pathway through high hydrostatic pressure, enhancing glycerol efflux via the aquaglyceroporin Fps1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The fungal cell wall is the initial barrier for the fungi against diverse external stresses, such as osmolarity changes, harmful drugs, and mechanical injuries. This study explores the roles of osmoregulation and the cell-wall integrity (CWI) pathway in response to high hydrostatic pressure in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We demonstrate the roles of the transmembrane mechanosensor Wsc1 and aquaglyceroporin Fps1 in a general mechanism to maintain cell growth under high-pressure regimes. The promotion of water influx into cells at 25 MPa, as evident by an increase in cell volume and a loss of the plasma membrane eisosome structure, activates the CWI pathway through the function of Wsc1. Phosphorylation of Slt2, the downstream mitogen-activated protein kinase, was increased at 25 MPa. Glycerol efflux increases via Fps1 phosphorylation, which is initiated by downstream components of the CWI pathway, and contributes to the reduction in intracellular osmolarity under high pressure. The elucidation of the mechanisms underlying adaptation to high pressure through the well-established CWI pathway could potentially translate to mammalian cells and provide novel insights into cellular mechanosensation.

Gene-by-environment interactions influence the fitness cost of gene copy-number variation in yeast

Variation in gene copy number can alter gene expression and influence downstream phenotypes; thus copy-number variation (CNV) provides a route for rapid evolution if the benefits outweigh the cost. We recently showed that genetic background significantly influences how yeast cells respond to gene over-expression (OE), revealing that the fitness costs of CNV can vary substantially with genetic background in a common-garden environment. But the interplay between CNV tolerance and environment remains unexplored on a genomic scale. Here we measured the tolerance to gene OE in four genetically distinct Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains grown under sodium chloride (NaCl) stress. OE genes that are commonly deleterious during NaCl stress recapitulated those commonly deleterious under standard conditions. However, NaCl stress uncovered novel differences in strain responses to gene OE. West African strain NCYC3290 and North American oak isolate YPS128 are more sensitive to NaCl stress than vineyard BC187 and laboratory strain BY4743. Consistently, NCYC3290 and YPS128 showed the greatest sensitivities to gene OE. Although most genes were deleterious, hundreds were beneficial when overexpressed - remarkably, most of these effects were strain specific. Few beneficial genes were shared between the NaCl-sensitive isolates, implicating mechanistic differences behind their NaCl sensitivity. Transcriptomic analysis suggested underlying vulnerabilities and tolerances across strains, and pointed to natural CNV of a sodium export pump that likely contributes to strain-specific responses to OE of other genes. Our results reveal extensive strain-by-environment interaction in the response to gene CNV, raising important implications for the accessibility of CNV-dependent evolutionary routes under times of stress.

The AwHog1 Transcription Factor Influences the Osmotic Stress Response, Mycelium Growth, OTA Production, and Pathogenicity in Aspergillus westerdijkiae fc-1

Aspergillus westerdijkiae, known as the major ochratoxin A (OTA) producer, usually occurs on agricultural crops, fruits, and dry-cured meats. Microorganisms produce OTA to adapt to the high osmotic pressure environment that is generated during food processing and storage. To investigate the relationship between OTA biosynthesis and the high osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway, the transcription factor AwHog1 gene in A. westerdijkiae was functionally characterised by means of a loss-of-function mutant. Our findings demonstrated that the growth and OTA production of a mutant lacking AwHog1 decreased significantly and was more sensitive to high osmotic media. The ΔAwHog1 mutant displayed a lower growth rate and a 73.16% reduction in OTA production in the wheat medium compared to the wild type. After three days of culture, the growth rate of the ΔAwHog1 mutant in medium with 60 g/L NaCl and 150 g/L glucose was slowed down 19.57% and 13.21%, respectively. Additionally, the expression of OTA biosynthesis genes was significantly reduced by the deletion of the AwHog1 gene. The infection ability of the ΔAwHog1 mutant was decreased, and the scab diameter of the pear was 6% smaller than that of the wild type. These data revealed that transcription factor AwHog1 plays a key role in the osmotic response, growth, OTA production, and pathogenicity in A. westerdijkiae.

MAP Kinase FgHog1 and Importin β FgNmd5 Regulate Calcium Homeostasis in Fusarium graminearum

Maintaining cellular calcium (Ca²⁺) homeostasis is essential for many aspects of cellular life. The high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway responsible for signal integration and transduction plays crucial roles in environmental adaptation, especially in the response to osmotic stress. Hog1 is activated by transient Ca²⁺ increase in yeast, but the functions of the HOG pathway in Ca²⁺ homeostasis are largely unknown. We found that the HOG pathway was involved in the regulation of Ca²⁺ homeostasis in Fusarium graminearum, a devastating fungal pathogen of cereal crops. The deletion mutants of HOG pathway displayed increased sensitivity to Ca²⁺ and FK506, and elevated intracellular Ca²⁺ content. Ca²⁺ treatment induced the phosphorylation of FgHog1, and the phosphorylated FgHog1 was transported into the nucleus by importin β FgNmd5. Moreover, the increased phosphorylation and nuclear accumulation of FgHog1 upon Ca²⁺ treatment is independent of the calcineurin pathway that is conserved and downstream of the Ca²⁺ signal. Taken together, this study reported the novel function of FgHog1 in the regulation of Ca²⁺ homeostasis in F. graminearum, which advance the understanding of the HOG pathway and the association between the HOG and calcineurin pathways in fungi.

Modification of Phosphorylation Sites in the Yeast Lysine Methyltransferase Set5 Exerts Influences on the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Hog1 under Prolonged Acetic Acid Stress

Responses to acetic acid toxicity in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have widespread implications in the biorefinery of lignocellulosic biomass and food preservation. Our previous studies revealed that Set5, the yeast lysine methyltransferase and histone H4 methyltransferase, was involved in acetic acid stress tolerance. However, it is still mysterious how Set5 functions and interacts with the known stress signaling network. Here, we revealed that elevated phosphorylation of Set5 during acetic acid stress is accompanied by enhanced expression of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) Hog1. Further experiments uncovered that the phosphomimetic mutation of Set5 endowed yeast cells with improved growth and fermentation performance and altered transcription of specific stress-responsive genes. Intriguingly, Set5 was found to bind the coding region of HOG1 and regulate its transcription, along with increased expression and phosphorylation of Hog1. A protein-protein interaction between Set5 and Hog1 was also revealed. In addition, modification of Set5 phosphosites was shown to regulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, which is known to affect yeast acetic acid stress tolerance. The findings in this study imply that Set5 may function together with the central kinase Hog1 to coordinate cell growth and metabolism in response to stress. IMPORTANCE Hog1 is the yeast homolog of p38 MAPK in mammals that is conserved across eukaryotes, and it plays crucial roles in stress tolerance, fungal pathogenesis, and disease treatments. Here, we provide evidence that modification of Set5 phosphorylation sites regulates the expression and phosphorylation of Hog1, which expands current knowledge on upstream regulation of the Hog1 stress signaling network. Set5 and its homologous proteins are present in humans and various eukaryotes. The newly identified effects of Set5 phosphorylation site modifications in this study benefit an in-depth understanding of eukaryotic stress signaling, as well as the treatment of human diseases.

Inactivation of HAP4 Accelerates RTG-Dependent Osmoadaptation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mitochondrial RTG (an acronym for ReTroGrade) signaling plays a cytoprotective role under various intracellular or environmental stresses. We have previously shown its contribution to osmoadaptation and capacity to sustain mitochondrial respiration in yeast. Here, we studied the interplay between RTG2, the main positive regulator of the RTG pathway, and HAP4, encoding the catalytic subunit of the Hap2-5 complex required for the expression of many mitochondrial proteins that function in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and electron transport, upon osmotic stress. Cell growth features, mitochondrial respiratory competence, retrograde signaling activation, and TCA cycle gene expression were comparatively evaluated in wild type and mutant cells in the presence and in the absence of salt stress. We showed that the inactivation of HAP4 improved the kinetics of osmoadaptation by eliciting both the activation of retrograde signaling and the upregulation of three TCA cycle genes: citrate synthase 1 (CIT1), aconitase 1 (ACO1), and isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1). Interestingly, their increased expression was mostly dependent on RTG2. Impaired respiratory competence in the HAP4 mutant does not affect its faster adaptive response to stress. These findings indicate that the involvement of the RTG pathway in osmostress is fostered in a cellular context of constitutively reduced respiratory capacity. Moreover, it is evident that the RTG pathway mediates peroxisomes–mitochondria communication by modulating the metabolic function of mitochondria in osmoadaptation.

The calcium-calcineurin and high-osmolarity glycerol pathways co-regulate tebuconazole sensitivity and pathogenicity in Fusarium graminearum

The calcium-calcineurin and high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathways play crucial roles in fungal development, pathogenicity, and in responses to various environmental stresses. However, interaction of these pathways in regulating fungicide sensitivity remains largely unknown in phytopathogenic fungi. In this study, we investigated the function of the calcium-calcineurin signalling pathway in Fusarium graminearum, the causal agent of Fusarium head blight. Inhibitors of Ca²⁺ and calcineurin enhanced antifungal activity of tebuconazole (an azole fungicide) against F. graminearum. Deletion of the putative downstream transcription factor FgCrz1 resulted in significantly increased sensitivity of F. graminearum to tebuconazole. FgCrz1-GFP was translocated to the nucleus upon tebuconazole treatment in a calcineurin-dependent manner. In addition, deletion of FgCrz1 increased the phosphorylation of FgHog1 in response to tebuconazole. Moreover, the calcium-calcineurin and HOG signalling pathways exhibited synergistic effect in regulating pathogenicity and sensitivity of F. graminearum to tebuconazole and multiple other stresses. RNA-seq data revealed that FgCrz1 regulated expression of a set of non-CYP51 genes that are associated with tebuconazole sensitivity, including multidrug transporters, membrane lipid biosynthesis and metabolism, and cell wall organization. Our findings demonstrate that the calcium-calcineurin and HOG pathways act coordinately to orchestrate tebuconazole sensitivity and pathogenicity in F. graminearum, which may provide novel insights in management of Fusarium disease.

The second intracellular loop of the yeast Trk1 potassium transporter is involved in regulation of activity, and interaction with 14-3-3 proteins

Potassium is an essential intracellular ion, and a sufficient intracellular concentration of it is crucial for many processes; therefore it is fundamental for cells to precisely regulate K⁺ uptake and efflux through the plasma membrane. The uniporter Trk1 is a key player in K⁺ acquisition in yeasts. The TRK1 gene is expressed at a low and stable level; thus the activity of the transporter needs to be regulated at a posttranslational level. S. cerevisiae Trk1 changes its activity and affinity for potassium ion quickly and according to both internal and external concentrations of K⁺, as well as the membrane potential. The molecular basis of these changes has not been elucidated, though phosphorylation is thought to play an important role. In this study, we examined the role of the second, short, and highly conserved intracellular hydrophilic loop of Trk1 (IL2), and identified two phosphorylable residues (Ser882 and Thr900) as very important for 1) the structure of the loop and consequently for the targeting of Trk1 to the plasma membrane, and 2) the upregulation of the transporter's activity reaching maximal affinity under low external K⁺ conditions. Moreover, we identified three residues (Thr155, Ser414, and Thr900) within the Trk1 protein as strong candidates for interaction with 14-3-3 regulatory proteins, and showed, in an in vitro experiment, that phosphorylated Thr900 of the IL2 indeed binds to both isoforms of yeast 14-3-3 proteins, Bmh1 and Bmh2.

Structural Role of Plasma Membrane Sterols in Osmotic Stress Tolerance of Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Yeast S. cerevisiae has been shown to suppress a sterol biosynthesis as a response to hyperosmotic stress. In the case of sodium stress, the failure to suppress biosynthesis leads to an increase in cytosolic sodium. The major yeast sterol, ergosterol, is known to regulate functioning of plasma membrane proteins. Therefore, it has been suggested that the suppression of its biosynthesis is needed to adjust the activity of the plasma membrane sodium pumps and channels. However, as the sterol concentration is in the range of thirty to forty percent of total plasma membrane lipids, it is believed that its primary biological role is not regulatory but structural. Here we studied how lowering the sterol content affects the response of a lipid bilayer to an osmotic stress. In accordance with previous observations, we found that a decrease of the sterol fraction increases a water permeability of the liposomal membranes. Yet, we also found that sterol-free giant unilamellar vesicles reduced their volume during transient application of the hyperosmotic stress to a greater extent than the sterol-rich ones. Furthermore, our data suggest that lowering the sterol content in yeast cells allows the shrinkage to prevent the osmotic pressure-induced plasma membrane rupture. We also found that mutant yeast cells with the elevated level of sterol accumulated propidium iodide when exposed to mild hyperosmotic conditions followed by hypoosmotic stress. It is likely that the decrease in a plasma membrane sterol content stimulates a drop in cell volume under hyperosmotic stress, which is beneficial in the case of a subsequent hypo-osmotic one.

The old and the new about the contractile vacuole of Trypanosoma cruzi

Osmoregulation is a conserved cellular process required for the survival of all organisms. In protists, the need for robust compensatory mechanisms that can maintain cell volume and tonicity within physiological range is even more relevant, as their life cycles are often completed in different environments. Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan pathogen responsible for Chagas disease, is transmitted by an insect vector to multiple types of mammalian hosts. The contractile vacuole complex (CVC) is an organelle that senses and compensates osmotic changes in the parasites, ensuring their survival upon ionic and osmotic challenges. Recent work shows that the contractile vacuole is also a key component of the secretory and endocytic pathways, regulating the selective targeting of surface proteins during differentiation. Here we summarize our current knowledge of the mechanisms involved in the osmoregulatory processes that take place in the vacuole, and we explore the new and exciting functions of this organelle in cell trafficking and signaling.

TOR complex 2 is a master regulator of plasma membrane homeostasis

As first demonstrated in budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), all eukaryotic cells contain two, distinct multi-component protein kinase complexes that each harbor the TOR (Target Of Rapamycin) polypeptide as the catalytic subunit. These ensembles, dubbed TORC1 and TORC2, function as universal, centrally important sensors, integrators, and controllers of eukaryotic cell growth and homeostasis. TORC1, activated on the cytosolic surface of the lysosome (or, in yeast, on the cytosolic surface of the vacuole), has emerged as a primary nutrient sensor that promotes cellular biosynthesis and suppresses autophagy. TORC2, located primarily at the plasma membrane, plays a major role in maintaining the proper levels and bilayer distribution of all plasma membrane components (sphingolipids, glycerophospholipids, sterols, and integral membrane proteins). This article surveys what we have learned about signaling via the TORC2 complex, largely through studies conducted in S. cerevisiae. In this yeast, conditions that challenge plasma membrane integrity can, depending on the nature of the stress, stimulate or inhibit TORC2, resulting in, respectively, up-regulation or down-regulation of the phosphorylation and thus the activity of its essential downstream effector the AGC family protein kinase Ypk1. Through the ensuing effect on the efficiency with which Ypk1 phosphorylates multiple substrates that control diverse processes, membrane homeostasis is maintained. Thus, the major focus here is on TORC2, Ypk1, and the multifarious targets of Ypk1 and how the functions of these substrates are regulated by their Ypk1-mediated phosphorylation, with emphasis on recent advances in our understanding of these processes.

Regulation of Conidiogenesis in Aspergillus flavus

Aspergillus flavus is a representative fungal species in the Aspergillus section Flavi and has been used as a model system to gain insights into fungal development and toxin production. A. flavus has several adverse effects on humans, including the production of the most carcinogenic mycotoxin aflatoxins and causing aspergillosis in immune-compromised patients. In addition, A. flavus infection of crops results in economic losses due to yield loss and aflatoxin contamination. A. flavus is a saprophytic fungus that disperses in the ecosystem mainly by producing asexual spores (conidia), which also provide long-term survival in the harsh environmental conditions. Conidia are composed of the rodlet layer, cell wall, and melanin and are produced from an asexual specialized structure called the conidiophore. The production of conidiophores is tightly regulated by various regulators, including the central regulatory cascade composed of BrlA-AbaA-WetA, the fungi-specific velvet regulators, upstream regulators, and developmental repressors. In this review, we summarize the findings of a series of recent studies related to asexual development in A. flavus and provide insights for a better understanding of other fungal species in the section Flavi.

Yeast osmoregulation - glycerol still in pole position

In response to osmotic dehydration cells sense, signal, alter gene expression, and metabolically counterbalance osmotic differences. The main compatible solute/osmolyte that accumulates in yeast cells is glycerol, which is produced from the glycolytic intermediate dihydroxyacetone phosphate. This review covers recent advancements in understanding mechanisms involved in sensing, signaling, cell-cycle delays, transcriptional responses as well as post-translational modifications on key proteins in osmoregulation. The protein kinase Hog1 is a key-player in many of these events, however, there is also a growing body of evidence for important Hog1-independent mechanisms playing vital roles. Several missing links in our understanding of osmoregulation will be discussed and future avenues for research proposed. The review highlights that this rather simple experimental system—salt/sorbitol and yeast—has developed into an enormously potent model system unravelling important fundamental aspects in biology.