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Organellar mechanosensitive channels involved in hypo-osmoregulation in fission yeast

Yoshitaka Nakayama1, Hidetoshi Iida2

  • 1Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, New South Wales 2010, Australia.

Cell Calcium
|December 3, 2014
PubMed

Insights

MscS-like (MSL) proteins in yeast protect cells from osmotic stress by regulating calcium. These eukaryotic homologs of bacterial mechanosensitive channels have evolved diverse roles beyond simple osmoregulation.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Bacterial mechanosensitive channels (MscS, MscL) are key in osmotic stress response.
  • Eukaryotic homologs, MscS-like (MSL) proteins, have evolved diverse structures and functions.
  • MSL proteins are found in various cellular membranes, including chloroplasts, cell membranes, and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the roles of MscS-like (MSL) proteins in eukaryotic osmoregulation.
  • To focus on two specific MSL proteins in Schizosaccharomyces pombe localized to the ER membrane.
  • To discuss the involvement of MSL proteins and other yeast ion channels in protecting cells from hypo-osmotic shock.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of MscS-like (MSL) proteins.
  • Analysis of MSL protein localization in eukaryotic cells (e.g., Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Arabidopsis thaliana).
  • Discussion of ion channel function in eukaryotic osmoregulation.

Main Results:

  • MSL proteins in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, located in the ER membrane, protect against hypo-osmotic shock-induced death.
  • These ER-localized MSL proteins regulate intracellular Ca(2+) concentrations to mediate cell protection.
  • MSL proteins have undergone evolutionary divergence, suggesting varied functional roles in eukaryotes.

Conclusions:

  • Eukaryotic MscS-like (MSL) proteins play critical roles in osmoregulation, particularly in response to hypo-osmotic stress.
  • Regulation of intracellular calcium by ER-localized MSL proteins is a key mechanism for cell survival.
  • Further research into MSL proteins and other eukaryotic ion channels is essential for understanding osmoregulation.
Keywords:
Ca(2+) signalEndoplasmic reticulumFission yeastMechanosensitive channelMscS-like proteinOsmotic response

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