Preprint / Version 1

Mitogen-activated protein kinase Hog1 is activated in response to curcumin exposure in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Authors

  • Gajendra Azad Laboratory of Chromatin Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal, 462023 India
  • Vikash Singh Laboratory of Chromatin Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal, 462023 India
  • Mayur Thakare Laboratory of Chromatin Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal, 462023 India
  • Shivani Baranwal Laboratory of Chromatin Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal, 462023 India
  • Raghuvir Tomar Laboratory of Chromatin Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal, 462023 India

Keywords:

Yeast drug response, Curcumin, HOG pathway, Hog1 phosphorylation, Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 1 (GPD1), Mitogen-activated protein kinases

Abstract

Curcumin (CUR), an active polyphenol derived from the spice turmeric, has been traditionally used for centuries in ancient Indian medicine to treat a number of diseases. The physiological effects of CUR have been shown to be diverse; however, the target molecules and pathways that CUR affects have yet to be fully described. Results Here, we demonstrate for the first time that the budding yeast mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) Hog1 is essential for the response to CUR. Moreover, CUR-induced Hog1 phosphorylation was rescued by supplementation of iron to the growth medium. Hog1 was rapidly phosphorylated upon CUR treatment, but unlike the response to hyperosmotic shock (0.8 M NaCl), it remains activated for an extended period of time. A detailed analysis of HOG pathway mutants revealed that Pbs2p, Ptc2p, and Ssk2p are required for optimal CUR-induced Hog1 phosphorylation. We also observed a Hog1 dependent transcriptional response to CUR treatment that involved the up-regulation of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 1 (GPD1), a factor that is essential for the hyperosmotic stress response. Conclusions Our present finding revealed the role of Hog1 MAPK in regulation of CUR-induced transcriptional response. We anticipate that our finding will enhance the understanding on the molecular mode of action of CUR on S. cerevisiae. Keywords: Yeast drug response, Curcumin, HOG pathway, Hog1 phosphorylation, Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 1 (GPD1), Mitogen-activated protein kinases

Author Biography

Gajendra Azad, Laboratory of Chromatin Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal, 462023 India

Current address: Department of Genetics, Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904 Israel

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