Ergosterol Biosynthesis and Regulation in Yeast Systems
Summary
Ergosterol is the principal sterol of fungal membranes and fulfils roles in membrane fluidity, permeability and organisation of membrane-associated proteins. Its synthesis proceeds through a multi-step pathway that converts acetyl-CoA via mevalonate and squalene to lanosterol, followed by sequential demethylations, reductions and desaturations catalysed by a cascade of ERG enzymes. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, expression of ERG genes is orchestrated by zinc-finger transcription factors such as Upc2 and Ecm22, which respond to sterol depletion by upregulating biosynthetic genes. Feedback loops involving heme-sensing regulators (for example Hap1) and repressors (Rox1, Mot3) further fine-tune pathway flux in response to oxygen and iron availability. Non-vesicular lipid-transfer proteins distribute sterol from the endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane, while lipid droplets serve as reserves during stress. In pathogenic yeasts such as Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans, ergosterol homeostasis underpins virulence, stress adaptation and resistance to azole antifungals, which target sterol demethylase. Beyond medical relevance, modulation of ergosterol levels is exploited in biotechnological yeast strains to enhance tolerance to temperature, solvents or to direct flux towards valuable isoprenoids. Emerging studies reveal interconnections between sterol metabolism, autophagic pathways and lipid droplet dynamics, underscoring ergosterol’s multifaceted contributions to cellular physiology and its potential as an antifungal target.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Ergosterol Biosynthesis and Regulation in Yeast Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in ergosterol biosynthesis and regulation in yeast systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Ergosterol: The principal sterol in fungal membranes responsible for structural integrity and fluidity.
Azoles: A class of antifungal agents that inhibit sterol demethylase, blocking ergosterol biosynthesis.
Upc2: A zinc-finger transcription factor in yeasts that senses sterol levels and activates ERG gene expression.
Lipid droplets: Intracellular organelles that store neutral lipids, including sterol esters, for membrane homeostasis.
Autophagy: A regulated process of cellular self-degradation that can be triggered by perturbations in lipid metabolism.
References
- Otilonium Bromide Exhibits Potent Antifungal Effects by Blocking Ergosterol Plasma Membrane Localization and Triggering Cytotoxic Autophagy in Candida Albicans. Advanced Science (2024).
- Ergosterol Biosynthesis and Regulation Impact the Antifungal Resistance and Virulence of Candida spp.. Stresses (2024).
- Regulation of Ergosterol Biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genes (2020).
- The wide‐ranging phenotypes of ergosterol biosynthesis mutants, and implications for microbial cell factories. Yeast (2020).
About these summaries
This Nature Research Intelligence Topic summary is created with the cited references and a large language model. We take care to ground generated text with facts, and have systems in place to gain human feedback on the overall quality of the process in line with our AI principles. We strive to create accurate and useful summaries for people unfamiliar with the research topic and that supports this goal. These pages are a beta release and will be updated as we learn how best to help people gain value from a research topic summary.
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.