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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2020.05.07.080796

Transcriptomic response of an Antarctic yeast Rhodotorula sp. USM-PSY62 to temperature changes

Chai, C.-N.·Yam, H.-C.·Rosli, N.·Azlan, A.·Azzam, G.·Abdul Halim, M.·Najimudin, N.
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Abstract

Rhodotorula sp. (USM-PSY62) is a psychrophilic yeast isolated from Antarctic sea ice and it grows optimally at 15 {degrees}C. This study was set up to observe how USM-PSY62 adapted to fluctuations in temperature. During cold adaptation, an elevated transcription of the CorA magnesium transporter gene in USM-PSY62 indicated a higher requirement for magnesium ions in order to gain additional enzyme cofactors or maintain cytoplasmic fluidity. The HepA homologue coding for DNA/RNA helicase was also over-expressed in cold condition possibly to reorganize secondary structures of DNA and RNA. An up-regulation of the catalase gene was also observed reflecting an increment in the concentration of reactive oxygen species and fluctuations in the associated antioxidant system. The YOP1 gene, which encodes a membrane protein associated with protein transport and membrane traffic, was the most down-regulated under cold shock condition. The genes responsible for the structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) were also down-regulated when the temperature was shifted to 0 {degrees}C. Upon cold shock, the gene for heat shock factor protein 1 (HSF1) was also down-regulated. Hsf1 is a transcriptional regulator which regulate the heat shock responses. Although USM-PSY62 showed some common adaptive strategies as in several other psychrophilic organisms, new mechanisms were also uncovered.

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Chai, C.-N., Yam, H.-C., Rosli, N., Azlan, A., Azzam, G., Abdul Halim, M., Najimudin, N.. 2020-05-08. Transcriptomic response of an Antarctic yeast Rhodotorula sp. USM-PSY62 to temperature changes. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.07.080796

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