High levels of catalase in sod mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in high aeration conditions

Altos níveis de catalase em mutantes sod de Saccharomyces cerevisiae em condições de alta aeração

Abstracts

Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants deficient in superoxide dismutase genes (sod1delta, sod2delta and sod1deltasod2delta mutants) in a stationary phase of growth under high aeration conditions were subjected to H2O2 stress. All the mutants were sensitive after H2O2 treatment. Glutathione peroxidase levels were significantly lower in sod1delta and sod2delta single mutants than in the wild-type without treatment. After exposure to H2O2 concentrations, glutathione peroxidase levels were increased in sod1deltasod2delta double mutants and the sod2delta single mutant, while sod1delta maintained lower gluthatione peroxidase activities. The sod2delta mutant demonstrated a similar catalase activity to that of the wild-type without treatment, whilst decreased catalase activity was observed in conditions of low aeration. Untreated sod1deltasod2delta double mutant cells presented a lower catalase activity. Catalase levels were higher under high aeration conditions than under microaerophilic conditions, including in sod1deltasod2delta cells that contain less H2O2, since SOD catalyzes the cleavage of superoxide producing H2O2 and oxygen. We suggest that catalase is not essential for sod mutants under normal conditions, but plays an important role in the acquisition of tolerance to oxidative stress induced by high aeration

catalase; superoxide dismutase; high aeration; hydrogen peroxide; S. cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiae deficientes nos genes da superóxido dismutase (mutantes sod1delta, sod2deltae sod1deltasod2delta) cultivados em fase estacionária sob condições de alta aeração foram submetidos ao estresse com peróxido de hidrogênio (H2O2). Todos os mutantes mostraram-se sensíveis após o tratamento com o H2O2. A enzima glutationa peroxidase (GPx) apresentou níveis significativamente mais baixos nos simples mutantes sod1D e sod2delta que na cepa selvagem sem tratamento. Após, a exposição a diferentes concentrações de H2O2, os níveis da glutationa peroxidase aumentaram no duplo mutante sod1deltasod2delta e no simples mutante sod2delta, enquanto o mutante sod1delta manteve baixa atividade da glutationa peroxidase. O mutante sod2delta demonstrou atividade da catalase similar a da cepa selvagem sem tratamento, enquanto foi observado que a atividade da catalase decresceu em condições de baixa aeração. O duplo mutante sod1deltasod2delta apresentou baixa atividade da catalase mesmo sem tratamento. Os níveis da catalase foram maiores em condições de alta aeração do que em condições microaerófilas, inclusive o duplo mutante sod1deltasod2delta contém menos H2O2, visto que, a SOD catalisa a clivagem do superóxido produzindo H2O2 e oxigênio. Nós sugerimos neste trabalho que a catalase não é essencial para os mutantes sod sob condições normais, mas ela participa de uma importante via na aquisição da tolerância ao estresse oxidativo induzido por condições de alta aeração.

catalase; superóxido dismutase; alta aeração; peróxido de hidrogênio; S. cerevisiae

MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY

High levels of catalase in sod mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in high aeration conditions

Altos níveis de catalase em mutantes sod de Saccharomyces cerevisiae em condições de alta aeração

Vanessa Martins^I,II; Vanusa Manfredini^II; Mara Silveira Benfato^I,II*

^IDepartamento de Biofísica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brasil

^IIPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brasil

ABSTRACT

Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants deficient in superoxide dismutase genes (sod1D, sod2D and sod1Dsod2D mutants) in a stationary phase of growth under high aeration conditions were subjected to H₂O₂ stress. All the mutants were sensitive after H₂O₂ treatment. Glutathione peroxidase levels were significantly lower in sod1D and sod2D single mutants than in the wild-type without treatment. After exposure to H₂O₂ concentrations, glutathione peroxidase levels were increased in sod1Dsod2D double mutants and the sod2D single mutant, while sod1D maintained lower gluthatione peroxidase activities. The sod2D mutant demonstrated a similar catalase activity to that of the wild-type without treatment, whilst decreased catalase activity was observed in conditions of low aeration. Untreated sod1Dsod2D double mutant cells presented a lower catalase activity. Catalase levels were higher under high aeration conditions than under microaerophilic conditions, including in sod1Dsod2D cells that contain less H₂O₂, since SOD catalyzes the cleavage of superoxide producing H₂O₂ and oxygen. We suggest that catalase is not essential for sod mutants under normal conditions, but plays an important role in the acquisition of tolerance to oxidative stress induced by high aeration.

Key words: catalase, superoxide dismutase, high aeration, hydrogen peroxide, S. cerevisiae

RESUMO

Saccharomyces cerevisiae deficientes nos genes da superóxido dismutase (mutantes sod1D, sod2De sod1Dsod2D) cultivados em fase estacionária sob condições de alta aeração foram submetidos ao estresse com peróxido de hidrogênio (H₂O₂). Todos os mutantes mostraram-se sensíveis após o tratamento com o H₂O₂. A enzima glutationa peroxidase (GPx) apresentou níveis significativamente mais baixos nos simples mutantes sod1D e sod2D que na cepa selvagem sem tratamento. Após, a exposição a diferentes concentrações de H₂O₂, os níveis da glutationa peroxidase aumentaram no duplo mutante sod1Dsod2D e no simples mutante sod2D, enquanto o mutante sod1D manteve baixa atividade da glutationa peroxidase. O mutante sod2D demonstrou atividade da catalase similar a da cepa selvagem sem tratamento, enquanto foi observado que a atividade da catalase decresceu em condições de baixa aeração. O duplo mutante sod1Dsod2D apresentou baixa atividade da catalase mesmo sem tratamento. Os níveis da catalase foram maiores em condições de alta aeração do que em condições microaerófilas, inclusive o duplo mutante sod1Dsod2D contém menos H₂O₂, visto que, a SOD catalisa a clivagem do superóxido produzindo H₂O₂ e oxigênio. Nós sugerimos neste trabalho que a catalase não é essencial para os mutantes sod sob condições normais, mas ela participa de uma importante via na aquisição da tolerância ao estresse oxidativo induzido por condições de alta aeração.

Palavras-chave: catalase, superóxido dismutase, alta aeração, peróxido de hidrogênio, S. cerevisiae

INTRODUCTION

The reduction of oxygen to water supplies the necessary energy for the several functions of our organism. The incomplete reduction of oxygen to water during respiration, however, leads to the formation of redox-active oxygen species (ROS) such as the superoxide anion radical (O₂•), the hydroxyl radical (•OH) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) (2). Studies suggest that mitochondrial respiration is a major source of ROS in vivo, as has been shown in vitro, and that these species are produced even under low aeration (7). These ROS have been shown to cause critical damage to DNA, protein and cellular membranes (6).

To defend the organism against ROS, the cell possesses antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Catalase, known to be one of the most efficient enzymes, reacts with H₂O₂ to form water and molecular oxygen. Glutathione peroxidase removes hydroperoxides (ROOH and H₂O₂) by coupling its reduction to H₂O with oxidation of reduced glutathione (GSH). Superoxide dismutase removes superoxide by converting it to peroxide that can, in turn, be destroyed by CAT or GPx reactions (10).

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, like most other eukaryotes, contains CuZnSOD (the product of the SOD1 gene) in the cytosol, nucleus, and lysosomes and MnSOD (the product of the SOD2 gene) in the mitochondrial matrix.

MnSOD is believed to be the major means of protection against mitochondrial superoxide (4). The sources of ROS relevant to CuZnSOD are less clear because of the location of this enzyme within the cytosol. Neither MnSOD nor CuZnSOD is strictly essential; however, the loss of CuZnSOD has dramatic phenotypic consequences in yeast. Yeast strains lacking CuZnSOD (sod1D) show reduced growth rates in glycerol and ethanol, auxotrophy for lysine and methionine or cysteine, a higher rate of spontaneous mutation and more rapid loss of viability in the stationary phase (3,7,9). sod2D mutants are oxygen-sensitive and, when required to utilize oxygen, grow poorly. The most severely affected are the sod1Dsod2D double mutants exhibiting essentially all the characteristics of the single mutant phenotypes.

Growth of a yeast culture consists of three stages. First, there is a period of rapid logarithmic growth, where metabolism is primarily glycolytic. As the glucose is consumed, the culture switches to respiratory growth (known as the diauxic shift) and then to a stationary phase during which energy is generated primarily in the mitochondria. In the stationary phase, yeast stop dividing and exhibit lower metabolic rates, increased antioxidant defenses and are able to survive for weeks to months without additional nutrients (8).

Previous studies performed in our laboratory evaluated the activities of the antioxidant enzymes (CAT and GPx) and the sensibility of the sod mutants to H₂O₂ in microaerophilic conditions (9). The highest sensitivity to H₂O₂ was observed in the sod2D mutant, while the sod1Dsod2D double mutant was not sensitive. sod mutants had lower catalase activity (44%) than wild-type cells, independent of H₂O₂ stress. Untreated cells of sod1Dsod2D double mutant showed increased glutathione peroxidase activity (126%), while sod1D had lower activity (77%) than the wild-type. These results suggest that the resistance to H₂O₂ by sod1Dsod2D cells depends on the induction of glutathione peroxidase and is independent of catalase in stationary phase and microaerophilic conditions (9). Because the level of oxygen modifies the concentration of ROS in the cell, the present investigation intends to evaluate the alterations occurring in the mechanisms of antioxidant defense of the yeast in conditions of high aeration, making a comparison with the results obtained in microaerophilic conditions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The wild-type S. cerevisiae strain, EG103, and the isogenic mutant strains, sod1D, sod2D and sod1Dsod2D were kindly provided by Dr. E. Gralla (University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA). Disruption of the SOD1 and SOD2 genes was performed as described previously (3,6). The relevant genotypes of the strains are listed in Table 1.

Media and growth conditions

Yeast strains were grown at 30º;C in YPD liquid medium containing 2% glucose, 1% yeast extract and 2% bacto-peptone. The flask volume/medium ratio was 5:1 (high aeration conditions) and flasks were shaken at 200 rpm. For solid medium, 2% agar was added (12). The cell lines lacking CuZnSOD were continually monitored for suppressor activity (3,7).

Hydrogen peroxide treatment

Yeast cells were grown to the stationary phase (1-2 x 10⁸ cell/mL) in YPD medium at 30º;C. Cells were harvested and washed in sterile saline (0.9% NaCl) and the cell pellets were resuspended in saline and treated with increasing concentrations of H₂O₂ (0.5-5.0 mM) at 30º;C for 1h.

For dose-response curves, aliquots of cells were diluted in saline and plated in triplicate onto YPD to obtain viable counts after 3-5 days of growth at 30º;C.

Enzyme activities

Crude extracts were prepared by glass beads lysis as follows: cells were suspended in lysis buffer (50 mM Tris, 150 mM NaCl, 50 mM EDTA, and 0.2 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride pH 7.2) with an equal volume of acid washed 425-600 mm glass beads, vortexed for 10-15 cycles (30s each), followed by 30s of cooling. The mixture was then microcentrifuged for 2 min to remove the cellular debris and glass beads (7).

CAT activity was determined spectrophotometrically by monitoring the disappearance of H₂O₂ at 240 nm (13). GPx activity was determined by monitoring the NADPH consumption rate at 340 nm (11). Protein concentration was determined by the Bradford assay (1).

Statistical analysis

Results are reported as means ± SD and were analyzed by the Student's t test. Values of P<0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Wild-type and sod null mutant cultures in the stationary phase of growth under high aeration conditions were treated with increasing levels of H₂O₂ for 1h at 30º;C under non-growth conditions (Fig. 1). All the mutants were sensitive to the treatment with H₂O₂. The sod2D single mutant and the sod1Dsod2D double mutant were the most sensitive in relation to the isogenic parent strain. Under microaerophilic conditions, the sensivity of the sod1Dsod2D double mutant was indistinguishable from that of the wild type (9).

Evaluating the CAT activity (Fig. 2), it was demonstrated that without treatment the sod2D mutant showed similar CAT activity levels to those of the wild-type. In contrast, under low aeration conditions decreased CAT activity was observed in simple and double mutants (Table 2). The sod1Dsod2D double mutant, without treatment, presented the lowest levels of CAT, maintaining these low levels after the treatment with H₂O₂ in high aeration (Fig. 2). Under microaerophilic conditions (9), the CAT activity profile was similar, with the sod1Dsod2D double mutant presenting the lowest enzymatic induction (5 mM H₂O₂, 11.7%). Conversely, the sod2D single mutant, after H₂O₂ treatment in high aeration, demonstrated the CAT highest activity compared to the wild-type (Fig. 2). A different result was observed in the sod1D mutant, which initially presented a lower enzymatic activity to that of SOD+, but after treatment demonstrated similar levels of induction to those of the wild-type (Fig. 2). Interestingly, the CAT levels under high aeration were much higher than under microaerophilic conditions (Table 2), suggesting that this modification in the aeration level, during the growth of the yeast, induces an increase in the H₂O₂ concentration. Surprisingly, the highest CAT level was also observed in the sod1Dsod2D double mutant (188% in the control), although this level was significantly lower than that of the wild-type (278% in the control). sod1Dsod2D double mutant cells contain less H₂O₂ (5) since SOD catalyzes the cleavage of superoxide, producing H₂O₂ and oxygen. With regard to GPx activity, the sod1Dsod2D double mutant, without treatment, presented similar enzymatic levels to those of the wild-type (Fig. 3, Table 1). After the treatment, this mutant presented the highest GPx activity in comparison with the same untreated cells (1.0 and 5.0 mM H₂O₂). After H₂O₂ treatment, GPx levels were significantly increased when exposed to 0.5-1.0 mM H₂O₂ in the sod2D,while sod1Dmaintained lower GPx activities. However, the high levels of enzymatic activity are not capable of providing these mutants with resistance against H₂O₂, since they were affected in the sensibility test.

Evaluating the GPx activity without treatment, it was demonstrated that the enzymatic levels are much greater under high aeration conditions, as also seen with the CAT enzymatic levels (Table 2). The CAT levels were, on average, 200% greater under high aeration, whilst the activity of GPx was increased by 80% compared to the microaerophilic conditions values. The oxidative stress in stationary cultures of yeast may be the consequence of the improved availability of oxygen to the cells, due to a decreased metabolism. Metabolically active cells intensively consume oxygen under conditions of limited aeration, which may lead to low oxygen concentrations within the cells. In stationary cultures, the metabolism is considerably attenuated and, as such, the oxygen concentration within cells may be higher. One-electron reactions of autoxidation-prone cellular components may produce superoxide and, in turn, other reactive oxygen species. The increase in the levels of antioxidant enzymes in yeast entering the stationary phase may, therefore, constitute an adaptative response to the enhanced oxidative damage. In this study, the increase in CAT and GPx activities may also represent a stress response generated by high aeration. These results suggest that catalase is not essential for yeast cells under normal conditions of aeration in these cells, while GPx activities are more important under low aeration conditions.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to Dr. C. R. Carlini and J.A.P. Henriques for generously providing equipment. This work was supported by grants from PROPESQ-UFRGS.

Submitted: February 18, 2005; Returned to authors for corrections: May 27, 2005; Approved: November 03, 2005

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  10 May 2006
• Date of issue
  Dec 2005

History

• Accepted
  03 Nov 2005
• Received
  18 Feb 2005
• Reviewed
  27 May 2005