title: Hsp12p and PAU genes are involved in ecological interactions between natural yeast strains.
abstract: The coexistence of different yeasts in a single vineyard raises the question on how they communicate and why slow growers are not competed out. Genetically modified laboratory strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are extensively used to investigate ecological interactions, but little is known about the genes regulating cooperation and competition in ecologically relevant settings. Here, we present evidences of Hsp12p-dependent altruistic and contact-dependent competitive interactions between two natural yeast isolates. Hsp12p is released during cell death for public benefit by a fast-growing strain that also produces a killer toxin to inhibit growth of a slow grower that can enjoy the benefits of released Hsp12p. We also show that the protein Pau5p is essential in the defense against the killer effect. Our results demonstrate that the combined action of Hsp12p, Pau5p and a killer toxin is sufficient to steer a yeast community.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Damaríz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rivero
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berná
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research and Innovation, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stefanini
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baruffini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bergerat
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research and Innovation, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Csikász-Nagy
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research and Innovation, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Filippo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Duccio
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cavalieri
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D017753:Ecosystem; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055646:Killer Factors, Yeast / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D056265:Microbial Interactions / Q000235:genetics*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; C112591:HSP12 protein, S cerevisiae; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D055646:Killer Factors, Yeast; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C000606869:PAU5 protein, S cerevisiae; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins