Overlapping responses between salt and oxidative stress in Debaryomyces hansenii.

Debaryomyces hansenii is a halotolerant yeast of importance in basic and applied research. Previous reports hinted about possible links between saline and oxidative stress responses in this yeast. The aim of this work was to study that hypothesis at different molecular levels, investigating after oxidative and saline stress: (i) transcription of seven genes related to oxidative and/or saline responses, (ii) activity of two main anti-oxidative enzymes, (iii) existence of common metabolic intermediates, and (iv) generation of damages to biomolecules as lipids and proteins. Our results showed how expression of genes related to oxidative stress was induced by exposure to NaCl and KCl, and, vice versa, transcription of some genes related to osmotic/salt stress responses was regulated by H2O2. Moreover, and contrary to S. cerevisiae, in D. hansenii HOG1 and MSN2 genes were modulated by stress at their transcriptional level. At the enzymatic level, saline stress also induced antioxidative enzymatic defenses as catalase and glutathione reductase. Furthermore, we demonstrated that both stresses are connected by the generation of intracellular ROS, and that hydrogen peroxide can affect the accumulation of in-cell sodium. On the other hand, no significant alterations in lipid oxidation or total glutathione content were observed upon exposure to both stresses tested. The results described in this work could help to understand the responses to both stressors, and to improve the biotechnological potential of D. hansenni.

Application of central composite design and response surface methodology to the fermentation of olive juice by Lactobacillus plantarum and Debaryomyces hansenii.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of NaCl, calcium acetate and calcium lactate in concentrations corresponding to ionic strengths equivalent to 2-10%, w/v salt brines as well as the 50% replacement of NaCl contained in the above mixture by KCl. A central composite design and response surface methodology were used to optimize the maximum specific growth rate of Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014 and Debaryomyces hansenii 2114. The fermentation was carried out in olive juice obtained from Kalamon black olives at 30 degrees C with initial pH 5.0. Mathematical models describing the combined effects of these factors on the maximum specific growth rate of L. plantarum or D. hansenii were established. Both strains in single cultures showed higher maximum specific growth rate in olive juice supplemented with NaCl/KCl, Ca-acetate and Ca-lactate. But in mixed culture fermentations of olive juice supplemented with NaCl, Ca-acetate and Ca-lactate, higher specific growth rates were obtained. Under the optimum growth conditions determined for the single culture fermentations, i.e. 378.4 mM NaCl, 34.1 mM Ca-acetate and 39.9 mM Ca-lactate, mixed culture fermentation was undertaken by varying the time of inoculation of the yeast strain. When D. hansenii was inoculated 48 h before L. plantarum the maximum specific growth rate of L. plantarum was increased to 0.247 per hour, which was significantly higher compared to L. plantarum alone (0.211 per hour). In mixed culture fermentation of olive juice supplemented with the mixture of NaCl/KCl under similar conditions as above, a maximum specific growth rate of L. plantarum of 0.218 per hour was determined. The optimum conditions determined for mixed culture fermentation are useful in fermentation of black olives Kalamon variety under lower salt content.

Monovalent cation fluxes and physiological changes of Debaryomyces hansenii grown at high concentrations of KCl and NaCl.

Debaryomyces hansenii showed an increased growth in the presence of either 1 M, KCl or 1 M NaCl and a low acidification of the medium, higher for the cells grown in the presence of NaCl. These cells accumulated high concentrations of the cations, and showed a very fast capacity to exchange either Na+ or K+ for the opposite cation. They showed a rapid uptake of 86Rb+ and 22Na+. 86Rb+ transport was saturable, with K(m) and Vmax values higher for cells grown in 1 M NaCl. 22Na+ uptake showed a diffusion component, also higher for the cells grown with NaCl. Changes depended on growth conditions, and not on further incubation, which changed the internal ion concentration. K+ stimulated proton pumping produced a rapid extrusion of protons, and also a decrease of the membrane potential. Cells grown in 1 M KCl showed a higher fermentation rate, but significantly lower respiratory capacity. ATP levels were higher in cells grown in the presence of NaCl; upon incubation with glucose, those grown in the presence of KCl reached values similar to the ones grown in the presence of NaCl. In both, the addition of KCl produced a transient decrease of the ATP levels. As to ion transport mechanisms, D. hansenii appears to have (a) an ATPase functioning as a proton pump, generating a membrane potential difference which drives K+ through a uniporter; (b) a K+/H+ exchange system; and (c) a rapid cation/cation exchange system. Most interesting is that cells grown in different ionic environments change their studied capacities, which are not dependent on the cation content, but on differences in their genetic expression during growth.