The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Sko1p transcription factor mediates HOG pathway-dependent osmotic regulation of a set of genes encoding enzymes implicated in protection from oxidative damage

Mol Microbiol. 2001 Jun;40(5):1067-83. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2001.02384.x.

Abstract

A major part of the transcriptional response of yeast cells to osmotic shock is controlled by the HOG pathway and several downstream transcription factors. Sko1p is a repressor that mediates HOG pathway-dependent regulation by binding to CRE sites in target promoters. Here, we report five target genes of Hog1p-Sko1p: GRE2, AHP1, SFA1, GLR1 and YML131w. The two CREs in the GRE2 promoter function as activating sequences and, hence, bind (an) activator protein(s). However, the two other yeast CRE-binding proteins, Aca1p and Aca2p, are not involved in regulation of the GRE2 promoter under osmotic stress. In the absence of the co-repressor complex Tup1p-Ssn6p/Cyc8p, which is recruited by Sko1p, stimulation by osmotic stress is still observed. These data indicate that Sko1p is not only required for repression, but also involved in induction upon osmotic shock. All five Sko1p targets encode oxidoreductases with demonstrated or predicted roles in repair of oxidative damage. Altered basal expression levels of these genes in hog1Delta and sko1Delta mutants may explain the oxidative stress phenotypes of these mutants. All five Sko1p target genes are induced by oxidative stress, and induction involves Yap1p. Although Sko1p and Yap1p appear to mediate osmotic and oxidative stress responses independently, Sko1p may affect Yap1p promoter access or activity. The five Sko1p target genes described here are suitable models for studying the interplay between osmotic and oxidative responses at the molecular and physiological levels.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activating Transcription Factors
  • Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Enzymes / genetics*
  • Enzymes / metabolism
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
  • Glycerol / metabolism
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / genetics
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Mutation
  • Osmolar Concentration
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Oxidoreductases / genetics
  • Oxidoreductases / metabolism
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Response Elements
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • ACA1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Activating Transcription Factors
  • Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
  • CST6 protein, S cerevisiae
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Enzymes
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • SKO1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • YAP1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Oxidoreductases
  • GRE2 protein, S cerevisiae
  • HOG1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Glycerol