loading page

Identification of novel arsenic resistance genes in yeast
  • +5
  • Esin Isik,
  • Çiğdem Balkan,
  • Vivien Karl,
  • Hüseyin Çağlar Karakaya,
  • Sansan Hua,
  • Sebastien Rauch,
  • Markus Tamas,
  • Ahmet Koc
Esin Isik
Izmir Institute of Technology

Corresponding Author:esin.eska@gmail.com

Author Profile
Çiğdem Balkan
Izmir Institute of Technology
Author Profile
Vivien Karl
University of Gothenburg
Author Profile
Hüseyin Çağlar Karakaya
Izmir Institute of Technology
Author Profile
Sansan Hua
University of Gothenburg
Author Profile
Sebastien Rauch
Chalmers University of Technology
Author Profile
Markus Tamas
University of Gothenburg
Author Profile
Ahmet Koc
Izmir Institute of Technology
Author Profile

Abstract

Arsenic is a toxic metalloid that affects human health by causing numerous diseases and by being used in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Saccharomyces cerevisiae (budding yeast) has been extensively utilized to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying arsenic toxicity and resistance in eukaryotes. In this study, we applied a genomic DNA overexpression strategy to identify yeast genes that provide arsenic resistance in wild-type and arsenic-sensitive S. cerevisiae cells. In addition to known arsenic-related genes, our genetic screen revealed novel genes, including PHO86, VBA3, UGP1, and TUL1, whose overexpression conferred resistance. To gain insights into possible resistance mechanisms, we addressed the contribution of these genes to cell growth, intracellular arsenic, and protein aggregation during arsenate exposure. Overexpression of PHO86 resulted in higher cellular arsenic levels but no additional effect on protein aggregation, indicating that these cells efficiently protect their intracellular environment. VBA3 overexpression caused resistance despite higher intracellular arsenic and protein aggregation levels. Overexpression of UGP1 led to lower intracellular arsenic and protein aggregation levels whilst TUL1 overexpression had no impact on intracellular arsenic or protein aggregation levels. Thus, the identified genes appear to confer arsenic resistance through distinct mechanisms but the molecular details remain to be elucidated.
08 Dec 2021Submitted to MicrobiologyOpen
09 Dec 2021Submission Checks Completed
09 Dec 2021Assigned to Editor
09 Dec 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
23 Dec 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
23 Dec 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
29 Mar 20221st Revision Received
30 Mar 2022Submission Checks Completed
30 Mar 2022Assigned to Editor
30 Mar 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
30 Mar 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
13 Apr 2022Editorial Decision: Accept
Jun 2022Published in MicrobiologyOpen volume 11 issue 3. 10.1002/mbo3.1284