Acidic stress induces the formation of P-bodies, but not stress granules, with mild attenuation of bulk translation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Biochem J. 2012 Sep 1;446(2):225-33. doi: 10.1042/BJ20120583.

Abstract

The stress response of eukaryotic cells often causes an attenuation of bulk translation activity and the accumulation of non-translating mRNAs into cytoplasmic mRNP (messenger ribonucleoprotein) granules termed cytoplasmic P-bodies (processing bodies) and SGs (stress granules). We examined effects of acidic stress on the formation of mRNP granules compared with other forms of stress such as glucose deprivation and a high Ca²⁺ level in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Treatment with lactic acid clearly caused the formation of P-bodies, but not SGs, and also caused an attenuation of translation initiation, albeit to a lesser extent than glucose depletion. P-body formation was also induced by hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid. However, lactic acid in SD (synthetic dextrose) medium with a pH greater than 3.0, propionic acid and acetic acid did not induce P-body formation. The results of the present study suggest that the assembly of yeast P-bodies can be induced by external conditions with a low pH and the threshold was around pH 2.5. The P-body formation upon acidic stress required Scd6 (suppressor of clathrin deficiency 6), a component of P-bodies, indicating that P-bodies induced by acidic stress have rules of assembly different from those induced by glucose deprivation or high Ca²⁺ levels.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carboxylic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Clathrin / metabolism
  • Cytoplasmic Granules / drug effects*
  • Cytoplasmic Granules / metabolism
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism
  • Food Preservatives / pharmacology*
  • Fungicides, Industrial / pharmacology*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Microbial Viability / drug effects
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Osmolar Concentration
  • Polyribosomes / drug effects
  • Polyribosomes / metabolism
  • Protein Biosynthesis / drug effects
  • RNA Cap-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis
  • RNA Cap-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA Cap-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • RNA, Fungal / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Ribonucleoproteins / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / drug effects*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism
  • Stress, Physiological

Substances

  • Carboxylic Acids
  • Clathrin
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Food Preservatives
  • Fungicides, Industrial
  • RNA Cap-Binding Proteins
  • RNA, Fungal
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Ribonucleoproteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins