Open AccessThe expressions of Δ 9 ‐, Δ 12 ‐desaturases and an elongase by the extremely halotolerant black yeast Hortaea werneckii are salt dependent
Author(s) -
Gostinčar Cene,
Turk Martina,
Plemenitaš Ana,
GundeCimerman Nina
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
fems yeast research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.991
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1567-1364
pISSN - 1567-1356
DOI - 10.1111/j.1567-1364.2009.00481.x
Subject(s) - halotolerance , yeast , biology , salinity , biochemistry , osmotic shock , osmotic concentration , phospholipid , enzyme , degree of unsaturation , gene , botany , membrane , chemistry , ecology , chromatography
The black yeast‐like fungus Hortaea werneckii is the predominant fungal species in salterns, and it is extremely halotolerant. The restructuring of the H. werneckii membrane lipid composition is one of its adaptations to high concentrations of salt, which is mainly achieved by increasing the unsaturation of its phospholipid fatty acids. Genes encoding three fatty acid‐modifying enzymes, Δ 9 ‐, Δ 12 ‐desaturases and an elongase, have been identified in the genome of H. werneckii , each in two copies. Their transcription profiles show responsiveness to different salinity conditions, with the lowest expression at optimal salinity. Transcriptional responses to hyperosmotic and hypo‐osmotic shock show substantial differences between cells exposed to osmotic shock and cells adapted to an osmotically stressful environment.