Genomic, transcriptomic and physiological analyses of silver-resistant Saccharomyces cerevisiae obtained by...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Molecular Biology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Silver (Ag) is an antimicrobial agent with medical applications but exhibits toxicity.
• Understanding silver resistance mechanisms in biological systems is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the molecular basis of silver resistance in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
• To engineer highly silver-resistant yeast strains using evolutionary methods.

Main Methods:

• Evolutionary engineering via successive batch cultures under increasing silver nitrate (AgNO3) stress.
• Genomic and transcriptomic analyses to identify genetic changes.
• Cross-resistance assays and growth physiological analyses.

Main Results:

• Evolved Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains demonstrated high resistance to silver, copper, and oxidative stress.
• Key genetic changes involved genes in cell wall integrity, respiration, and copper homeostasis.
• A missense mutation in the RLM1 gene was identified as a potential key factor in silver resistance.

Conclusions:

• The study reveals key molecular factors contributing to silver resistance in yeast.
• The findings advance the understanding of complex metal resistance mechanisms in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.