Genomics in the detection of damage in microbial systems: cell wall stress in yeast.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, like other microorganisms, has evolved different mechanisms to survive under adverse conditions. The adaptation of yeast to cell wall stress is mainly regulated by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. The characterization of genome-wide transcriptional profiles to different cell wall stresses has allowed the identification of those genes important for cell wall remodelling under these circumstances. Moreover, profiling of mutant strains deleted in different elements of these pathways revealed the complexity of the signal transduction machinery responsible for regulating adaptation responses to cell wall stress in yeast. In addition to increase understanding of these adaptive responses, the molecular dissection of these signalling networks could impact on the development of effective new antifungal agents.