Characterization of Mutants Devoid of Neutral Trehalase Activity in the Fission Yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe: Partial Protection from Heat Shock and High-Salt Stress

Exposure of cells of Schizosaccharomyces pombe to heat shock or osmotic upshift results in an increased level of neutral trehalase activity, which is responsible for hydrolysis of intracellular trehalose. We constructed S. pombe mutants lacking neutral trehalase activity by gene replacement at the newly defined ntp1(+) locus. Analysis of these mutants revealed that a twofold increase in trehalose accumulation, enhanced acquired thermoresistance, and marked salt tolerance characterized their ability to grow in liquid and solid media. Analysis of the expression of the trehalase gene under heat shock and osmotic upshift revealed the transcriptional activation of ntp1(+) in response to both stresses.