The ζ-crystallin homolog Zta1 promotes resistance to oxidative stress.

The fungal pathogen is capable of causing lethal infections in humans. Its pathogenic potential is due in part to the ability to resist various stress conditions in the host, including oxidative stress. Recent studies showed that a family of four flavodoxin-like proteins (Pst1, Pst2, Pst3, Ycp4) that function as quinone reductases promotes resistance to oxidation and is needed for virulence. Therefore, in this study Zta1 was examined because it belongs to a structurally distinct family of quinone reductases that are highly conserved in eukaryotes and have been called the ζ-crystallins. The levels of Zta1 in rapidly increased after exposure to oxidants, consistent with a role in resisting oxidative stress. Accumulation of reactive oxygen species was significantly higher in cells lacking upon exposure to quinones and other oxidants. Furthermore, deletion of in a mutant lacking the four flavodoxin-like proteins, resulted in further increased susceptibility to quinones, indicating that these distinct quinone reductases work in combination. These results demonstrate that Zta1 contributes to survival after exposure to oxidative conditions, which increases the understanding of how resists stressful conditions in the host.