Acid Stress Adaptation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Acid stress adaptation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae encompasses a suite of physiological and molecular responses enabling survival and growth under low‐pH conditions and in the presence of weak organic acids. Central to this adaptation is the maintenance of intracellular pH homeostasis, achieved through activation of plasma‐membrane H+‐ATPases and intracellular buffering systems. Cellular membranes undergo compositional changes, including alterations in lipid saturation and microdomain organisation, to preserve integrity and facilitate proton extrusion. At the genomic level, signalling pathways coordinate transcriptional reprogramming of stress‐responsive genes, involving kinases, transcription factors and chromatin remodellers. Metabolic reconfiguration ensures energy and redox balance, while protein quality‐control systems mitigate damage. These adaptive strategies underpin the yeast’s resilience in fermentation processes, biotechnological applications and ecological niches characterised by acidic stress.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Foundational studies employing combined transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches have provided comprehensive maps of the global stress response to acetic acid. Temporal profiling of gene expression uncovered extensive regulation of transcripts associated with intracellular pH regulation, central metabolism, protein folding, vesicle‐mediated transport and cell‐cycle control. Metabolite analysis corroborated transcriptional changes, revealing pronounced acidification of cytosolic and mitochondrial compartments and disruption of acetylation balance. Interaction‐network reconstruction highlighted key regulatory nodes within signalling cascades and programmed cell death pathways, offering a systems‐level view of acid‐induced damage and survival strategies.

Acid Stress Adaptation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in acid stress adaptation in saccharomyces cerevisiae across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

H+-ATPase: Plasma-membrane proton pump that exports excess protons to maintain intracellular pH homeostasis.

Membrane microdomains: Lipid-rich regions of the plasma membrane organising protein complexes for stress tolerance.

Transcriptomics: Genome-wide profiling of gene expression to identify differentially expressed genes under stress.

CRISPR interference (CRISPRi): Gene-silencing method using a deactivated Cas protein to repress target gene transcription.

References

1. Novel Roles of the Greatwall Kinase Rim15 in Yeast Oxidative Stress Tolerance through Mediating Antioxidant Systems and Transcriptional Regulation. Antioxidants (2024).
2. Analysis of acid-tolerance mechanism based on membrane microdomains in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Microbial Cell Factories (2023).
3. CRISPRi screen highlights chromatin regulation to be involved in formic acid tolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Engineering Microbiology (2023).
4. RNA-Seq-based transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis reveal stress responses and programmed cell death induced by acetic acid in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Scientific Reports (2017).