A GATA-type transcription factor SreA affects manganese susceptibility by regulating the expression of iron...

SreA has been identified as a GATA-type transcription factor that represses iron uptake to avoid iron excess during iron sufficiency. However, knowledge about whether SreA also affects the homeostasis of other divalent metal ions is limited. In this study, by screening Aspergillus fumigatus transcription factor deletion mutant libraries, we demonstrate that the sreA deletion mutant shows the greatest tolerance to MnCl₂ among the tested divalent metal ions. Fe and Mn stimuli are able to enhance the expression of SreA with the different time-dependent manner, while the expression of SreA contributes to Mn²⁺ tolerance. Lack of SreA results in abnormally increased expression of a series of siderophore biosynthesis genes and iron transport-related genes, especially under MnCl₂ treatment. Further mechanistic exploration indicated that lack of SreA exacerbates abnormal iron uptake, and iron excess inhibits cellular Mn content; thus, deletion of sreA results in Mn tolerance. Thus, findings in this study have demonstrated a new unexplored function for the transcription factor SreA in regulation of the Mn²⁺ tolerance.