The Oxidative Cost of Losing Low Temperature Viability Protein 1 [Ltv1]: Insights into Cellular Damage and Homeostasis

The Ltv1 protein has been characterized with roles in ribosome biogenesis, maintenance of rRNA stability, ATP export, osmotic stress response, and signaling activation of the Target of Rapamycin pathway. We screened ltv1Δ/ltv1Δ mutants for additional phenotypic manifestations due to loss of Ltv1. We observed growth differences consistent with Ltv1's well characterized roles, alongside evidence supporting a less-established role in reactive oxygen species response. In further characterization of cells lacking Ltv1 we documented higher levels of endogenous ROS and a greater accumulation response of reactive oxygen species to exogenous stress. Utilizing RNA-Sequencing we then determined the gene expression differences underlying the ltv1-deficiency induced oxidative stress sensitivity. This work elucidates a new significant role of Ltv1 in cellular homeostasis and protection against damage.