title: Identification of a gene, FMP21, whose expression levels are involved in thermotolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
abstract: Elucidation of the mechanism of high temperature tolerance in yeasts is important for the molecular breeding of high temperature-tolerant yeasts that can be used in bioethanol production. We identified genes whose expression is correlated with the degree of thermotolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by DNA microarray analysis. Gene expression profiles of three S. cerevisiae strains showing different levels of thermotolerance were compared, and we chose three of them as candidate genes. Among these genes, FMP21 was investigated as a thermotolerance-related gene in S. cerevisiae by comparing the growth at high temperature with the gene expression in eight strains. The expression ratio of FMP21 at 37°C was correlated with the doubling time ratio at a coefficient of determination of 0.787. The potential involvement of the Fmp21 in the thermotolerance of yeasts was evaluated. The FMP21 deletion variant showed a decreased respiratory growth rate and increased thermosensitivity. Furthermore, the overexpression of FMP21 improved thermotolerance in yeasts. In conclusion, the function of Fmp21 is important for thermotolerance in yeasts.
authors.affiliation: National Food Research Institute, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 2-1-12 Kannondai, Tsukuba 305-8642, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: National Food Research Institute, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 2-1-12 Kannondai, Tsukuba 305-8642, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Mami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: National Food Research Institute, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 2-1-12 Kannondai, Tsukuba 305-8642, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.affiliation: NARO Institute of Vegetable and Tea Science, 360 Kusawa, Ano, Tsu 514-2392, Mie, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.affiliation: Ryukoku University, Fukakusa Tsukamotohon-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto 612-8577, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shima
keywords: FMP21; Gene expression; Growth rate; Thermotolerance; Yeast