Thoughts on the evolution of Core Environmental Responses in yeasts. Issue 5 (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brown, Alistair J.P.; Larcombe, Daniel E.; Pradhan, Arnab
• Is Part Of: Fungal biology. Volume 124:Issue 5(2020)
• Page Start: 475
• Page End: 481
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: Core stress responses -- Evolution of anticipatory responses -- Fungal memory -- Fungal pathogens -- Immune evasion -- Stress responses; Mycology -- Periodicals; Fungi -- Periodicals; 579.505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2020.01.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1878-6146

Abstract

Abstract: The model yeasts, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, display Core Environmental Responses (CERs) that include the induction of a core set of stress genes in response to diverse environmental stresses. CERs underlie the phenomenon of stress cross-protection, whereby exposure to one type of stress can provide protection against subsequent exposure to a second type of stress. CERs have probably arisen through the accumulation, over evolutionary time, of protective anticipatory responses ("adaptive prediction"). CERs have been observed in other evolutionarily divergent fungi but, interestingly, not in the pathogenic yeast, Candida albicans . We argue that this is because we have not looked in the right place. In response to specific host inputs, C. albicans does activate anticipatory responses that protect it against impending attack from the immune system. Therefore, we suggest that C. albicans has evolved a CER that reflects the environmental challenges it faces in host niches. Graphical abstract: Domesticated yeasts such as S. cerevisiae display Core Environmental Responses that have evolved to provide protective anticipatory responses that confer cross-protection against diverse environmental stresses. The pathogenic yeast, C . albicans, does not appear to display stress cross-protection, but does display anticipatory responses that protect against immune clearance. This suggests that some yeasts have evolved Core Environmental Responses that reflect the environmental challenges posed by their respective niches, and that the nature of the niche should be considered when examining Core Environmental Responses. Image 1 Highlights: We review Core Environmental Responses (CERs) in domesticated and pathogenic yeasts. CERs probably evolved through the accumulation of protective anticipatory responses. Evolutionarily diverse yeasts display CERs, but the pathogen, Candida albicans, does not. C. albicans has evolved an alternative CER that protects against immune clearance. This has implications for the investigation of CERs in other fungi.