Cited by 111Fungal and yeast genetics researchYeasts and Rust Fungi StudiesPlant and Fungal Interactions Research

The Biology of Pichia membranifaciens Killer Toxins

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Belda, Ignacio, Ruiz, Javier, Alonso, Alejandro, Marquina, Domingo, Santos, Antonio·2017·Toxins

Abstract

The killer phenomenon is defined as the ability of some yeast to secrete toxins that are lethal to other sensitive yeasts and filamentous fungi. Since the discovery of strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae capable of secreting killer toxins, much information has been gained regarding killer toxins and this fact has substantially contributed knowledge on fundamental aspects of cell biology and yeast genetics. The killer phenomenon has been studied in Pichia membranifaciens for several years, during which two toxins have been described. PMKT and PMKT2 are proteins of low molecular mass that bind to primary receptors located in the cell wall structure of sensitive yeast cells, linear (1→6)-β-d-glucans and mannoproteins for PMKT and PMKT2, respectively. Cwp2p also acts as a secondary receptor for PMKT. Killing of sensitive cells by PMKT is characterized by ionic movements across plasma membrane and an acidification of the intracellular pH triggering an activation of the High Osmolarity Glycerol (HOG) pathway. On the contrary, our investigations showed a mechanism of killing in which cells are arrested at an early S-phase by high concentrations of PMKT2. However, we concluded that induced mortality at low PMKT2 doses and also PMKT is indeed of an apoptotic nature. Killer yeasts and their toxins have found potential applications in several fields: in food and beverage production, as biocontrol agents, in yeast bio-typing, and as novel antimycotic agents. Accordingly, several applications have been found for P. membranifaciens killer toxins, ranging from pre- and post-harvest biocontrol of plant pathogens to applications during wine fermentation and ageing (inhibition of Botrytis cinerea, Brettanomyces bruxellensis, etc.).

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Crossref · 10.3390/toxins9040112

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  • The most prominent toxins produced by many biocontrol yeast strains are proteinaceous killer toxins.

    “The most prominent toxins produced by many biocontrol yeast strains are proteinaceous killer toxins (Supplementary Table 1)”

    From Biocontrol yeasts: mechanisms and applications (2019) · cites this paper as Belda et al. 2017

    The Introduction says killer yeast strains secrete proteinaceous toxins and that the killer phenomenon occurs across many yeast species and genera. It also identifies biological control as a potential application. It does not establish that killer toxins are the most prominent toxins produced by biocontrol yeast strains. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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6 of the 199 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. [26]Deak T. Beuchat L. Handbook of Food Spoilage Yeasts, Crc Series in Contemporary Food Science 2nd ed. CRC Press Boca Raton, FL, USA 1996
  2. [89]Ohta Y. Tsukada Y. Sugimori T. Production, purification and characterization of HYI, an antiyeast substance, produced by Hansenula saturnus Agric. Biol. Chem. 1984 48 903 908 10.1271/bbb1961.48.903 · DOI
  3. [176]Keszthelyi A. Characterisation of anticryptococcal Fc-1 toxin of Filobasidium capsuligenum Acta Biol. Szeged. 2006 50 155 16681807

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Authors
Belda, I., Ruiz, J., Alonso, A., Marquina, D., & Santos, A.
Affiliations
  • Universidad Complutense de Madrid (ES)
  • Department of Microbiology, Biology Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Corresponding author
Santos, Antonio
Venue
Toxins
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2017-03-23
Volume
9
Issue
4
Pages
112
ISSN
2072-6651 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2603690755
Cited by
111
References
199
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 6
FWCI
0.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Toxins (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Library Open Repository (Universidad Complutense Madrid) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • European Community (AIR CT93-0830)
  • Universidad Complutense-Community of Madrid (PR1/03-11632, CCG07-UCM/AGR-2612, GR45/06, GR69/06, GR74/07, GR58/08, GR35/10-A)
  • CDTI-MINECO-Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (IDI-20130192, IDI-20140448, IDI-20160102)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Fungal and yeast genetics research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Yeasts and Rust Fungi Studies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Endocrinology › Plant and Fungal Interactions Research
Keywords
Pichia membranifaciens, killer toxin, (1→6)-β-D-glucan, mannoproteins, plasma membrane ion transport, HOG pathway, S phase arrest, apoptosis, biological control agents, Botrytis cinerea, Brettanomyces bruxellensis, wine fermentation, antifungal agents
MeSH terms
Humans, Pichia, Killer Factors, Yeast

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