Molecular basis of the regulation of iron homeostasis in fission and filamentous yeasts

Abstract

When iron load exceeds that needed by fission and filamentous yeasts, iron-regulatory GATA-type transcription factors repress genes encoding iron acquisition systems. In contrast, under iron starvation, optimization of cellular iron utilization is coordinated by a specialized regulatory subunit of the CCAAT-binding factor that fosters repression of genes encoding iron-using proteins. Despite these findings, there is still limited knowledge concerning the mechanisms by which these iron-responsive regulators respond to high- or low-iron availability. To provide a framework for understanding common and distinct properties of iron-dependent transcriptional regulators, a repertoire of their functional domains in different fungal species is presented here. In addition, discovery of interacting partners of these iron-responsive factors contributes to provide additional insight into their properties.

Keywords: fungal iron-dependent CCAAT-binding factors; iron-regulatory GATA-type transcription factors; iron-sparing response; regulation of iron acquisition.