Rapid genomic response after relief from nitrogen starvation of an enological strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The aim of this study was to determine how nitrogen repletion affected the genomic cell response of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine yeast strain, in particular within the first hour following relief from nutrient starvation. We found almost 4000 genes induced or repressed sometimes within minutes of nutrient changes. Some of the transcriptional responses to nitrogen depended on the TOR pathway which control positively ribosomal protein genes, amino acid and purine biosynthesis or amino acid permease genes and negatively stress-response genes, RTG specific TCA cycle genes and NCR sensitive genes. Some unexpected transcriptional responses concerned all the glycolytic genes, the starch and glucose metabolism and citrate cycle related genes which were down-regulated, as well as genes from the lipid metabolism.