Filamentation Regulatory Pathways Control Adhesion-Dependent Surface Responses in Yeast

Jacky Chow1, Izzy Starr1, Sheida Jamalzadeh2

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York at the University at Buffalo, New York 14260-1300.

Genetics
|May 5, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Multiple signaling pathways control filamentous growth in yeast, impacting surface responses like mat formation and colony patterns. These pathways also influence adhesion, deterring predators and regulating colony temperature, offering insights into fungal pathogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Signaling pathways regulate biological responses through transcriptional control of target genes.
  • In yeast, filamentous growth is a key morphogenetic response controlled by multiple signaling pathways, relevant to fungal pathogens.
  • Surface responses like mat formation and colony patterning are adhesion-dependent processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of signaling pathways in regulating adhesion-dependent surface responses in yeast.
  • To identify new regulators and targets involved in yeast surface growth.
  • To explore the functional significance of cell adhesion in yeast colonies.

Main Methods:

  • Expression profiling to analyze gene expression patterns.
  • Mutant phenotype analysis to determine the function of genes and pathways.
  • Analysis of specific target genes involved in surface growth.

Main Results:

  • Major filamentous growth pathways (fMAPK, RAS, RTG, RIM101, RPD3, ELP, SNF1, PHO85) were found to regulate mat formation and colony patterning.
  • The chromatin remodeling complex, SAGA, was identified as a regulator of these surface responses.
  • RAS and RTG pathways were shown to coregulate common target genes, and SAGA regulated targets of fMAPK, RAS, and RTG pathways.
  • Surface growth-specific targets responding to environmental stresses (low oxygen, high temperature, desiccation) were identified.
  • Cell adhesion mediated by Flo11p deterred macroscopic predators and affected colony temperature regulation.

Conclusions:

  • Signaling pathways controlling filamentous growth are crucial for regulating adhesion-dependent surface responses in yeast.
  • The SAGA complex plays a significant role in regulating yeast surface growth.
  • Cell adhesion in yeast colonies provides protection against predators and influences colony microenvironment.
  • Understanding yeast surface growth and adhesion mechanisms can provide insights into fungal pathogenesis and virulence.

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