Cited by 489Fungal and yeast genetics researchAntifungal resistance and susceptibilityLipid metabolism and biosynthesis

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 124 of the 124 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 137 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Regulation of Ergosterol Biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Open access

Abstract

Ergosterol is an essential component of fungal cell membranes that determines the fluidity, permeability and activity of membrane-associated proteins. Ergosterol biosynthesis is a complex and highly energy-consuming pathway that involves the participation of many enzymes. Deficiencies in sterol biosynthesis cause pleiotropic defects that limit cellular proliferation and adaptation to stress. Thereby, fungal ergosterol levels are tightly controlled by the bioavailability of particular metabolites (e.g., sterols, oxygen and iron) and environmental conditions. The regulation of ergosterol synthesis is achieved by overlapping mechanisms that include transcriptional expression, feedback inhibition of enzymes and changes in their subcellular localization. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the sterol regulatory element (SRE)-binding proteins Upc2 and Ecm22, the heme-binding protein Hap1 and the repressor factors Rox1 and Mot3 coordinate ergosterol biosynthesis (ERG) gene expression. Here, we summarize the sterol biosynthesis, transport and detoxification systems of S. cerevisiae, as well as its adaptive response to sterol depletion, low oxygen, hyperosmotic stress and iron deficiency. Because of the large number of ERG genes and the crosstalk between different environmental signals and pathways, many aspects of ergosterol regulation are still unknown. The study of sterol metabolism and its regulation is highly relevant due to its wide applications in antifungal treatments, as well as in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review summarizes ergosterol biosynthesis, transport, detoxification, and regulation in *Saccharomyces cerevisiae*, emphasizing control by sterols, oxygen, osmotic stress, and iron. It highlights Upc2/Ecm22, Hap1, Rox1, Mot3, and other factors, while noting that many regulatory mechanisms remain unresolved.

Key findings

  • Ergosterol biosynthesis is highly energy-consuming, requiring 24 molecules of ATP and 16 molecules of NADPH per ergosterol, and depends on oxygen and iron at multiple enzymatic steps.
  • Regulation occurs through overlapping mechanisms: feedback degradation of Hmg2 via ERAD and Erg1 via Doa10, subcellular localization of Erg enzymes including the ergosome, and transcriptional control by Upc2/Ecm22, Hap1, Rox1, and Mot3.
  • Under sterol depletion, Upc2’s carboxy-terminal domain senses ergosterol; ligand dissociation promotes nuclear translocation and activation of ERG genes, sterol uptake genes (*AUS1*, *PDR11*), *DAN/TIR*, and *PAU* genes.
  • The late ergosterol pathway is a major antifungal target: azoles inhibit Erg11, allylamines inhibit Erg1, morpholines inhibit Erg2/Erg24, and polyenes bind cell-surface ergosterol; *ERG6* deletion or overexpression causes especially compromised phenotypes.

Methods

  • Narrative review synthesizing published literature on *S. cerevisiae* sterol biosynthesis, transport, detoxification, and regulation; no primary experiments, datasets, or systematic search criteria are described.
  • Discusses adaptive responses to sterol depletion, low oxygen, hyperosmotic stress, and iron deficiency, citing genome-wide expression studies but performing no new analysis.

Limitations

  • The authors state that many aspects of ergosterol regulation remain unknown because of the large number of ERG genes and crosstalk between environmental signals and pathways.
  • The authors note conflicting results for Hap1 effects on ERG gene expression under anaerobic conditions, possibly due to strain or media differences, and propose hypotheses that require further study.
  • Evident from the text: as a narrative review, it lacks systematic methodology, quantitative synthesis, and new experimental validation; conclusions rely on cited studies.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.3390/genes11070795

Cites

124 of 124 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

0 of 137 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

Show all 51 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 39
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 7
45 of 45
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Changes in ergosterol biosynthesis lead to pleiotropic defects that limit cellular proliferation and adaptation to stresses.

    “However, changes in ergosterol biosynthesis lead to pleiotropic defects that limit cellular proliferation and adaptation to stresses.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The ergosterol biosynthetic pathway constitutes one of the main targets for antifungal agents in health and agriculture.

    “The ergosterol biosynthetic pathway constitutes one of the main targets for antifungal agents in health and agriculture.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Treatment with terbinafine, which targets squalene epoxidase Erg1, results in accumulation of squalene, which can be used for synthesis of terpenes.

    “For instance, the treatment with terbinafine, which targets the squalene epoxidase Erg1, results in the accumulation of squalene, which can be used for the synthesis of terpenes.”
3 of 3

Claims other papers make about this one

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Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • HMGR is assigned two different reactions

    Minor

    The paper first identifies HMGR as catalyzing the reduction to mevalonate, but later says it catalyzes the synthesis of HMG-CoA. These descriptions assign opposite roles to the same enzyme in the pathway.

1 of 1

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Metadata

Authors
Jordá, T., & Puig, S.
Affiliations
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ES)
Corresponding author
Puig, Sergi
Venue
Genes
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2020-07-15
Volume
11
Issue
7
Pages
795
ISSN
2073-4425 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3043173157
Cited by
489
References
124
Citations by year
2026: 70 · 2025: 103 · 2024: 112 · 2023: 75 · 2022: 74 · 2021: 48 · 2020: 6
FWCI
4.88
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Genes (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DIGITAL.CSIC (Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (BIO2017-87828-C2-1-P)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Fungal and yeast genetics research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Antifungal resistance and susceptibility
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Lipid metabolism and biosynthesis
Keywords
ergosterol biosynthesis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, sterol regulatory element, UPC2, HAP1, roX1, product inhibition, sterol transport, sterol depletion, low oxygen stress, hyperosmotic stress, iron deficiency, fungal cell membrane, antifungal drug targets
MeSH terms
DNA-Binding Proteins, Ergosterol, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Repressor Proteins, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Sterols, Transcription Factors, Trans-Activators, Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal, Drug Resistance, Fungal, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins

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