Physiological ER stress caused by amylase production induces regulated Ire1-dependent mRNA decay in Aspergillus oryzae

Regulated Ire1-dependent decay (RIDD) is a feedback mechanism in which the endoribonuclease Ire1 cleaves endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized mRNAs encoding secretory and membrane proteins in eukaryotic cells under ER stress. RIDD is artificially induced by chemicals that generate ER stress; however, its importance under physiological conditions remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate the occurrence of RIDD in filamentous fungus using Aspergillus oryzae as a model, which secretes copious amounts of amylases. alpha-Amylase mRNA was rapidly degraded by IreA, an Ire1 ortholog, depending on its ER-associated translation when mycelia were treated with dithiothreitol, an ER-stress inducer. The mRNA encoding maltose permease MalP, a prerequisite for the induction of amylolytic genes, was also identified as an RIDD target. Importantly, RIDD of malP mRNA is triggered by inducing amylase production without any artificial ER stress inducer. Our data provide the evidence that RIDD occurs in eukaryotic microorganisms under physiological ER stress.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates the occurrence of Regulated Ire1-dependent decay (RIDD) in eukaryotic microorganisms under physiological endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. RIDD was observed in filamentous fungus using Aspergillus oryzae as a model, and it was triggered by inducing amylase production without any artificial ER stress inducer.