Effects of nitric oxide on the copper-responsive transcription factor Ace1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: cytotoxic and cytoprotective actions of nitric oxide

The Role of Nitric Oxide in the Growth and Development of Schizophyllum commune Under Anaerobic Conditions

Nitric oxide (NO) is a widely recognized signaling molecule found across various organisms, yet its specific effects on fungal growth and development under anaerobic conditions remain underexplored. This study investigates how NO influences the growth and development of Schizophyllum commune 20R-7-F01 under anaerobic environments. The results demonstrated an increase in endogenous NO levels during mycelial growth and basidiospore germination. The addition of cPTIO, a NO scavenger, inhibited mycelial growth, delayed basidiospore germination, and reduced the expression of genes involved in basidiospore germination, highlighting the critical role of NO in fungal growth and development. On the other hand, exogenous NO supplementation accelerated mycelial growth and facilitated the formation of primordia, suggesting NO's potential as a key regulator of fungal development. These findings deepen our understanding of NO's contribution to fungal growth in anaerobic conditions and offer new perspectives on its role as a signaling molecule in the development of S. commune communities, shedding light on the metabolic regulation of anaerobic microorganisms.

Nitric Oxide-Mediated Regulation of Chitinase Activity and Cadmium Sequestration in the Response of Schizophyllum commune to Cadmium Stress

Schizophyllum commune is an edible fungus with high medicinal value, but exposure to heavy-metal pollution poses significant health risks. Cadmium (Cd) toxicity inhibits fungal growth and leads to Cd accumulation in the mycelium. However, the regulatory mechanisms of Cd-induced growth inhibition and Cd accumulation remain poorly understood. Here, S. commune 20R-7-F01 was cultured in Cd-supplemented minimal medium (MM) to investigate the response of S. commune 20R-7-F01 to Cd exposure. We found that Cd exposure resulted in growth inhibition and a Cd-dependent increase in endogenous nitric oxide (NO) levels. NO production was primarily mediated by the nitrate reductase (NR) pathway. Cd-induced growth inhibition was alleviated by inhibiting NR activity or scavenging NO, highlighting the role of NO in stress responses. Furthermore, NO was found to enhance chitinase activity, thereby promoting Cd accumulation in the fungal cell wall and leading to growth inhibition. These results reveal a novel mechanism by which S. commune copes with Cd stress. This study highlights the potential of manipulating NO levels as a strategy to enhance fungal tolerance to heavy-metal pollution, providing a new avenue for managing environmental stresses in edible fungi and protecting human health.

Nitric Oxide in Fungi: Production and Function

Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized in all kingdoms of life, where it plays a role in the regulation of various physiological and developmental processes. In terms of endogenous NO biology, fungi have been less well researched than mammals, plants, and bacteria. In this review, we summarize and discuss the studies to date on intracellular NO biosynthesis and function in fungi. Two mechanisms for NO biosynthesis, NO synthase (NOS)-mediated arginine oxidation and nitrate- and nitrite-reductase-mediated nitrite reduction, are the most frequently reported. Furthermore, we summarize the multifaceted functions of NO in fungi as well as its role as a signaling molecule in fungal growth regulation, development, abiotic stress, virulence regulation, and metabolism. Finally, we present potential directions for future research on fungal NO biology.

Plasma Promotes Fungal Cellulase Production by Regulating the Levels of Intracellular NO and Ca2

For the industrial-scale production of useful enzymes by microorganisms, technological development is required for overcoming a technical bottleneck represented by poor efficiency in the induction of enzyme gene expression and secretion. In this study, we evaluated the potential of a non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet to improve the production efficiency of cellulolytic enzymes in Neurospora crassa, a filamentous fungus. The total activity of cellulolytic enzymes and protein concentration were significantly increased (1.1~1.2 times) in media containing Avicel 24-72 h after 2 and 5 min of plasma treatment. The mRNA levels of four cellulolytic enzymes in fungal hyphae grown in media with Avicel were significantly increased (1.3~17 times) 2-4 h after a 5 min of plasma treatment. The levels of intracellular NO and Ca2+ were increased in plasma-treated fungal hyphae grown in Avicel media after 48 h, and the removal of intracellular NO decreased the activity of cellulolytic enzymes in media and the level of vesicles in fungal hyphae. Our data suggest that plasma treatment can promote the transcription and secretion of cellulolytic enzymes into the culture media in the presence of Avicel (induction condition) by enhancing the intracellular level of NO and Ca2+.

The Importance of Nitric Oxide as the Molecular Basis of the Hydrogen Gas Fumigation-Induced Alleviation of Cd Stress on Ganoderma lucidum

Whether or not hydrogen gas (H₂) can reduce cadmium (Cd) toxicity in Ganoderma lucidum has remained largely unknown. Here, we report that Cd-induced growth inhibition in G. lucidum was significantly alleviated by H₂ fumigation or hydrogen-rich water (HRW), evaluated by lower oxidative damage and Cd accumulation. Moreover, the amelioration effects of H₂ fumigation were better than of HRW in an optimum concentration of H₂ under our experimental conditions. Further results showed that H₂-alleviated growth inhibition in G. lucidum was accompanied by increased nitric oxide (NO) level and nitrate reductase (NR) activity under Cd stress. On the other hand, the mitigation effects were reversed after removing endogenous NO with its scavenger cPTIO or inhibiting H₂-induced NR activity with sodium tungstate. The role of NO in H₂-alleviated growth inhibition under Cd stress was proved to be achieved through a restoration of redox balance, an increase in cysteine and proline contents, and a reduction in Cd accumulation. In summary, these results clearly revealed that NR-dependent NO might be involved in the H₂-alleviated Cd toxicity in G. lucidum through rebuilding redox homeostasis, increasing cysteine and proline levels, and reducing Cd accumulation. These findings may open a new window for H₂ application in Cd-stressed economically important fungi.

Nitrate reductase-dependent nitric oxide plays a key role on MeJA-induced ganoderic acid biosynthesis in Ganoderma lucidum

Ganoderma lucidum, which contains numerous biologically active compounds, is known worldwide as a medicinal basidiomycete. Because of its application for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, most of artificially cultivated G. lucidum is output to many countries as food, tea, and dietary supplements for further processing. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) has been reported as a compound that can induce ganoderic acid (GA) biosynthesis, an important secondary metabolite of G. lucidum. Herein, MeJA was found to increase the intracellular level of nitric oxide (NO). In addition, upregulation of GA biosynthesis in the presence of MeJA was abolished when NO was depleted from the culture. This result demonstrated that MeJA-regulated GA biosynthesis might occur via NO signaling. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, we used gene-silenced strains of nitrate reductase (NR) and the inhibitor of NR to illustrate the role of NO in MeJA induction. The results indicated that the increase in GA biosynthesis induced by MeJA was activated by NR-generated NO. Furthermore, the findings indicated that the reduction of NO could induce GA levels in the control group, but NO could also activate GA biosynthesis upon MeJA treatment. Further results indicated that NR silencing reversed the increased enzymatic activity of NOX to generate ROS due to MeJA induction. Importantly, our results highlight the NR-generated NO functions in signaling crosstalk between reactive oxygen species and MeJA. These results provide a good opportunity to determine the potential pathway linking NO to the ROS signaling pathway in fungi treated with MeJA. KEY POINTS: • MeJA increased the intracellular level of nitric oxide (NO) in G. lucidum. • The increase in GA biosynthesis induced by MeJA is activated by NR-generated NO. • NO acts as a signaling molecule between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and MeJA.

Modulation of Nitric Oxide Bioavailability Attenuates Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Type II Diabetes

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus increases the susceptibility of free tissue transplantations to ischemia-reperfusion injury. The aim of this study was to enhance nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability through exogenous NO synthase and the substrate L-arginine to attenuate ischemia reperfusion-induced alterations in a type 2 diabetes rodent model.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Sixty-four Wistar rats were divided into 8 experimental groups. Type 2 diabetes was established over 3 months with a combination of a high-fat diet and streptozotocin. A vascular pedicle isolated rat skin flap model that underwent 3 h of ischemia was used. At 30 min before ischemia, normal saline, endothelial NOSs (eNOSs), inducible NOSs, neuronal NOSs (1 and 2 IU), and L-arginine (50 mg/kg body weight) were administered by intravenous infusion alone or in combination. Ischemia-reperfusion-induced alterations were measured 5 days after the operation.

RESULTS

The three isoforms of NOS significantly increased the flap vitality rate (VR) between 20% and 28% as compared to the control group (3%). Sole L-arginine administration increased the VR to 33%. The combination of L-arginine with NOS resulted in a further increase in flap VRs (39%-50%). Best results were achieved with the combination of eNOS and L-arginine (50%). An increase in enzyme dosage led to decreased VRs in all NOS isoforms alone and even in combination with L-arginine.

CONCLUSION

Modulation of NO bioavailability through the exogenous application of NOSs and L-arginine significantly attenuated ischemia-reperfusion-induced alterations in a type 2 diabetic skin flap rat model. The combination of enzyme and substrate result in the highest VRs. Higher enzyme dosage seems to be less effective. This pharmacological preconditioning could be an easy and effective interventional strategy to support the conversion of L-arginine to NO in ischemic and in type 2 diabetic conditions.

Cultivable fungi from deep-sea oil reserves in the Gulf of Mexico: Genetic signatures in response to hydrocarbons

The estimation of oil spill effects on marine ecosystems is limited to the extent of our knowledge on the autochthonous biota. Fungi are involved in key ecological marine processes, representing a major component of post-spill communities. However, information on their functional capacities remains lacking. Herein we analyzed cultivable fungi from sediments in two oil-drilling regions of the Gulf of Mexico for their ability to tolerate and use hexadecane and 1-hexadecene as the sole carbon sources; and to evaluate gene expression profiles of key hydrocarbonoclastic taxa during utilization of these hydrocarbons. The isolated fungi showed differential sensitivity patterns towards the tested hydrocarbons under three different concentrations. Remarkably, six OTUs (Aureobasidium sp., Penicillium brevicompactum, Penicillium sp., Phialocephala sp., Cladosporium sp. 1 and 2) metabolized the tested alkane and alkene as the sole carbon sources, confirming that deep-sea fungal taxa are valuable genetic resources with potential use in bioremediation. RNA-seq results revealed distinctive gene expression profiles in the hydrocarbonoclastic fungus Penicillium sp. when using hexadecane and 1-hexadecene as the sole carbon sources, with up-regulation of genes involved in transmembrane transport, metabolism of six-carbons carbohydrates, and nitric oxide pathways.

Pharmaceutical Preconditioning With Nitric Oxide Synthase and L-Arginine in Ischemic Tissues

BACKGROUND

Nitric oxide (NO) is a multifunctional signaling molecule involved in regulating vascular tone and tissue oxygenation. It is also an important cytoprotective agent against ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Enhancing NO bioavailability via exogenous NO synthases (NOSs) and L-arginine promotes conversation to NO, circumventing the problem of nonfunctioning NOSs under hypoxic and acidic conditions. In this study, the authors evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of neuronal, inducible, and endothelial NOS and L-arginine on reperfusion-induced skin flap alterations.

METHODS

The vascular pedicle isolated rat skin flap model was used and underwent 3 hours of ischemia. At 30 minutes before ischemia, normal saline, endothelial-, inducible-, and neuronal NOSs (1/2 IU) and L-arginine (100 mg/kg body weight) were administered by means of intravenous infusion. The IRI-induced alterations were measured 5 days after the operation.

RESULTS

The 3 isoforms of NOS increased the flap vitality rate (VR) from 10% to 23% compared with the control group. L-Arginine treatment also increased the VR by approximately 15%. The combination of L-arginine with NOS resulted in even higher flap VRs. The best results could be achieved with the combination of endothelial NOS (2 IU) and L-arginine.

CONCLUSIONS

Modulation of NO bioavailability via exogenous application of NOSs and L-arginine significantly improved VRs in a skin flap rat model. This pharmacologic preconditioning has the potential to attenuate IRI-induced alterations in skin flaps.

Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase and L-Arginine Optimizes Nitric Oxide Bioavailability in Ischemic Tissues Under Diabetes Mellitus Type 1

BACKGROUND

The mechanisms influencing the balance of nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability in tissues are negatively affected under diabetic and also under ischemic conditions. Free tissue transplantation for diabetic patients has to deal with both ischemic and diabetic circumstances, which lead to a significantly decrease in providing NO, thus increasing ischemia-reperfusion injury. In previous studies, we could prove that enhancing NO bioavailability leads to attenuated ischemia-reperfusion injury macrocirculatory and microcirculatory alterations in healthy and also in diabetes type 2 rats. This study is evaluating the role of inducible nitric oxide synthase in different dosages and L-arginine under diabetes type 1 conditions.

METHODS

Diabetic type 1 conditions were established via streptozotocin over a period of 4 weeks and verified via blood sugar, insulin, and C-peptide levels. Vascular pedicle isolated rat skin flap model that underwent 3 hours of ischemia was used. At 30 minutes before ischemia, normal saline, inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) (1/2 IE), and L-arginine (50 mg/kg body weight) were administered systemically. Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced alterations were measured 5 days after the operation.

RESULTS

The inducible NOS (iNOS) attenuated I/R-induced alterations under diabetic type 1 conditions significantly with vitality rates of 16.1% compared with control group (5.5%). Best results could be achieved with the combination of iNOS (1 IE) and L-arginine displaying vitality rates of 43%. Increased dosage of inducible nitric oxide (2 IE) led to decreased vitality rates (22.2%/27.4% without/with L-arginine).

CONCLUSIONS

Supporting the mechanisms of NO bioavailability via exogenous application of iNOS and L-arginine significantly attenuated I/R-induced alterations in a skin flap rat model. This pharmacologic preconditioning could be an easy and effective interventional strategy to uphold conversation of L-arginine to NO even on ischemic and type 1 diabetic conditions.

Cross-talk between the Ras GTPase and the Hog1 survival pathways in response to nitrosative stress in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is a temperature-dependent dimorphic fungus that cause paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), the major systemic mycosis in Latin America. The capacity to evade the innate immune response of the host is due to P. brasiliensis ability to respond and to survive the nitrosative stress caused by phagocytic cells. However, the regulation of signal transduction pathways associated to nitrosative stress response are poorly understood. Ras GTPase play an important role in the various cellular events in many fungi. Ras, in its activated form (Ras-GTP), interacts with effector proteins and can initiate a kinase cascade. In this report, we investigated the role of Ras GTPase in P. brasiliensis after in vitro stimulus with nitric oxide (NO). We observed that low concentrations of NO induced cell proliferation in P. brasiliensis, while high concentrations promoted decrease in fungal viability, and both events were reversed in the presence of a NO scavenger. We observed that high levels of NO induced Ras activation and its S-nitrosylation. Additionally, we showed that Ras modulated the expression of antioxidant genes in response to nitrosative stress. We find that the Hog1 MAP kinase contributed to nitrosative stress response in P. brasiliensis in a Ras-dependent manner. Taken together, our data demonstrate the relationship between Ras-GTPase and Hog1 MAPK pathway allowing for the P. brasiliensis adaptation to nitrosative stress.

Nitric Oxide Signalling in Yeast

Nitric oxide (NO) is a cellular signalling molecule widely conserved among organisms, including microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts, and fungi, and higher eukaryotes such as plants and mammals. NO is mainly produced by the activities of NO synthase (NOS) or nitrite reductase (NIR). There are several NO detoxification systems, including NO dioxygenase (NOD) and S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR). NO homeostasis, based on the balance between NO synthesis and degradation, is important for regulating its physiological functions, since an excess of NO causes nitrosative stress due to the high reactivity of NO and NO-derived compounds. In yeast, NO may be involved in stress responses, but the role of NO and the mechanism underlying NO signalling are poorly understood due to the lack of mammalian NOS orthologs in the yeast genome. NOS and NIR activities have been observed in yeast cells, but the gene-encoding NOS and the mechanism by which NO production is catalysed by NIR remain unclear. On the other hand, yeast cells employ NOD and GSNOR to maintain intracellular redox balance following endogenous NO production, treatment with exogenous NO, or exposure to environmental stresses. This article reviews NO metabolism (synthesis, degradation) and its regulation in yeast. The physiological roles of NO in yeast, including the oxidative stress response, are also discussed. Such investigations into NO signalling are essential for understanding how NO modulates the genetics and physiology of yeast. In addition to being responsible for the pathology and pharmacology of various degenerative diseases, NO signalling may be a potential target for the construction and engineering of industrial yeast strains.

Nitric oxide-mediated antioxidative mechanism in yeast through the activation of the transcription factor Mac1

The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae possesses various defense mechanisms against environmental stresses that generate reactive oxygen species, leading to growth inhibition or cell death. Our recent study showed a novel antioxidative mechanism mediated by nitric oxide (NO) in yeast cells, but the mechanism underlying the oxidative stress tolerance remained unclear. We report here one of the downstream pathways of NO involved in stress-tolerance mechanism in yeast. Our microarray and real-time quantitative PCR analyses revealed that exogenous NO treatment induced the expression of genes responsible for copper metabolism under the control of the transcription factor Mac1, including the CTR1 gene encoding high-affinity copper transporter. Our ChIP analysis also demonstrated that exogenous NO enhances the binding of Mac1 to the promoter region of target genes. Interestingly, we found that NO produced under high-temperature stress conditions increased the transcription level of the CTR1 gene. Furthermore, NO produced during exposure to high temperature also increased intracellular copper content, the activity of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase Sod1, and cell viability after exposure to high-temperature in a manner dependent on Mac1. NO did not affect the expression of the MAC1 gene, indicating that NO activates Mac1 through its post-translational modification. Based on the results shown here, we propose a novel NO-mediated antioxidative mechanism that Mac1 activated by NO induces the CTR1 gene, leading to an increase in cellular copper level, and then Cu(I) activates Sod1. This is the first report to unveil the mechanism of NO-dependent antioxidative system in yeast.

Nitric oxide: an effective weapon of the plant or the pathogen?

An explosion of research in plant nitric oxide (NO) biology during the last two decades has revealed that NO is a key signal involved in plant development, abiotic stress responses and plant immunity. During the course of evolutionary changes, microorganisms parasitizing plants have developed highly effective offensive strategies, in which NO also seems to be implicated. NO production has been demonstrated in several plant pathogens, including fungi, but the origin of NO seems to be as puzzling as in plants. So far, published studies have been spread over multiple species of pathogenic microorganisms in various developmental stages; however, the data clearly indicate that pathogen-derived NO is an important regulatory molecule involved not only in developmental processes, but also in pathogen virulence and its survival in the host. This review also focuses on the search for potential mechanisms by which pathogens convert NO messages into a physiological response or detoxify both endo- and exogenous NO. Finally, taking into account the data available from model bacteria and yeast, a basic draft for the mode of NO action in phytopathogenic microorganisms is proposed.

Nitric oxide is involved in the regulation of trehalose accumulation under heat stress in Pleurotus eryngii var. tuoliensis

Little is known about the mechanism of how trehalose responds to various abiotic stresses although trehalose is considered as an important protectant in fungi. We investigated the role of nitric oxide (NO) in regulating trehalose accumulation during heat stress in Pleurotus eryngii var. tuoliensis. The addition of 100 or 200 g trehalose/l significantly inhibited the production of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance under heat stress in mycelial cells. High temperature induced endogenous trehalose accumulation and sodium nitroprusside, a NO donor, further enhanced trehalose accumulation. Finally, heat-induced trehalose accumulation could be arrested by the NO scavenger, 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-imidazoline-1-1-oxyl-3-oxide, at 250 μM by inhibiting the transcription of trehalose phosphate synthase gene. Thus NO plays an important role in the regulation of trehalose accumulation during abiotic stresses in P. eryngii var. tuoliensis.

Inhibition of yeast glycolysis by nitroxyl (HNO): mechanism of HNO toxicity and implications to HNO biology

Nitroxyl (HNO) was found to inhibit glycolysis in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The toxicity of HNO in yeast positively correlated with the dependence of yeast on glycolysis for cellular energy. HNO was found to potently inhibit the crucial glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), an effect which is likely to be responsible for the observed inhibition of glycolysis in whole cell preparations. It is proposed that GAPDH inhibition occurs through reaction of HNO with the active site thiolate residue of GAPDH. Significantly, levels of HNO that inhibit GAPDH do not alter the levels or redox status of intracellular glutathione (GSH), indicating that HNO has thiol selectivity. The ability of HNO to inhibit GAPDH in an intracellular environment that contains relatively large concentrations of GSH is an important aspect of HNO pharmacology and possibly, physiology.

How does yeast respond to pressure?

The brewing and baking yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been used as a model for stress response studies of eukaryotic cells. In this review we focus on the effect of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) on S. cerevisiae. HHP exerts a broad effect on yeast cells characteristic of common stresses, mainly associated with protein alteration and lipid bilayer phase transition. Like most stresses, pressure induces cell cycle arrest. Below 50 MPa (500 atm) yeast cell morphology is unaffected whereas above 220 MPa wild-type cells are killed. S. cerevisiae cells can acquire barotolerance if they are pretreated with a sublethal stress due to temperature, ethanol, hydrogen peroxide, or pressure. Nevertheless, pressure only leads to protection against severe stress if, after pressure pretreatment, the cells are also re-incubated at room pressure. We attribute this effect to the inhibition of the protein synthesis apparatus under HHP. The global genome expression analysis of S. cerevisiae cells submitted to HHP revealed a stress response profile. The majority of the up-regulated genes are involved in stress defense and carbohydrate metabolism while most repressed genes belong to the cell cycle progression and protein synthesis categories. However, the signaling pathway involved in the pressure response is still to be elucidated. Nitric oxide, a signaling molecule involved in the regulation of a large number of cellular functions, confers baroprotection. Furthermore, S. cerevisiae cells in the early exponential phase submitted to 50-MPa pressure show induction of the expression level of the nitric oxide synthase inducible isoform. As pressure becomes an important biotechnological tool, studies concerning this kind of stress in microorganisms are imperative.

Yeast Model Systems for Examining Nitrogen Oxide Biochemistry/Signaling

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an ideal model system for examining fundamental nitrogen oxide biochemistry. The utility of this model system lies in both the similarities and the differences between yeast and mammalian cells. The similarities between the two systems, with regards to many of the fundamental biochemical processes, allow studies in yeast to be extrapolated to mammalian systems. On the other hand, yeast has distinct differences that allow, for example, the facile examination of O2, pH, and genetic dependencies on a number of nitrogen oxide-mediated processes. Thus, the yeast system is amenable to experimentation that is otherwise problematic or impossible in mammalian systems. Herein, we present several examples of the utility of the yeast model system for studying the intimate details of basic nitrogen oxide biochemistry.

Nitrosative stress and transcription

Low NO concentrations synthesized by constitutively expressed NO synthases act on several signaling pathways activating transcription factors (TF), such as NF-kappaB or AP-1, and thereby influence gene expression. In contrast, during inflammatory reactions the inducible NO synthase produces NO for prolonged periods of time. The resulting nitrosative stress directly affects redox-sensitive TF like NF-kappaB, AP-1, Oct-1, c-Myb, or zinc finger-containing TF, but also additional mechanisms have been identified. Nitrosative stress in some cases induces expression of TF (AP-1, p53), indirectly modulates activity or stability of TF (HIF-1, p53) or their inhibitors (NF-kappaB), or modulates accessibility of promoters via increased DNA methylation or histone deacetylation. Depending on the promoter the result is induced, increased, decreased or even totally inhibited expression of various target genes. In unstimulated cells nitrosative stress increases NF-kappaB- or AP-1-dependent transcription, while in activated cells nitrosative stress rather abolishes NF-kappaB- or AP-1-dependent transcription. Sometimes the oxygen concentration also is of prime importance, since under normoxic conditions nitrosative stress activates HIF-1-dependent transcription, while under hypoxic conditions nitrosative stress leads to inhibition of HIF-1-dependent transcription. This review summarizes what is known about effects of physiological NO levels as well as of nitrosative stress on transcription.

Role of nitric oxide in the response of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells to heat shock and high hydrostatic pressure

Nitric oxide (NO) is a simple and unique molecule that has diverse functions in organisms, including intracellular and intercellular messenger. The influence of NO on cell growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and as a signal molecule in stress response was evaluated. Respiring cells were more sensitive to an increase in intracellular NO concentration than fermentatively growing cells. Low levels of NO demonstrated a cytoprotective effect during stress from heat-shock or high hydrostatic pressure. Induction of NO synthase was isoform-specific and dependent on the metabolic state of the cells and the stress response pathway. These results support the hypothesis that an increase in intracellular NO concentration leads to stress protection.

Metal response element (MRE)-binding transcription factor-1 (MTF-1): structure, function, and regulation

Metal-responsive control of the expression of genes involved in metal metabolism and metal homeostasis allows an organism to tightly regulate the free or bioavailable concentration of beneficial metal ions, such as zinc, copper, and iron, within an acceptable range, while efficiently removing nonbeneficial or toxic metals. Emerging evidence also suggests that metal homeostasis is intimately coupled to the oxidative stress response in many cell types. The expression of genes that encode metallothioneins in all vertebrate cells is strongly induced by potentially toxic concentrations of zinc and cadmium, as well as in response to strong oxidizing agents, including hydrogen peroxide. This induction requires a cis-acting DNA element, termed a metal response element (MRE), and MRE-binding transcription factor-1 (MTF-1), a Cys2-His2 zinc finger protein. This review summarizes recent progress that has been made toward understanding the structure, function, and metalloregulation of mammalian MTF-1.

The role of oxygen and reduced oxygen species in nitric oxide-mediated cytotoxicity: studies in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae model system

The cytotoxicity of nitric oxide (NO) is well established, yet the mechanism(s) of its cytotoxicity is (are) still undefined and a matter of significant interest and speculation. Many of the previously proposed mechanisms for NO-mediated cytotoxicity involve interactions between NO and molecular oxygen (O(2)) and/or O(2)-derived species such as O(-)(2) and H(2)O(2). The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae represents a useful model system for evaluating the role of O(2) and O(2)-derived species in NO-mediated cytotoxicity. This study examines the contribution of O(2) and O(2)-derived species to NO-mediated cytotoxicity in the yeast S. cerevisiae. NO-mediated cytotoxicity was determined to be O(2)-dependent. However, this O(2) dependence was only minimally due to the generation of O(2)-derived species such as O(-)(2) and/or H(2)O(2).