Expression of a glutamate decarboxylase homologue is required for normal oxidative stress tolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

J Biol Chem. 2001 Jan 5;276(1):244-50. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M007103200.

Abstract

The action of gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA) as an intercellular signaling molecule has been intensively studied, but the role of this amino acid metabolite in intracellular metabolism is poorly understood. In this work, we identify a Saccharomyces cerevisiae homologue of the GABA-producing enzyme glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) that is required for normal oxidative stress tolerance. A high copy number plasmid bearing the glutamate decarboxylase gene (GAD1) increases resistance to two different oxidants, H(2)O(2) and diamide, in cells that contain an intact glutamate catabolic pathway. Structural similarity of the S. cerevisiae GAD to previously studied plant enzymes was demonstrated by the cross-reaction of the yeast enzyme to a antiserum directed against the plant GAD. The yeast GAD also bound to calmodulin as did the plant enzyme, suggesting a conservation of calcium regulation of this protein. Loss of either gene encoding the downstream steps in the conversion of glutamate to succinate reduced oxidative stress tolerance in normal cells and was epistatic to high copy number GAD1. The gene encoding succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase (UGA5) was identified and found to be induced by H(2)O(2) exposure. Together, these data strongly suggest that increases in activity of the glutamate catabolic pathway can act to buffer redox changes in the cell.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Calmodulin / metabolism
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Diamide / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial
  • Gene Dosage
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic* / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / drug effects
  • Genes, Fungal / genetics
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase / chemistry
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase / genetics*
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase / metabolism*
  • Glutamic Acid / metabolism
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / pharmacology
  • Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase / genetics
  • Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oxidants / pharmacology
  • Oxidative Stress*
  • Protein Binding
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / drug effects
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / enzymology*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / metabolism
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / pharmacology

Substances

  • Calmodulin
  • Oxidants
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Diamide
  • Glutamic Acid
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • succinate semialdehyde reductase
  • Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase