Cation Transport Mechanisms in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae
Summary
Saccharomyces cerevisiae relies on a coordinated array of membrane transporters, channels and signalling pathways to regulate intracellular levels of essential cations such as potassium, sodium, calcium and protons. High-affinity potassium uptake is primarily mediated by the Trk1 and Trk2 transporters, while the outward proton gradient generated by the Pma1 H⁺-ATPase drives secondary transporters and antiporters. Sodium expulsion is handled by the Ena1 P-type Na⁺-ATPase and the Nha1 Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter. Calcium signalling intersects with cation homeostasis via the calcium/calmodulin-dependent phosphatase calcineurin, which dephosphorylates the Crz1 transcription factor to induce expression of cation transport genes under stress. Additional regulatory layers involve the Rim101 pH-responsive pathway, the Snf1 kinase, the SPS amino-acid-sensing cascade and specific serine/threonine phosphatases (PPZ1/PPZ2). Integration of these modules allows yeast to adapt to fluctuations in external pH and salt, maintain membrane potential and ensure optimal growth in diverse environments, with direct implications for fermentation industries and antifungal strategies.
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Cation Transport Mechanisms in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in cation transport mechanisms in saccharomyces cerevisiae across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Cation: A positively charged ion such as Na⁺, K⁺ or Ca²⁺.
P-type ATPase: A transmembrane enzyme that uses ATP hydrolysis to pump cations against their gradient.
Calcineurin: A Ca²⁺/calmodulin-activated Ser/Thr phosphatase that dephosphorylates Crz1.
Crz1: A calcineurin-responsive transcription factor controlling expression of cation transport genes.
SPS pathway: A plasma-membrane amino-acid sensor cascade activating Stp1/Stp2 transcription factors.
Protein phosphatases PPZ1/PPZ2: Yeast Ser/Thr phosphatases that regulate ion homeostasis and counteract calcineurin.
References
- Ectopic Potassium Uptake in trk1 trk2 Mutants ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae Correlates with a Highly Hyperpolarized Membrane Potential*. Journal of Biological Chemistry (1998).
- Genome-wide recruitment profiling of transcription factor Crz1 in response to high pH stress. BMC Genomics (2016).
- The ENA1 Na+-ATPase Gene Is Regulated by the SPS Sensing Pathway and the Stp1/Stp2 Transcription Factors. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
- The PPZ Protein Phosphatases Are Important Determinants of Salt Tolerance in Yeast Cells ∗. Journal of Biological Chemistry (1995).
- Alkaline Response Genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiaeand Their Relationship to the RIM101 Pathway*. Journal of Biological Chemistry (2000).
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