Simulated Microgravity-Induced Changes in SUMOylation and Protein Expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Area of Science:

• Cellular Biology
• Space Medicine
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Microgravity during space travel causes significant cellular changes, impacting astronaut health.
• Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier (SUMO) is essential for cellular adaptation, regulating processes like DNA repair and cytoskeletal dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of SUMOylation in mediating cellular responses to microgravity stress.
• To identify changes in SUMOylated proteins and overall protein expression under simulated microgravity.

Main Methods:

• Cultured *Saccharomyces cerevisiae* (yeast) under normal gravity and simulated microgravity (SMG) using rotating wall vessels.
• Analyzed SUMOylated proteins and protein expression after 12 hours of culture.

Main Results:

• Identified 347 SUMOylated proteins, with 18 showing significant abundance changes under SMG.
• Observed differential protein expression in 42 proteins (34 decreased, 8 increased) under SMG, impacting DNA repair, cell division, and cytoskeleton regulation.

Conclusions:

• SUMOylation plays a critical role in cellular adaptation to microgravity.
• Findings suggest SUMOylation pathways as potential targets for mitigating spaceflight-induced health risks.