Christoph Schüller

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 HOG pathway controls osmotic regulation of transcription via the stress response element (STRE) of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae CTT1 gene.

The HOG signal pathway of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is defined by the PBS2 and HOG1 genes encoding members of the MAP kinase kinase and of the MAP kinase family, respectively. Mutations in this pathway (deletions of PBS2 or HOG1, or point mutations in HOG1) almost completely abolish the induction of transcription by osmotic stress that is mediated by stress response elements (STREs). We have demonstrated previously that STREs also mediate induction of transcription by heat shock, nitrogen starvation and oxidative stress. This study shows that they are also activated by low external pH, sorbate, benzoate or ethanol stress. Induction by these other stress signals appears to be HOG pathway independent. HOG1‐dependent osmotic induction of transcription of the CTT1 gene encoding the cytosolic catalase T occurs in the presence of a protein synthesis inhibitor and can be detected rapidly after an increase of tyrosine phosphorylation of Hog1p triggered by high osmolarity. Consistent with a role of STREs in the induction of stress resistance, a number of other stress protein genes (e.g. HSP104) are regulated like CTT1. Furthermore, catalase T was shown to be important for viability under severe osmotic stress, and heat shock was demonstrated to provide cross‐protection against osmotic stress.

A Saccharomyces cerevisiae UAS element controlled by protein kinase A activates transcription in response to a variety of stress conditions.

Transcription of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae CTT1 gene encoding the cytosolic catalase T is activated by a variety of stress conditions: it is derepressed by nitrogen starvation and induced by heat shock. Furthermore, it is activated by osmotic and oxidative stress. This study shows that a CTT1 upstream region previously found to be involved in nitrogen, cAMP and heat control (base pairs −382 to −325) contains a UAS element (STRE, −368 to −356), which is sufficient for the activation of a reporter gene by all types of stress acting on CTT1. Gel retardation experiments demonstrated the existence of a factor specifically binding to STRE, but to a lesser extent to mutated elements having partly or entirely lost the ability to mediate stress control. Heat activation of STRE, but not of a canonical heat shock element, is enhanced by a ras2 defect mutation, which enhances thermotolerance, and is dramatically reduced by a bcy1 disruption mutation, which decreases thermotolerance. It can be hypothesized, therefore, that the novel stress control element is important for the establishment of induced stress tolerance.

Acute glucose starvation activates the nuclear localization signal of a stress-specific yeast transcription factor

In yeast, environmental conditions control the transcription factor Msn2, the nuclear accumulation and function of which serve as a sensitive indicator of nutrient availablity and environmental stress load. We show here that the nuclear localization signal (NLS) of Msn2 is a direct target of cAMP‐dependent protein kinase (cAPK). Genetic analysis suggests that Msn2‐NLS function is inhibited by phosphorylation and activated by dephosphorylation. Msn2‐NLS function is unaffected by many stress conditions that normally induce nuclear accumulation of full‐length Msn2. The Msn2‐NLS phosphorylation status is, however, highly sensitive to carbohydrate fluctuations during fermentative growth. Dephosphorylation occurs in >2 min after glucose withdrawal but the effect is reversed rapidly by refeeding with glucose. This response to glucose depletion is due to changes in cAPK activity rather than an increase in protein phosphatase activity. Surprisingly, the classical glucose‐sensing systems are not connected to this rapid response system. Our results further imply that generic stress signals do not cause short‐term depressions in cAPK activity. They operate on Msn2 by affecting an Msn5‐dependent nuclear export and/or retention mechanism.

A search in the genome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for genes regulated via stress response elements.

Stress response elements (STREs, core consensus AG4 or C4T) have been demonstrated previously to occur in the upstream region of a number of genes responsive to induction by a variety of stress signals. This stress response is mediated by the homologous transcription factors Msn2p and Msn4p, which bind specifically to STREs. Double mutants (msn2 msn4) deficient in these transcription factors have been shown to be hypersensitive to severe stress conditions. To obtain a more representative overview of the set of yeast genes controlled via this regulon, a computer search of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome was carried out for genes, which, similar to most known STRE‐controlled genes, exhibit at least two STREs in their upstream region. In addition to the great majority of genes previously known to be controlled via STREs, 69 open reading‐frames were detected. Expression patterns of a set of these were examined by grid filter hybridization, and 14 genes were examined by Northern analysis. Comparison of the expression patterns of these genes demonstrates that they are all STRE‐controlled although their detailed expression patterns differ considerably.

The Yeast Protein Kinase C Cell Integrity Pathway Mediates Tolerance to the Antifungal Drug Caspofungin through Activation of Slt2p Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling

ABSTRACT The echinocandin caspofungin is a new antifungal drug that blocks cell wall synthesis through inhibition of β-(1-3)-glucan synthesis. Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells are able to tolerate rather high caspofungin concentrations, displaying high viability at low caspofungin doses. To identify yeast genes implicated in caspofungin tolerance, we performed a genome-wide microarray analysis. Strikingly, caspofungin treatment rapidly induces a set of genes from the protein kinase C (PKC) cell integrity signaling pathway, as well as those required for cell wall maintenance and architecture. The mitogen-activated protein kinase Slt2p is rapidly activated by phosphorylation, triggering signaling through the PKC pathway. Cells lacking genes such as SLT2, BCK1, and PKC1, as well as the caspofungin target gene, FKS1, display pronounced hypersensitivity, demonstrating that the PKC pathway is required for caspofungin tolerance. Notably, the cell surface integrity sensor Wsc1p, but not the sensors Wsc2-4p and Mid2p, is required for sensing caspofungin perturbations. The expression modulation of PKC target genes requires the transcription factor Rlm1p, which controls expression of several cell wall synthesis and maintenance genes. Thus, caspofungin-induced cell wall damage requires Wsc1p as a dedicated sensor to launch a protective response through the activated salvage pathway for de novo cell wall synthesis. Our results establish caspofungin as a specific activator of Slt2p stress signaling in bakers yeast.

War1p, a Novel Transcription Factor Controlling Weak Acid Stress Response in Yeast

ABSTRACT The Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter Pdr12p effluxes weak acids such as sorbate and benzoate, thus mediating stress adaptation. In this study, we identify a novel transcription factor, War1p, as the regulator of this stress adaptation through transcriptional induction of PDR12. Cells lacking War1p are weak acid hypersensitive, since they fail to induce Pdr12p. The nuclear Zn2Cys6 transcriptional regulator War1p forms homodimers and is rapidly phosphorylated upon sorbate stress. The appearance of phosphorylated War1p isoforms coincides with transcriptional activation of PDR12. Promoter deletion analysis identified a novel cis-acting weak acid response element (WARE) in the PDR12 promoter required for PDR12 induction. War1p recognizes and decorates the WARE both in vitro and in vivo, as demonstrated by band shift assays and in vivo footprinting. Importantly, War1p occupies the WARE in the presence and absence of stress, demonstrating constitutive DNA binding in vivo. Our results suggest that weak acid stress triggers phosphorylation and perhaps activation of War1p. In turn, War1p activation is necessary for the induction of PDR12 through a novel signal transduction event that elicits weak organic acid stress adaptation.

Autophagy supports Candida glabrata survival during phagocytosis

The opportunistic human fungal pathogen Candida glabrata is confronted with phagocytic cells of the host defence system. Survival of internalized cells is thought to contribute to successful dissemination. We investigated the reaction of engulfed C. glabrata cells using fluorescent protein fusions of the transcription factors CgYap1 and CgMig1 and catalase CgCta1. The expression level and peroxisomal localization of catalase was used to monitor the metabolic and stress status of internalized C. glabrata cells. These reporters revealed that the phagocytosed C. glabrata cells were exposed to transient oxidative stress and starved for carbon source. Cells trapped within macrophages increased their peroxisome numbers indicating a metabolic switch. Prolonged phagocytosis caused a pexophagy‐mediated decline in peroxisome numbers. Autophagy, and in particular pexophagy, contributed to survival of C. glabrata during engulfment. Mutants lacking CgATG11 or CgATG17, genes required for pexophagy and non‐selective autophagy, respectively, displayed reduced survival rates. Furthermore, both CgAtg11 and CgAtg17 contribute to survival, since the double mutant was highly sensitive to engulfment. Inhibition of peroxisome formation by deletion of CgPEX3 partially restored viability of CgATG11 deletion mutants during engulfment. This suggests that peroxisome formation and maintenance might sequester resources required for optimal survival. Mobilization of intracellular resources via autophagy is an important virulence factor that supports the viability of C. glabrata in the phagosomal compartment of infected innate immune cells.

From Saccharomyces cerevisiae to Candida glabrata in a few easy steps: important adaptations for an opportunistic pathogen

The opportunistic human fungal pathogen Candida glabrata is closely related to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, yet it has evolved to survive within mammalian hosts. Which traits help C. glabrata to adapt to this different environment? Which specific responses are crucial for its survival in the host? The main differences seem to include an extended repertoire of adhesin genes, high drug resistance, an enhanced ability to sustain prolonged starvation and adaptations of the transcriptional wiring of key stress response genes. Here, we discuss the properties of C. glabrata with a focus on the differences to related fungi.

Candida glabrata environmental stress response involves Saccharomyces cerevisiae Msn2/4 orthologous transcription factors

We determined the genome‐wide environmental stress response (ESR) expression profile of Candida glabrata, a human pathogen related to Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Despite different habitats, C. glabrata, S. cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Candida albicans have a qualitatively similar ESR. We investigate the function of the C. glabrata syntenic orthologues to the ESR transcription factor Msn2. The C. glabrata orthologues CgMsn2 and CgMsn4 contain a motif previously referred to as HD1 (homology domain 1) also present in Msn2 orthologues from fungi closely related to S. cerevisiae. We show that regions including this motif confer stress‐regulated intracellular localization when expressed in S. cerevisiae. Site‐directed mutagenesis confirms that nuclear export of CgMsn2 in C. glabrata requires an intact HD1. Transcript profiles of CgMsn2/4 mutants and CgMsn2 overexpression strains show that they regulate a part of the CgESR. CgMsn2 complements a S. cerevisiae msn2 null mutant and in stressed C. glabrata cells, rapidly translocates from the cytosol to the nucleus. CgMsn2 is required for full resistance against severe osmotic stress and rapid and full induction of trehalose synthesis genes (TPS1, TPS2). Constitutive activation of CgMsn2 is detrimental for C. glabrata. These results establish an Msn2‐regulated general stress response in C. glabrata.