Sensitivity of yeast to lithium chloride connects the activity of YTA6 and YPR096C to translation of structured mRNAs

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 15; no. 7; p. e0235033
• Main Authors: Hajikarimlou, Maryam, Moteshareie, Houman, Omidi, Katayoun, Hooshyar, Mohsen, Shaikho, Sarah, Kazmirchuk, Tom, Burnside, Daniel, Takallou, Sarah, Zare, Narges, Jagadeesan, Sasi Kumar, Puchacz, Nathalie, Babu, Mohan, Smith, Myron, Holcik, Martin, Samanfar, Bahram, Golshani, Ashkan, Lustig, Arthur J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Francisco Public Library of Science 08.07.2020; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Amino acids; Biology; Biology and Life Sciences; Carbon sources; Cellular structure; E coli; Galactose; Galactose metabolism; Gene expression; Genes; Genetic aspects; Glucose; Growth disorders; Health aspects; Kinases; Lithium; Lithium chloride; Lithium chlorides; Lithium compounds; Metabolism; Metabolites; Mode of action; mRNA; Phenotypes; Phosphoglucomutase; Physical Sciences; Physiological aspects; Plasmids; Proteins; R&D; Research & development; Research and Analysis Methods; Risk factors; Sensitivity; Sensitivity analysis; Signal transduction; Toxicity; Translation; Y chromosomes; Yeast; Yeasts; Yeasts (Fungi); Canada; Ottawa Ontario Canada
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235033

Lithium Chloride (LiCl) toxicity, mode of action and cellular responses have been the subject of active investigations over the past decades. In yeast, LiCl treatment is reported to reduce the activity and alters the expression of PGM2, a gene that encodes a phosphoglucomutase involved in sugar metabolism. Reduced activity of phosphoglucomutase in the presence of galactose causes an accumulation of intermediate metabolites of galactose metabolism leading to a number of phenotypes including growth defect. In the current study, we identify two understudied yeast genes, YTA6 and YPR096C that when deleted, cell sensitivity to LiCl is increased when galactose is used as a carbon source. The 5'-UTR of PGM2 mRNA is structured. Using this region, we show that YTA6 and YPR096C influence the translation of PGM2 mRNA.