Tolerance to alkaline ambient pH in Aspergillus nidulans depends on the activity of ENA proteins

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 14325
• Main Authors: Markina-Iñarrairaegui, Ane, Spielvogel, Anja, Etxebeste, Oier, Ugalde, Unai, Espeso, Eduardo A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 31.08.2020; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/326/325/1507; 631/326/88; Adenosine Triphosphatases - genetics; Adenosine Triphosphatases - metabolism; Algae; Alkalinity; Aspergillus nidulans - genetics; Aspergillus nidulans - metabolism; Cation Transport Proteins - genetics; Cation Transport Proteins - metabolism; Cell division; Flowering; Fungal Proteins - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation; Humanities and Social Sciences; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Isoetes; Lithium - metabolism; Microorganisms; multidisciplinary; Phylogeny; Salt Tolerance; Salts; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sodium - metabolism; Transcription Factors - metabolism
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71297-z

Tolerance of microorganisms to abiotic stress is enabled by regulatory mechanisms that coordinate the expression and activity of resistance genes. Alkalinity and high salt concentrations are major environmental physicochemical stresses. Here, we analyzed the roles of sodium-extrusion family (ENA) transporters EnaA, EnaB and EnaC in the response to these stress conditions in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans . While EnaC has a minor role, EnaB is a key element for tolerance to Na + and Li + toxicity. Adaptation to alkaline pH requires the concerted action of EnaB with EnaA. Accordingly, expression of enaA and enaB was induced by Na + , Li + and pH 8. These expression patterns are altered in a sltA Δ background and completely inhibited in a mutant expressing non-functional PacC protein ( palH72 ). However, a constitutively active PacC form was not sufficient to restore maximum enaA expression. In agreement with their predicted role as membrane ATPases, EnaA localized to the plasma membrane while EnaB accumulated at structures resembling the endoplasmic reticulum. Overall, results suggest different PacC- and SltA-dependent roles for EnaB in pH and salt homeostasis, acting in coordination with EnaA at pH 8 but independently under salt stress.