UPC2 gene deletion modifies sterol homeostasis and susceptibility to metabolic inhibitors in Kluyveromyces lactis.

Kluyveromyces lactis Upc2p is an ortholog of Upc2p/Ecm22p transcription factors involved in regulation of sterol import and sterol homeostasis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this work, we investigated the role of Upc2p in K. lactis.

The Absence of PDR16 Gene Restricts the Overexpression of CaSNQ2 Gene in the Presence of Fluconazole in Candida albicans.

In yeast, the PDR16 gene encodes one of the PITP proteins involved in lipid metabolism and is regarded as a factor involved in clinical azole resistance of fungal pathogens. In this study, we prepared Candida albicans CaPDR16/pdr16Δ and Capdr16Δ/Δ heterozygous and homozygous mutant strains and assessed their responses to different stresses. The CaPDR16 deletion strains exhibited increased susceptibility to antifungal azoles and acetic acid.

Stb5p is involved in Kluyveromyces lactis response to 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide stress.

In yeast, the STB5 gene encodes a transcriptional factor belonging to binuclear cluster class (ZnCys) of transcriptional regulators specific to ascomycetes. In this study, we prepared the Kluyveromyces lactis stb5Δ strain and assessed its responses to different stresses. We showed that KlSTB5 gene is able to complement the deficiencies of Saccharomyces cerevisiae stb5Δ mutant.

Erg6 gene is essential for stress adaptation in Kluyveromyces lactis.

We investigated the effect of Kluyveromyces lactis ERG6 gene deletion on plasma membrane function and showed increased susceptibility of mutant cells to salt stress, cationic drugs and weak organic acids. Contrary to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Klerg6 mutant cells exhibited increased tolerance to tunicamycin. The content of cell wall polysacharides did not significantly vary between wild-type and mutant cells.