Machine learning reveals genes impacting oxidative stress resistance across yeasts

Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive molecules encountered by yeasts during routine metabolism and during interactions with other organisms, including host infection. Here, we characterize the variation in resistance to the ROS-inducing compound tert-butyl hydroperoxide across...

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Main Authors: Katarina Aranguiz, Linda C. Horianopoulos, Logan Elkin, Kenia Segura Abá, Drew Jordahl, Katherine A. Overmyer, Russell L. Wrobel, Joshua J. Coon, Shin-Han Shiu, Antonis Rokas, Chris Todd Hittinger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60189-3
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author Katarina Aranguiz
Linda C. Horianopoulos
Logan Elkin
Kenia Segura Abá
Drew Jordahl
Katherine A. Overmyer
Russell L. Wrobel
Joshua J. Coon
Shin-Han Shiu
Antonis Rokas
Chris Todd Hittinger
author_facet Katarina Aranguiz
Linda C. Horianopoulos
Logan Elkin
Kenia Segura Abá
Drew Jordahl
Katherine A. Overmyer
Russell L. Wrobel
Joshua J. Coon
Shin-Han Shiu
Antonis Rokas
Chris Todd Hittinger
author_sort Katarina Aranguiz
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive molecules encountered by yeasts during routine metabolism and during interactions with other organisms, including host infection. Here, we characterize the variation in resistance to the ROS-inducing compound tert-butyl hydroperoxide across the ancient yeast subphylum Saccharomycotina and use machine learning (ML) to identify gene families whose sizes are predictive of ROS resistance. The most predictive features are enriched in gene families related to cell wall organization and include two reductase gene families. We estimate the quantitative contributions of features to each species’ classification to guide experimental validation and show that overexpression of the old yellow enzyme (OYE) reductase increases ROS resistance in Kluyveromyces lactis, while Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants lacking multiple mannosyltransferase-encoding genes are hypersensitive to ROS. Altogether, this work provides a framework for how ML can uncover genetic mechanisms underlying trait variation across diverse species and inform trait manipulation for clinical and biotechnological applications.
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spelling doaj-art-e0bdd512fc2a48858658baa51973478e2025-08-20T03:37:37ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111510.1038/s41467-025-60189-3Machine learning reveals genes impacting oxidative stress resistance across yeastsKatarina Aranguiz0Linda C. Horianopoulos1Logan Elkin2Kenia Segura Abá3Drew Jordahl4Katherine A. Overmyer5Russell L. Wrobel6Joshua J. Coon7Shin-Han Shiu8Antonis Rokas9Chris Todd Hittinger10DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-MadisonDOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-MadisonDOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-MadisonDOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State UniversityCellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, University of Wisconsin-MadisonDOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-MadisonDOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-MadisonDOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-MadisonDOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State UniversityDepartment of Biological Sciences and Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt UniversityDOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-MadisonAbstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive molecules encountered by yeasts during routine metabolism and during interactions with other organisms, including host infection. Here, we characterize the variation in resistance to the ROS-inducing compound tert-butyl hydroperoxide across the ancient yeast subphylum Saccharomycotina and use machine learning (ML) to identify gene families whose sizes are predictive of ROS resistance. The most predictive features are enriched in gene families related to cell wall organization and include two reductase gene families. We estimate the quantitative contributions of features to each species’ classification to guide experimental validation and show that overexpression of the old yellow enzyme (OYE) reductase increases ROS resistance in Kluyveromyces lactis, while Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants lacking multiple mannosyltransferase-encoding genes are hypersensitive to ROS. Altogether, this work provides a framework for how ML can uncover genetic mechanisms underlying trait variation across diverse species and inform trait manipulation for clinical and biotechnological applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60189-3
spellingShingle Katarina Aranguiz
Linda C. Horianopoulos
Logan Elkin
Kenia Segura Abá
Drew Jordahl
Katherine A. Overmyer
Russell L. Wrobel
Joshua J. Coon
Shin-Han Shiu
Antonis Rokas
Chris Todd Hittinger
Machine learning reveals genes impacting oxidative stress resistance across yeasts
Nature Communications
title Machine learning reveals genes impacting oxidative stress resistance across yeasts
title_full Machine learning reveals genes impacting oxidative stress resistance across yeasts
title_fullStr Machine learning reveals genes impacting oxidative stress resistance across yeasts
title_full_unstemmed Machine learning reveals genes impacting oxidative stress resistance across yeasts
title_short Machine learning reveals genes impacting oxidative stress resistance across yeasts
title_sort machine learning reveals genes impacting oxidative stress resistance across yeasts
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60189-3
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