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Transcriptional control of multidrug resistance in the yeast Saccharomyces

W Scott Moye-Rowley1

  • 1Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.

Progress in Nucleic Acid Research and Molecular Biology
|July 29, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Multidrug resistance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a significant challenge. This review explores the genetic networks that control pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) genes, offering a framework for understanding cellular defense mechanisms.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Multidrug resistance (MDR) in target cells, including those in cancer and fungal infections, poses a major challenge in chemotherapeutic treatments.
  • Certain genetic alterations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae can lead to a pleiotropic drug-resistant (PDR) phenotype, conferring tolerance to a wide spectrum of toxic compounds.
  • The PDR phenotype in yeast is often associated with the overexpression of transporter proteins, driven by mutations in transcriptional regulators or their regulatory inputs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the regulatory networks that modulate the expression of PDR genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of pleiotropic drug resistance in yeast.
  • To offer insights into potential strategies for overcoming drug resistance in therapeutic applications.

Main Methods:

  • This review synthesizes findings from various studies investigating PDR gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
  • Analysis of genetic mutations affecting transcriptional regulators and their regulatory inputs.
  • Examination of the role of transporter proteins in conferring multidrug resistance.

Main Results:

  • Mutations in transcriptional regulators or their regulatory inputs lead to the overexpression of downstream transporter proteins.
  • This overexpression results in a pleiotropic drug-resistant (PDR) phenotype in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
  • Understanding these networks is crucial for comprehending cellular resistance mechanisms.

Conclusions:

  • The PDR network in Saccharomyces cerevisiae provides a model system for studying multidrug resistance.
  • Identifying and understanding these regulatory networks can inform strategies to combat drug resistance in various pathological conditions.
  • Further research into these networks may lead to novel therapeutic approaches.

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