Saccharomyces cerevisiae exhibits a yAP-1-mediated adaptive response to malondialdehyde

The toxicity of malondialdehyde (MDA) on yeast cells was analyzed to determine the ability of the microorganisms to detoxify the reactive aldehyde. Exposure of wild-type Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells to nonlethal concentrations of MDA and subsequent exposure to lethal doses of the aldehyde induced cellular resistance. Furthermore, adaptation response to MDA was mediated by yAP1 which encoded a yeast transcription activator that was homologous to the mammalian AP-1 protein.