Enhanced expression of high-affinity iron transporters via H-ferritin production in yeast.
Our heterologous expression system of the human ferritin H-chain gene (hfH) allowed us to characterize the cellular effects of ferritin in yeasts. The recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae (YGH2) evidenced impaired growth as compared to the control, which was correlated with ferritin expression and with the formation of core minerals. Growth was recovered via the administration of iron supplements. The modification of cellular iron metabolism, which involved the increased expression of high-affinity iron transport genes (FET3 and FTR1), was detected via Northern blot analysis. The findings may provide some evidence of cytosolic iron deficiency, as the genes were expressed transcriptionally under iron-deficient conditions. According to our results examining reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation via the fluorescence method, the ROS levels in YGH2 were decreased compared to the control. It suggests that the expression of active H-ferritins reduced the content of free iron in yeast. Therefore, present results may provide new insights into the regulatory network and pathways inherent to iron depletion conditions.
Kim
Kyung-Suk
KS
Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 561-756, Republic of Korea. sukkim@chonbuk.ac.kr
Chang
Yu-Jung
YJ
Chung
Yun-Jo
YJ
Park
Chung-Ung
CU
Seo
Hyang-Yim
HY
D001052:Apoferritins / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D001052:Apoferritins; D007501:Iron