Menadione and hydrogen peroxide trigger specific alterations in RNA polymerases profiles in quiescent Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells

Abstract

Yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae, like other microbes in nature, respond to the unavailability of nutrients with entrance in quiescent/G₀ state. These cells exist in non-dividing, latent form by maintaining the cellular metabolism at a low level but still able to sense and adapt to environmental stresses. Their quiescent status characteristics are likely close to those of tissues and organs in mammals and humans. This fact makes them an appropriate model system for investigation of the basic mechanisms underlying the toxicity of different chemical compounds. In this study, the toxic effect of H₂O₂ and menadione on quiescent S. cerevisiae cells was evaluated through the analysis of RNA polymerases transcription profile and ribosomal RNA content. Distinct RNA polymerases subunits were expressed in G₀ yeast cells after short exposure to 0.1 mmol/L menadione and 5 mmol/L hydrogen peroxide. Significant transcription repression of RNA polymerases genes was observed as a response to menadione. Both stress agents induced changes in the 25S and 18S rRNA profile in quiescent and proliferating yeast cells. These results strongly suggest that the toxicological response of eukaryotic cells involves rapid alterations in RNA polymerases gene expression and changes in RNA transcriptome profiles, and depends on the specific mechanism of toxic action.

Keywords:

• Saccharomyces cerevisiae
• quiescence
• RNA polymerase
• rRNA
• menadione
• hydrogen peroxide

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Bulgarian National Science Fund for the financial support of this work/Grant Agreement № Project ДН11/10 – 15.12.2017

Authors contribution

VP, AK and PD conceived the idea and supervised the study. AD, LV performed, analyzed and interpreted the data regarding RNA polymerases expression profile. AT conducted the experiments and analyzed the data regarding ribosomal RNA profiling. VP, AD and AT wrote the manuscript. VP, PD and AK reviewed and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

All authors declare no conflict of interests.

Data availability statement

All data that support the findings reported in this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

Competition for financial support of research projects − 2017, Bulgarian National Science Fund.