Glutaredoxins (GRXs), small redox proteins that use reduced glutathione as an electron donor, are key components of the cellular antioxidant system. In this study, we used Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model system to investigate the effects of GRX deletion on yeast chronological life span (CLS). Deletion of either Grx1 or Grx2 shortened yeast CLS. Quantitative proteomics revealed that GRX deletion decreased the expression of stress-response proteins, leading to increased cellular reactive oxygen species accumulation and, subsequently, intracellular acidification. This activated the Ras/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway. Genetic and biochemical analyses demonstrated that Ras/PKA activation decreased stress resistance and increased biosynthesis, requiring yeast cells to grow under unfavorable conditions and resulting in a shortened CLS. Our results provided new insights into mechanisms underlying exacerbation of the aging process by oxidative stress.
Keywords: ROS; Ras/PKA; aging; glutaredoxin; intracellular acidification; proteomics.