The Transcriptomic Response of Kveik Yeast to Environmental Stress Factors

ABSTRACT: Kveik yeast are a group of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains notable for their exceptional tolerance to environmental stress. To investigate the molecular basis of this robustness, the transcriptomes of three kveik strains and a conventional ale strain were compared in the presence and absence of stress factors using RNA-seq. Under non-stress conditions, kveik strains showed elevated basal expression of multiple environmental stress response genes, including HSP12 and CTT1, suggesting that part of the stress-responsive transcriptional program is active and maintained irrespective of stress exposure. Catalase activity was also elevated, demonstrating that transcriptional differences are reflected at the physiological level. Under conditions of sublethal heat stress, conventional ale yeast displayed transcriptional patterns associated with cell-cycle restraint and chromosome organisation, whereas kveik strains showed upregulated functionality related to protein refolding, ribosome biogenesis, cytokinesis, and cell-wall biosynthesis, suggesting maintenance of growth-associated functions alongside stress protection. Under ethanol stress, both groups upregulated translation-related processes; however, metabolic functions were more strongly enriched in ale yeast, while kveik strains showed patterns consistent with maintenance of translational capacity together with reinforcement of cell surface-associated functions. Overall, kveik stress tolerance appears to reflect elevated basal preparedness and enhanced maintenance of biosynthetic and structural functions under stress. This data provides underpinning evidence behind the suitability of kveik yeast for a range of intensive industrial fermentations.

ORGANISM(S): Saccharomyces pastorianus Saccharomyces cerevisiae

PROVIDER: GSE331206 | GEO | 2026/09/30

REPOSITORIES: GEO