Yno1p/Aim14p, a NADPH-oxidase ortholog, controls extramitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation, apoptosis, and actin cable formation in yeast

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 May 29;109(22):8658-63. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1201629109. Epub 2012 May 14.

Abstract

The large protein superfamily of NADPH oxidases (NOX enzymes) is found in members of all eukaryotic kingdoms: animals, plants, fungi, and protists. The physiological functions of these NOX enzymes range from defense to specialized oxidative biosynthesis and to signaling. In filamentous fungi, NOX enzymes are involved in signaling cell differentiation, in particular in the formation of fruiting bodies. On the basis of bioinformatics analysis, until now it was believed that the genomes of unicellular fungi like Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe do not harbor genes coding for NOX enzymes. Nevertheless, the genome of S. cerevisiae contains nine ORFs showing sequence similarity to the catalytic subunits of mammalian NOX enzymes, only some of which have been functionally assigned as ferric reductases involved in iron ion transport. Here we show that one of the nine ORFs (YGL160W, AIM14) encodes a genuine NADPH oxidase, which is located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and produces superoxide in a NADPH-dependent fashion. We renamed this ORF YNO1 (yeast NADPH oxidase 1). Overexpression of YNO1 causes YCA1-dependent apoptosis, whereas deletion of the gene makes cells less sensitive to apoptotic stimuli. Several independent lines of evidence point to regulation of the actin cytoskeleton by reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by Yno1p.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Apoptosis*
  • Caspases / genetics
  • Caspases / metabolism
  • Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / enzymology
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Microscopy, Phase-Contrast
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • NADPH Oxidases / classification
  • NADPH Oxidases / genetics
  • NADPH Oxidases / metabolism*
  • Open Reading Frames / genetics
  • Phylogeny
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism*
  • Superoxides / metabolism

Substances

  • Actins
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Superoxides
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • NADPH Oxidases
  • Caspases
  • MCA1 protein, S cerevisiae