Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Bioenergy Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #255962
Title: Comparative transcriptome profiling analyses during the lag phase uncover YAP1, PDR1, PDR3, RPN4, and HSF1 as key regulatory genes in genomic adaptation to the lignocellulose derived inhibitor HMF for Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Author
item MA, MENGGEN - New Mexico State University
item Liu, Zonglin

Submitted to: BMC Genomics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/24/2010
Publication Date: 11/24/2010
Citation: Ma, M., Liu, Z. 2010. Comparative transcriptome profiling analyses during the lag phase uncover YAP1, PDR1, PDR3, RPN4, and HSF1 as key regulatory genes in genomic adaptation to the lignocellulose derived inhibitor HMF for Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biomed Central (BMC) Genomics. 11:660. Available: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/11/660.

Interpretive Summary: Bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass including agricultural and forestry residues has attracted increased attention worldwide. Biomass pretreatment generates numerous inhibitory compounds that inhibit microbial growth and interfere with subsequent fermentation. This represents a bottleneck in cellulosic ethanol conversion technology, and overcoming the inhibitor effects is one of the fundamental challenges to the industrial production of biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass. We previously demonstrated that tolerant yeast strains are able to in situ detoxify numerous inhibitors such as furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). Variations in lag phase of growth have been used to measure tolerance levels of microbial response to inhibitors. Using system biology approaches, we investigated genome response of yeast to HMF during this critical stage. Confirmed by metabolic profiles, qRT-PCR, and deletion mutation assays, we identified important candidate genes and regulatory elements involved in yeast adaptation and tolerance to the representative inhibitor HMF. Results from this study provide insight into mechanisms of adaptation and tolerance by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that will directly aid continued engineering efforts for more tolerant yeast development.

Technical Abstract: The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is able to adapt and in situ detoxify lignocellulose derived inhibitors such as furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). The length of lag phase for cell growth in response to the inhibitor challenge has been used to measure tolerance of strain performance. Mechanisms of yeast tolerance at the genome level remain unknown. Using a systems biology approach, this study investigated comparative transcriptome profiling, metabolic profiling, cell growth response, and gene regulatory interactions of yeast strains and selective gene deletion mutations in response to HMF challenges during the lag phase of growth. We identified 365 candidate genes and found at least 3 significant components involving some of these genes that enable yeast adaptation and tolerance to HMF in yeast. First, functional enzyme coding genes such as ARI1, ADH6, ADH7, and OYE3, as well as gene interactions involved in the biotransformation and inhibitor detoxification were the direct driving force to reduce HMF damages in cells. Expressions of these genes were regulated by YAP1 and its closely related regulons. Second, a large number of pleiotropic drug response (PDR) genes, mainly regulated by PDR1 and PDR3, were induced during the lag phase and the PDR gene family-centered functions, including specific and multiple functions involving cellular transport such as TPO1, TPO4, RSB1, PDR5, PDR15, YOR1, and SNQ2, promoted cellular adaptation and survival in order to cope with the inhibitor stress. Third, expressed genes involving degradation of damaged proteins and protein modifications such as SHP1 and SSA4, regulated by RPN4, HSF1, and other co-regulators, were necessary for yeast cells to survive and adapt the HMF stress. A deletion mutation strain deltarpn4 was unable to recover the growth in the presence of HMF. Complex gene interactions and regulatory networks as well as co-regulations exist in yeast adaptation and tolerance to the lignocellulose derived inhibitor HMF. Both induced and repressed genes involving diversified functional categories are accountable for adaptation and energy rebalancing in yeast to survive and adapt the HMF stress during the lag phase of growth. Transcription factor genes YAP1, PDR1, PDR3, RPN4, and HSF1 appeared to play key regulatory rules for global adaptation in the yeast S. cerevisiae.