Global screening of genes essential for growth in high-pressure and cold environments: searching for basic adaptive strategies using a yeast deletion library

Microorganisms display an optimal temperature and hydrostatic pressure for growth. To establish the molecular basis of piezo- and psychro-adaptation, we elucidated global genetic defects that give rise to susceptibility to high pressure and low temperature in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here we present 80 genes including 71 genes responsible for high-pressure growth and 56 responsible for low-temperature growth with a significant overlap of 47 genes. Numerous previously known cold-sensitive mutants exhibit marked high-pressure sensitivity. We identified critically important cellular functions: (i) amino acid biosynthesis; (ii) microautophagy and sorting of amino acid permease established by the EGO/GSE complex; (iii) mitochondrial functions; (iv) membrane trafficking; (v) actin organization mediated by Drs2-Cdc50; and (vi) transcription regulated by the Ccr4-Not complex. The loss of EGO/GSE complex resulted in a marked defect in amino acid uptake following high-pressure and low-temperature incubation, suggesting its role in surface delivery of amino acid permeases. Microautophagy and mitochondrial functions converge on glutamine homeostasis in the TOR signaling pathway. The localization of actin requires numerous associated proteins to be properly delivered in by membrane trafficking. In this study, we offer a novel route to gaining insights into cellular functions and the genetic network from growth properties of deletion mutants under high pressure and low temperature.

Key Words: EGO/GSE complex, amino acid uptake, high hydrostatic pressure, low temperature, yeast deletion library

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