Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2026
11:04
Evaluation of the Impact of Protein Aggregation on Cellular Oxidative Stress in Yeast
Published on: June 23, 2018
Redox control and oxidative stress in yeast cells
Enrique Herrero1, Joaquim Ros, Gemma Bellí
1Departament de Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Universitat de Lleida, Lleida, Spain. enric.herrero@cmb.udl.cat
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|January 8, 2008
Summary
Reactive oxygen species alter protein function, but redox regulation by thioredoxin and glutaredoxin systems, particularly in yeast, offers crucial cellular control. These systems are vital for managing oxidative stress and maintaining cell function.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can modify protein structure and function.
- Cellular defense systems like catalases, superoxide dismutases, and peroxidases manage ROS levels.
- Oxidative modification of protein sulfhydryl groups presents a dual role: impairing function or activating regulatory pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of thioredoxin and glutaredoxin systems in redox regulation within yeast cells.
- To explore the specific regulatory functions of monothiol glutaredoxins in mitochondria and nuclei.
- To understand the conserved role of these systems in metal homeostasis and gene expression control.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of redox regulation in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) using thioredoxin and glutaredoxin systems.
- Investigating the function of monothiol glutaredoxins in different cellular compartments.
- Examining the interplay between glutaredoxin and thioredoxin systems.
- Studying the role of transcription factor Yap1 and its regulation by cysteine redox state.
Main Results:
- Thioredoxin and glutaredoxin systems are crucial for redox regulation in yeast, with interplay between them.
- Monothiol glutaredoxins exhibit specific regulatory roles in mitochondria and nuclei.
- These systems are structurally conserved, indicating an important role in metal homeostasis in higher eukaryotes.
- Transcription factor Yap1's activity and nucleocytoplasmic localization are redox-dependent, influenced by Gpx3 and Ybp1.
Conclusions:
- The thioredoxin and glutaredoxin systems are key players in cellular redox homeostasis and regulation.
- Monothiol glutaredoxins possess conserved functions in eukaryotes, impacting metal homeostasis and gene expression.
- Yap1-mediated gene expression control under oxidative stress is finely tuned by protein redox state.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Redox Reactions
Redox reactions are vital biochemical processes that underpin energy metabolism in cells. These reactions involve the transfer of electrons between molecules, occurring in tandem as oxidation and reduction. Oxidation refers to the loss of electrons, while reduction denotes their gain. This coupling ensures the seamless flow of electrons through metabolic pathways. For example, in bacterial metabolism, glucose undergoes oxidation to carbon dioxide, while oxygen is simultaneously reduced to...
01:24Redox Reactions
Oxidation-reduction or redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons from one molecule or atom to another. When an atom gains an electron, another atom must lose an electron, meaning oxidation and reduction must occur together. Since the redox occurs in pairs, the atom that gets oxidized is also called the reducing agent or reductant, and the atom that is reduced is also called the oxidizing agent or oxidant. A straightforward way to remember the definitions of oxidation and reduction is...
01:22Bioreactor Controls-III
Strain improvement is a foundational strategy in industrial microbiology aimed at maximizing microbial productivity, particularly because natural isolates typically yield commercially valuable products in very low concentrations. Although optimizing the culture medium and environmental conditions can improve yields, these adjustments are inherently limited by the organism’s genetic potential. As a result, the focus shifts toward genetic modifications to enhance biosynthetic capacity. The...
01:43Electron Transport Chain: Complex III and IV
During the electron transport chain, electrons from NADH and FADH2 are first transferred to complexes I and II, respectively. These two complexes then transfer the electrons to ubiquinol, which carries them further to complex III. Complex III passes the electrons across the intermembrane space to Cyt c, which carries them further to complex IV. Complex IV donates electrons to oxygen and reduces it to water. As electrons pass through complexes I, III, and IV, the energy released aids the pumping...
01:23Redox Equilibria: Overview
A reduction-oxidation reaction is commonly called a redox reaction. In a redox reaction, electrons are transferred from one species to another rather than being shared between or among atoms. The reducing agent or reductant is the species that loses electrons and gets oxidized in the process. The species that gains electrons and gets reduced in the process is the oxidizing agent or oxidant. Redox reactions are represented as two separate equations called half-reactions, where one equation...
01:26Redox Titration: Other Oxidizing and Reducing Agents
Besides iodine, other oxidizing or reducing agents can serve as titrants in redox titrations. Common oxidizing titrants include KMnO4, cerium(IV), and K2Cr2O7. The choice of oxidizing titrants depends on factors like stability, cost, analyte strength, and reaction rate between the analyte and titrant. KMnO4 is a strong oxidizing titrant that reduces from Mn(VII) to Mn(II) in a highly acidic solution, simultaneously oxidizing the analyte to a higher oxidation state. In this case, KMnO4 acts as a...