Transcriptional derepression of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae HSP26 gene during heat shock

Structural Probing of Hsp26 Activation and Client Binding by Quantitative Cross-Linking Mass Spectrometry

Small heat-shock proteins (sHSPs) are important members of the cellular stress response in all species. Their best-described function is the binding of early unfolding states and the resulting prevention of protein aggregation. Many sHSPs exist as a polydisperse composition of oligomers, which undergoes changes in subunit composition, folding status, and relative distribution upon heat activation. To date, only an incomplete picture of the mechanism of sHSP activation exists; in particular, the molecular basis of how sHSPs bind client proteins and mediate client specificity is not fully understood. In this study, we have applied cross-linking mass spectrometry (XL-MS) to obtain detailed structural information on sHSP activation and client binding for yeast Hsp26. Our cross-linking data reveals the middle domain of Hsp26 as a client-independent interface in multiple Hsp26::client complexes and indicates that client specificity is likely mediated via additional binding sites within its α-crystallin domain and C-terminal extension. Our quantitative XL-MS data underpins the middle domain as the main driver of heat-induced activation and client binding but shows that global rearrangements spanning all domains of Hsp26 take place simultaneously. We also investigated a Hsp26::client complex in the presence of Ssa1 (Hsp70) and Ydj1(Hsp40) at the initial stage of refolding and observe that the interaction between refolding chaperones is altered by the presence of a client protein, pointing to a mechanism where the interaction of Ydj1 with the HSP::client complex initiates the assembly of the active refolding machinery.

Linking the dynamics of chromatin occupancy and transcription with predictive models

Though the sequence of the genome within each eukaryotic cell is essentially fixed, it exists within a complex and changing chromatin state. This state is determined, in part, by the dynamic binding of proteins to the DNA. These proteins—including histones, transcription factors (TFs), and polymerases—interact with one another, the genome, and other molecules to allow the chromatin to adopt one of exceedingly many possible configurations. Understanding how changing chromatin configurations associate with transcription remains a fundamental research problem. We sought to characterize at high spatiotemporal resolution the dynamic interplay between transcription and chromatin in response to cadmium stress. Whereas gene regulatory responses to environmental stress in yeast have been studied, how the chromatin state changes and how those changes connect to gene regulation remain unexplored. By combining MNase-seq and RNA-seq data, we found chromatin signatures of transcriptional activation and repression involving both nucleosomal and TF-sized DNA-binding factors. Using these signatures, we identified associations between chromatin dynamics and transcriptional regulation, not only for known cadmium response genes, but across the entire genome, including antisense transcripts. Those associations allowed us to develop generalizable models that predict dynamic transcriptional responses on the basis of dynamic chromatin signatures.

Assessing regulatory features of the current transcriptional network of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The capacity of living cells to adapt to different environmental, sometimes adverse, conditions is achieved through differential gene expression, which in turn is controlled by a highly complex transcriptional network. We recovered the full network of transcriptional regulatory associations currently known for Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as gathered in the latest release of the YEASTRACT database. We assessed topological features of this network filtered by the kind of supporting evidence and of previously published networks. It appears that in-degree distribution, as well as motif enrichment evolve as the yeast transcriptional network is being completed. Overall, our analyses challenged some results previously published and confirmed others. These analyses further pointed towards the paucity of experimental evidence to support theories and, more generally, towards the partial knowledge of the complete network.

A chemical compound inhibiting the Aha1-Hsp90 chaperone complex

The eukaryotic Hsp90 chaperone machinery comprises many co-chaperones and regulates the conformation of hundreds of cytosolic client proteins. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Hsp90 machinery has become an attractive therapeutic target for diseases such as cancer. The compounds used so far to target this machinery affect the entire Hsp90 system. However, it would be desirable to achieve a more selective targeting of Hsp90-co-chaperone complexes. To test this concept, in this-proof-of-principle study, we screened for modulators of the interaction between Hsp90 and its co-chaperone Aha1, which accelerates the ATPase activity of Hsp90. A FRET-based assay that monitored Aha1 binding to Hsp90 enabled identification of several chemical compounds modulating the effect of Aha1 on Hsp90 activity. We found that one of these inhibitors can abrogate the Aha1-induced ATPase stimulation of Hsp90 without significantly affecting Hsp90 ATPase activity in the absence of Aha1. NMR spectroscopy revealed that this inhibitory compound binds the N-terminal domain of Hsp90 close to its ATP-binding site and overlapping with a transient Aha1-interaction site. We also noted that this inhibitor does not dissociate the Aha1-Hsp90 complex but prevents the specific interaction with the N-terminal domain of Hsp90 required for catalysis. In consequence, the inhibitor affected the activation and processing of Hsp90-Aha1-dependent client proteins in vivo We conclude that it is possible to abrogate a specific co-chaperone function of Hsp90 without inhibiting the entire Hsp90 machinery. This concept may also hold true for other co-chaperones of Hsp90.

Asymmetric inheritance of the yeast chaperone Hsp26p and its functional consequences

The yeast Hsp26 protein, a conserved a-crystallin small heatshock chaperone, is assembled in to oligomeric complexes, microscopically visible as distinct cytoplasmic foci. We studied at single cell resolution the dynamics of Hsp26p foci assembly, the mode of their inheritance in to progeny cells and the physiological significance of Hsp26p function. We showed that Hsp26p foci are formed upon cells' entry in to stationary phase, but upon re-entry to proliferation they are asymmetrically retained in the mother cells and are absent from the newborn daughters. Despite the fact that Hsp26p assists re-solubilization of aggregation-prone proteins it does not extend chronological life span nor does it increase the tolerance of either mother or daughters against lethal stresses. Upon sequential HSP26 inductions, newly synthesized Hsp26p is readily incorporated in pre-existing foci, generating larger in size, but similar in appearance foci. At extreme heat-shock conditions, Hsp26p foci break apart into smaller granules dispersed in both mothers and growing buds, while recovery at normal temperature results in Hsp26p foci reassembly. These results suggested that such a complicated mechanism of dynamic Hsp26p assembly and disassembly, as well as asymmetric segregation may contribute to fine tuning regulation of protein aggregates' refolding, cell fitness and survival.

Extreme calorie restriction in yeast retentostats induces uniform non-quiescent growth arrest

Non-dividing Saccharomyces cerevisiae cultures are highly relevant for fundamental and applied studies. However, cultivation conditions in which non-dividing cells retain substantial metabolic activity are lacking. Unlike stationary-phase (SP) batch cultures, the current experimental paradigm for non-dividing yeast cultures, cultivation under extreme calorie restriction (ECR) in retentostat enables non-dividing yeast cells to retain substantial metabolic activity and to prevent rapid cellular deterioration. Distribution of F-actin structures and single-cell copy numbers of specific transcripts revealed that cultivation under ECR yields highly homogeneous cultures, in contrast to SP cultures that differentiate into quiescent and non-quiescent subpopulations. Combined with previous physiological studies, these results indicate that yeast cells subjected to ECR survive in an extended G₁ phase. This study demonstrates that yeast cells exposed to ECR differ from carbon-starved cells and offer a promising experimental model for studying non-dividing, metabolically active, and robust eukaryotic cells.

Biodegradation of zearalenone by Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Possible involvement of ZEN responsive proteins of the yeast

The mycotoxin zearalenone, also known as F-2 mycotoxin or RAL is a potent estrogenic metabolite produced by some Gibberella and Fusarium species. It is a common contaminant of cereal crops, livestock and poultry products. However, detoxification of zearalenone (ZEN) remains a challenge. Recently, biological approach for ZEN detoxification is being explored. In this study, we investigated the biodegradation of ZEN by using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the possible mechanisms involved. The findings revealed that, after 48h of incubation of S. cerevisiae in combination with ZEN, the ZEN was completely degraded by S. cerevisiae. On the contrary, heat-killed cells and cell-free culture filtrates of S. cerevisiae could not degrade ZEN. Furthermore, addition of cycloheximide to S. cerevisiae combined with ZEN at time 0h prevented ZEN degradation, while addition of cycloheximide at 12h significantly slowed down degradation. The results also indicated cellular proteomics of S. cerevisiae. Several differential proteins were identified, most of which were related to basic metabolism.

BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The findings revealed that, after 48h of incubating ZEN together with S. cerevisiae, ZEN was completely degraded by S. cerevisiae. The mechanisms involved in the degradation of ZEN by S. cerevisiae may be the production of associated intracellular and extracellular enzymes, which have the ability to degrade ZEN. In addition, there were some functional proteins produced by S. cerevisiae, indicating that the basic metabolism of S. cerevisiae was improved when ZEN was added. This novel discovery by the authors, will greatly contribute to the field of biodegradation of mycotoxin by antagonists. The authors also believed this innovation will open the grounds for further research and improvement of S. cerevisiae in the field of biodegradation.

DNA Damage Response Checkpoint Activation Drives KP1019 Dependent Pre-Anaphase Cell Cycle Delay in S. cerevisiae

Careful regulation of the cell cycle is required for proper replication, cell division, and DNA repair. DNA damage–including that induced by many anticancer drugs–results in cell cycle delay or arrest, which can allow time for repair of DNA lesions. Although its molecular mechanism of action remains a matter of debate, the anticancer ruthenium complex KP1019 has been shown to bind DNA in biophysical assays and to damage DNA of colorectal and ovarian cancer cells in vitro. KP1019 has also been shown to induce mutations and induce cell cycle arrest in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, suggesting that budding yeast can serve as an appropriate model for characterizing the cellular response to the drug. Here we use a transcriptomic approach to verify that KP1019 induces the DNA damage response (DDR) and find that KP1019 dependent expression of HUG1 requires the Dun1 checkpoint; both consistent with KP1019 DDR in budding yeast. We observe a robust KP1019 dependent delay in cell cycle progression as measured by increase in large budded cells, 2C DNA content, and accumulation of Pds1 which functions to inhibit anaphase. Importantly, we also find that deletion of RAD9, a gene required for the DDR, blocks drug-dependent changes in cell cycle progression, thereby establishing a causal link between the DDR and phenotypes induced by KP1019. Interestingly, yeast treated with KP1019 not only delay in G2/M, but also exhibit abnormal nuclear position, wherein the nucleus spans the bud neck. This morphology correlates with short, misaligned spindles and is dependent on the dynein heavy chain gene DYN1. We find that KP1019 creates an environment where cells respond to DNA damage through nuclear (transcriptional changes) and cytoplasmic (motor protein activity) events.

Promoter sequences direct cytoplasmic localization and translation of mRNAs during starvation in yeast

A universal feature of the response to stress and nutrient limitation is transcriptional upregulation of genes that encode proteins important for survival. Under many such conditions, the overall protein synthesis level is reduced, thereby dampening the stress response at the level of protein expression. For example, during glucose starvation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast), translation is rapidly repressed, yet the transcription of many stress- and glucose-repressed genes is increased. Here we show, using ribosomal profiling and microscopy, that this transcriptionally upregulated gene set consists of two classes: one class produces messenger RNAs that are translated during glucose starvation and are diffusely localized in the cytoplasm, including many heat-shock protein mRNAs; and the other class produces mRNAs that are not efficiently translated during glucose starvation and are concentrated in foci that co-localize with P bodies and stress granules, a class that is enriched for mRNAs involved in glucose metabolism. Surprisingly, the information specifying the differential localization and protein production of these two classes of mRNA is encoded in the promoter sequence: promoter responsiveness to heat-shock factor 1 (Hsf1) specifies diffuse cytoplasmic localization and higher protein production on glucose starvation. Thus, promoter sequences can influence not only the levels of mRNAs but also the subcellular localization of mRNAs and the efficiency with which they are translated, enabling cells to tailor protein production to the environmental conditions.

Molecular characterization of heat shock protein 70 (HSP 70) promoter in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus), and the association of Pohsp70 SNPs with heat-resistant trait

Ambient temperature is one of the major abiotic environmental factors determining the main parameters of fish vital activity. HSP70 plays an essential role in heat response. In this investigation, the promoter and structure of Paralichthys olivaceus hsp70 (Pohsp70) gene was cloned and predicted. 2558 bp upstream regulatory region of Pohsp70 was annotated with four potential promoter elements and four putative binding sites of transcription factors heat shock elements (HSE, nGAAn) in the upstream of the transcription start site. In addition, one intron with 454 bp in the 5'-noncoding region was found. Quantitative Real Time PCR analysis indicated that the transcript level of Pohsp70 was raised markedly after 1 h by heat shocked. Furthermore, 25 SNPs were identified in Pohsp70 by resequencing, seven of which was associated with heat resistance. In addition, two of the seven SNPs, namely SNP14 and SNP16, were observed in strong linkage disequilibrium. The haplotype with association analysis showed TAGGAG haplotype was more represented in heat susceptible group while (DEL/T) GAATA haplotype was more frequent in heat resistant group. The heat resistant SNPs and haplotype could be candidate markers potentially serving for selective breeding programs of Japanese flounder aimed at improving anti-stress and production.

Transcriptional regulation of small HSP-HSF1 and beyond

The members of the small heat shock protein (sHSP) family are molecular chaperones that play major roles in development, stress responses, and diseases, and have been envisioned as targets for therapy, particularly in cancer. The molecular mechanisms that regulate their transcription, in normal, stress, or pathological conditions, are characterized by extreme complexity and subtlety. Although historically linked to the heat shock transcription factors (HSFs), the stress-induced or developmental expression of the diverse members, including HSPB1/Hsp27/Hsp25, αA-crystallin/HSPB4, and αB-crystallin/HSPB5, relies on the combinatory effects of many transcription factors. Coupled with remarkably different cis-element architectures in the sHsp regulatory regions, they confer to each member its developmental expression or stress-inducibility. For example, multiple regulatory pathways coordinate the spatio-temporal expression of mouse αA-, αB-crystallin, and Hsp25 genes during lens development, through the action of master genes, like the large Maf family proteins and Pax6, but also HSF4. The inducibility of Hsp27 and αB-crystallin transcription by various stresses is exerted by HSF-dependent mechanisms, by which concomitant induction of Hsp27 and αB-crystallin expression is observed. In contrast, HSF-independent pathways can lead to αB-crystallin expression, but not to Hsp27 induction. Not surprisingly, deregulation of the expression of sHSP is associated with various pathologies, including cancer, neurodegenerative, or cardiac diseases. However, many questions remain to be addressed, and further elucidation of the developmental mechanisms of sHsp gene transcription might help to unravel the tissue- and stage-specific functions of this fascinating class of proteins, which might prove to be crucial for future therapeutic strategies. This article is part of a Directed Issue entitled: Small HSPs in physiology and pathology.

HSPBs: small proteins with big implications in human disease

Although initially somewhat ignored, recent studies have now clearly established that the diverse members of the human family of small HSPs (HSPB1-HSPB10) play crucial roles in a wide range of cell types to maintain the integrity and function of tissues, in particular that of nervous and muscular tissue. The 10 human HSPBs clearly have overlapping and non-overlapping functional characteristics. Their ability to self- and hetero-oligomerise provides the cells with a large array of potentially different, specific functions. Single HSPB members can have a multitude of functions (moonlighting) and act on different "clients", thus affecting a wide range of different processes or structures that can ultimately affect the rate of aging of tissues and entire organisms. This is underscored by the findings that some inherited diseases involve mutations in several HSPB members that cause premature (mostly muscle and neuronal) tissue degeneration. Inversely, cancer cell resistance to different anticancer therapies is associated with elevated expression of several HSPBs. Still, many unanswered questions exist about the precise functioning of HSPBs, their collaboration with other HSPB members as well as their functions within the entire cellular chaperone network. Also, better insight in the regulation of expression of the various members and how their function is modulated post-translationally is needed. Such may be crucially important to develop means to intervene with their function for therapeutic purposes, which would require functional down-regulation in cancer but up-regulation in, for instance, cardiac or degenerative neuro/neuromuscular diseases. This article is part of a Directed Issue entitled: Small HSPs in physiology and pathology.

Small but crucial: the novel small heat shock protein Hsp21 mediates stress adaptation and virulence in Candida albicans

Small heat shock proteins (sHsps) have multiple cellular functions. However, the biological function of sHsps in pathogenic microorganisms is largely unknown. In the present study we identified and characterized the novel sHsp Hsp21 of the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Using a reverse genetics approach we demonstrate the importance of Hsp21 for resistance of C. albicans to specific stresses, including thermal and oxidative stress. Furthermore, a hsp21Δ/Δ mutant was defective in invasive growth and formed significantly shorter filaments compared to the wild type under various filament-inducing conditions. Although adhesion to and invasion into human-derived endothelial and oral epithelial cells was unaltered, the hsp21Δ/Δ mutant exhibited a strongly reduced capacity to damage both cell lines. Furthermore, Hsp21 was required for resisting killing by human neutrophils. Measurements of intracellular levels of stress protective molecules demonstrated that Hsp21 is involved in both glycerol and glycogen regulation and plays a major role in trehalose homeostasis in response to elevated temperatures. Mutants defective in trehalose and, to a lesser extent, glycerol synthesis phenocopied HSP21 deletion in terms of increased susceptibility to environmental stress, strongly impaired capacity to damage epithelial cells and increased sensitivity to the killing activities of human primary neutrophils. Via systematic analysis of the three main C. albicans stress-responsive kinases (Mkc1, Cek1, Hog1) under a range of stressors, we demonstrate Hsp21-dependent phosphorylation of Cek1 in response to elevated temperatures. Finally, the hsp21Δ/Δ mutant displayed strongly attenuated virulence in two in vivo infection models. Taken together, Hsp21 mediates adaptation to specific stresses via fine-tuning homeostasis of compatible solutes and activation of the Cek1 pathway, and is crucial for multiple stages of C. albicans pathogenicity. Hsp21 therefore represents the first reported example of a small heat shock protein functioning as a virulence factor in a eukaryotic pathogen.

Inhibiting the transcription factor HSF1 as an anticancer strategy

BACKGROUND

In mammals, the cytoprotective heat-shock response is regulated primarily by heat shock factor 1 (HSF1). Unfortunately, the effects of HSF1 also support the ability of cancer cells to accommodate imbalances in signaling and alterations in DNA, protein and energy metabolism associated with oncogenesis. The malignant lifestyle confers dependence on this 'non-oncogene', suggesting a therapeutic role for HSF1 inhibitors.

OBJECTIVE/METHODS

We begin with an overview of how HSF1 affects cancer biology and how its activity is regulated. We then summarize progress in discovery and development of HSF1 inhibitors, their current limitations and potential as anticancer agents with a fundamentally different scope of action from other clinically validated modulators of protein homeostasis.

RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS

It is likely that within the next 5 years usable inhibitors of HSF1 will be identified and in early pre-clinical evaluation.

The role of chromatin structure in regulating stress-induced transcription in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

All cells, whether free-living or part of a multicellular organism, must contend with a variety of environmental fluctuations that can be harmful or lethal to the cell. Cells exposed to different kinds of environmental stress rapidly alter gene transcription, resulting in the immediate downregulation of housekeeping genes, while crucial stress-responsive transcription is drastically increased. Common cis-acting elements within many stress-induced promoters, such as stress response elements and heat shock elements, allow for coordinated expression in response to many different stresses. However, specific promoter architectures, i.e., specific combinations of high- and low-affinity stress-responsive cis elements embedded in a particular chromatin environment, allow for unique expression patterns that are responsive to the individual type and degree of stress. The coordination of transcriptional stress responses and the role that chromatin structure plays in the regulation and kinetics of such responses is discussed. The interplay among global and gene-specific stress responses is illustrated using the constitutive and stress-induced transcriptional regulation of HSP82 as a model. This review also investigates evidence suggesting that stress-induced transcription is globally synchronized with the stress-induced repression of housekeeping gene via 2 distinct mechanisms of facilitating the binding of TATA-binding protein (TBP): TFIID and SAGA-mediated TBP binding.

Yeast cells display a regulatory mechanism in response to methylglyoxal

Methylglyoxal (MG), a glycolytic by-product, is an extremely toxic compound. This fact suggests that its synthesis and degradation should be tightly controlled. However, little is known about the mechanisms that protect yeast cells against MG toxicity. Here, we show that in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, MG exposure increased the internal MG content and activated the expression of GLO1 and GRE3, two genes involved in MG detoxification; GPD1, the gene for glycerol synthesis; and TPS1 and TPS2, the trehalose pathway genes. This response was specific as demonstrated by the analysis of marker genes and effectors of the general stress response. Physiological experiments with MG-treated cells showed that this compound triggers the overproduction of glycerol. Furthermore, a gpd1 gpd2 double mutant showed enhanced MG contents compared with the wild-type. Overall, these results appeared to indicate that up-variations in the intracellular content of the toxic compound are perceived by the cell as a primary signal to trigger the transcriptional response. In agreement with this, MG-instigated GPD1 activation was enhanced in strains lacking GLO1, and this effect correlated with the internal MG content. Finally, induction of GPD1, TPS1 and GRE3, and enhanced MG contents were also observed in low-glucose-growing cells subjected to a sudden increase in glucose availability. The implications of this regulatory mechanism on protection against MG are discussed.

A novel domain of the yeast heat shock factor that regulates its activation function

Heat shock factor Hsf1 of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae binds to the heat shock element (HSE) of a subset of genes and activates their transcription in response to various environmental stresses. Hsf1 protein contains discrete domains respectively involved in DNA-binding, trimerization, transcription activation, and transcription repression. Here we have identified a novel domain rich in basic amino acids at the extreme C-terminus of Hsf1. Deletion or point mutations of the C-terminal basic region caused an inefficient heat shock response of genes containing noncanonical HSEs such as CUP1 and HSP26. The basic region is also essential for oxidative stress-inducible transcription of CUP1 by Hsf1. By contrast, it was dispensable for heat induction through the canonical HSE. We suggest that the basic region is a modulator involved in regulation of the Hsf1-mediated activation depending on the architecture of its binding site.

Sfl1 functions via the co-repressor Ssn6-Tup1 and the cAMP-dependent protein kinase Tpk2

Ssn6 (Cyc8) is a component of the yeast general corepressor Ssn6-Tup1 that inhibits the transcription of many diversely regulated genes. The corepressor does not interact directly with DNA but is recruited to different promoters through interactions with distinct pathway-specific, DNA-binding repressor proteins. Using yeast two-hybrid and GST chromatography interaction experiments, we have determined that Sfl1, a novel repressor protein, interacts directly with Ssn6, and in vivo repression data suggest that Sfl1 inhibits transcription by recruiting Ssn6-Tup1 via a specific domain in the Sfl1 protein. Sin4 and Srb10, components of specific RNA polymerase II sub-complexes that are required for Ssn6-Tup1 repression activity, are found to be required for Sfl1 repression function. These results indicate a possible mechanism for Sfl1-mediated repression via Ssn6-Tup1 and specific subunits of the RNA polymerase II holoenzyme. Electrophoretic mobility shift and chromatin immuno-precipitation assays demonstrate that Sfl1 is present at the promoters of three Ssn6-Tup1-repressible genes; namely, FLO11, HSP26, and SUC2. Sfl1 is known to interact with Tpk2, a cAMP-dependent protein kinase that negatively regulates Sfl1 function. Consistently, we show that phosphorylation by protein kinase A inhibits Sfl1 DNA binding in vitro, and that a tpk2Delta mutation increases the levels of Sfl1 protein associated with specific promoter elements in vivo. These data indicate a possible mechanism for regulating Sfl1-mediated repression through modulation of DNA binding by cAMP-dependent protein kinase-dependent phosphorylation. Taken together with previous data, these new observations suggest a link between cAMP signaling and Ssn6-Tup1-mediated transcriptional repression.

Hsf1p and Msn2/4p cooperate in the expression of Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes HSP26 and HSP104 in a gene- and stress type-dependent manner

Saccharomyces cerevisiae possesses several transcription factors involved in the transcriptional activation of stress-induced genes. Among them, the heat shock factor (Hsf1p) and the zinc finger proteins of the general stress response (Msn2p and Msn4p) have been shown to play a major role in stress protection. Some heat shock protein (HSP) genes contain both heat shock elements (HSEs) and stress response elements (STREs), suggesting the involvement of both transcription factors in their regulation. Analysis of the stress-induced expression of two of these genes, HSP26 and HSP104, reveals that the contribution of Hsf1p and Msn2/4p is different depending on the gene and the stress condition.

Stress response and expression patterns in wine fermentations of yeast genes induced at the diauxic shift

During wine fermentation yeasts quickly reach a stationary phase, where cells are metabolically active by consuming sugars present in grape must. It is, consequently, of great interest at this stage to identify suitable gene promoters that may be used to induce the expression of genes with enological applications. With this aim, we have studied a group of genes showing an induction peak at the diauxic shift, and possessing stress response elements (STRE) at their promoters. We have determined their induction levels under individualized stress conditions, such as carbon source starvation or high salt concentrations. In all the cases studied, the activation and/or basal transcription are dependent on the transcriptional factors Msn2p and Msn4p. We have analysed the expression patterns and mRNA levels during wine fermentation, and have found that they are all activated at the stationary phase. Finally, we have identified SPI1, a new highly expressed yeast gene which is specifically induced at the stationary phase of both microvinification and laboratory growth conditions.

A debilitating mutation in transcription factor IIE with differential effects on gene expression in yeast

The influence of transcription factor (TF) IIE on mRNA synthesis in vivo was examined in a temperature-sensitive yeast mutant. A missense mutation in the conserved zinc finger domain severely weakened TFIIE's transcription activity without appreciably affecting its quaternary structure, chromatographic properties, or cellular abundance. The mutation conferred recessive slow-growth and heat-sensitive phenotypes in yeast, but quantitative effects on promoter utilization by RNA polymerase II ranged from strongly negative to somewhat positive. Heat-induced activation of the HSP26, HSP104, and SSA4 genes was attenuated in the mutant, indicating dependence on TFIIE for maximal rates of de novo synthesis. Constitutive HSP expression in mutant cells was elevated, exposing a negative (likely indirect) influence by TFIIE in the absence of heat stress. Our results corroborate and extend recent findings of differential dependence on TFIIE activity for yeast promoters, but reveal an important counterpoint to the notion that dependence is tied to TATA element structure (Sakurai, H., Ohishi, T., and Fukasawa, T. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 15936-15942). We also provide empirical evidence for conservation of structure-activity relationships in TFIIE's zinc finger domain, and establish a direct link between TFIIE's biochemical activity in reconstituted transcription and its function in cellular mRNA synthesis.

HySP26 gene transcription is strongly induced during Saccharomyces cerevisiae growth at low pH

During exponential growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae at the inhibitory pH 2.5, the transcription of the major small-heat-shock-protein-encoding gene HSP26 was strongly induced while at the optimal pH 5.0, the mRNA levels from the HSP26 gene were undetectable. When yeast cells entered the stationary phase of growth at pH 5.0, transcription was dramatically enhanced and the level of the HSP26 transcripts reached similar values in stationary cells grown at optimal or inhibitory low pH.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae zinc finger proteins Msn2p and Msn4p are required for transcriptional induction through the stress response element (STRE)

The MSN2 and MSN4 genes encode homologous and functionally redundant Cys2His2 zinc finger proteins. A disruption of both MSN2 and MSN4 genes results in a higher sensitivity to different stresses, including carbon source starvation, heat shock and severe osmotic and oxidative stresses. We show that MSN2 and MSN4 are required for activation of several yeast genes such as CTT1, DDR2 and HSP12, whose induction is mediated through stress-response elements (STREs). Msn2p and Msn4p are important factors for the stress-induced activation of STRE dependent promoters and bind specifically to STRE-containing oligonucleotides. Our results suggest that MSN2 and MSN4 encode a DNA-binding component of the stress responsive system and it is likely that they act as positive transcription factors.

The protein kinase C-activated MAP kinase pathway of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mediates a novel aspect of the heat shock response

The PKC1 gene of budding yeast encodes a homolog of the alpha, beta, and gamma isoforms of mammalian PKC that is proposed to regulate a MAPK-activation pathway. Mutants in this pathway undergo cell lysis resulting from a deficiency in cell wall construction when they attempt to grow at elevated temperatures. We show that the PKC1-regulated pathway is important for induced thermotolerance and that the MPK1 protein kinase (the MAPK of this pathway) is strongly activated by mild heat shock. This activation is sustained during growth at high temperature and is dependent on the function of pathway components proposed to function upstream of MPK1, including PKC1. Expression of genes under the control of known heat shock-inducible promoter elements (HSEs and STREs) was not compromised in PKC1 pathway mutants, indicating that this pathway mediates a novel aspect of the yeast heat shock response. We propose that the heat-induced signal for pathway activation is generated in response to weakness in the cell wall created during growth under thermal stress, perhaps as a result of increased membrane fluidity. Evidence is presented that the mechanism by which the cell detects this weakness is by measuring stretch of the plasma membrane.