Comprehensive gene expression analysis of the response to straight-chain alcohols in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using cDNA microarray

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Abstract
Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine the gene expression profiles of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae subjected to straight‐chain alcohols. Methods and Results: Lipophilic alcohols with high log Pow values were more toxic to yeast than those with low log Pow values. Morphological changes after exposure to ethanol, 1‐pentanol, 1‐octanol were observed, whereas n‐pentane as a model hydrocarbon affected the surface of the outer membrane, with little change in organelles. Using cDNA microarrays, quite a few up‐regulated gene categories were classified into the category ‘cell rescue, defence and virulence’ by ethanol, and the category ‘energy’ and ‘metabolism’ by 1‐pentanol. Meanwhile, the characteristic genes up‐regulated by n‐pentane were not observed, and the expression profile was distantly related to ethanol, 1‐pentanol and 1‐octanol. Conclusions: This study suggests that gene expression profiles at the whole genome level were intimately associated with the cell growth inhibition and morphological changes by straight‐chain alcohols with differing log Pow values. Significance and Impact of the Study: The study of comprehensive gene expression profiles by cDNA microarrays elucidates the straight‐chain alcohol adaptation mechanisms.