Effects of Ca²⁺ signal on the activities of key enzymes and expression of related genes in yeast ethanol metabolism and mitochondrial function during high sugar fermentation

Abstract

BACKGROUNDDuring high‐sugar fermentation, yeast is mainly affected by high‐sugar stress in the early stage. It began to be jointly affected by high‐sugar and ethanol stress as ethanol accumulates during fermentation. Ca2+, as the second messenger of the cell, mediates various metabolic processes. In this study, the effects of the Ca2+ signal on the activities of key enzymes, expression of related genes of ethanol metabolism, and mitochondrial function were invested.RESULTSThe results showed a significant increase in the activities of enzymes related to ethanol metabolism in yeast cells under a high‐sugar environment. Ca2+ significantly promoted the activities of enzymes related to mitochondrial respiratory metabolism and regulated the carbon flow between ethanol metabolism and tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA). The high‐sugar environment affected the expression of genes related to carbon metabolism, while the addition of Ca2+ stabilizes the expression of related genes.CONCLUSIONCa2+ signal participated in ethanol and mitochondrial metabolism and regulated the key enzymes and related gene expression to enhance the yeast's resistance to stress during high‐sugar fermentation.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.