Cdc73 is a major regulator of apoptosis-inducing factor 1 expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae via H3K36 methylation

FEBS Lett. 2024 Mar;598(6):658-669. doi: 10.1002/1873-3468.14847. Epub 2024 Mar 11.

Abstract

Apoptosis-inducing factor 1 (AIF1) overexpression is intimately linked to the sensitivity of yeast cells towards hydrogen peroxide or acetic acid. Therefore, studying the mechanism of AIF1 regulation in the cell would provide a significant understanding of the factors guiding yeast apoptosis. In this report, we show the time-dependent induction of AIF1 under hydrogen peroxide stress. Additionally, we find that AIF1 expression in response to hydrogen peroxide is mediated by two transcription factors, Yap5 (DNA binding) and Cdc73 (non-DNA binding). Furthermore, substituting the H3K36 residue with another amino acid significantly abrogates AIF1 expression. However, substituting the lysine (K) in H3K4 or H3K79 with alanine (A) does not affect AIF1 expression level under hydrogen peroxide stress. Altogether, reduced AIF1 expression in cdc73Δ is plausibly due to reduced H3K36me3 levels in the cells.

Keywords: AIF1; histone modifications; hydrogen peroxide; transcription factors.

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis Inducing Factor / genetics
  • Apoptosis Inducing Factor / metabolism
  • Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / metabolism
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / pharmacology
  • Methylation
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins* / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins* / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae* / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Apoptosis Inducing Factor
  • Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Yap5 protein, S cerevisiae
  • AIF1 protein, S cerevisiae