ZAP1-mediated modulation of triacylglycerol levels in yeast by transcriptional control of mitochondrial fatty acid biosynthesis

The transcriptional activator Zap1p maintains zinc
homeostasis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this
study, we examined the role of Zap1p in triacylglycerol
(TAG) metabolism. The expression of ETR1 is
reduced in zap1D. The altered expression of ETR1
results in reduced mitochondrial fatty acid biosynthesis
and reduction in lipoic acid content in zap1D.
The transcription factor Zap1 positively regulates
ETR1 expression. Deletion of ETR1 also causes the
accumulation of TAG, and the introduction of ETR1 in
zap1D strain rescues the TAG level. These results
demonstrated that the compromised mitochondrial
fatty acid biosynthesis causes a reduction in lipoic
acid and loss of mitochondrial function in zap1D.
Functional mitochondria are required for the ATP
production and defect in mitochondria slow down
the process which may channeled carbon towards
lipid biosynthesis and stored in the form of TAG.