Genome-wide imaging screen uncovers molecular determinants of arsenite-induced protein aggregation and toxicity and an important role for transcriptional and translational control

Exposure to toxic metals and metalloids such as cadmium and arsenic results in widespread misfolding and aggregation of cellular proteins. How these protein aggregates are formed in vivo, the mechanisms by which they affect cells, and how cells prevent their accumulation during environmental stress is not fully understood. To find components involved in these processes, we performed a genome-wide imaging screen and identified yeast deletion mutants with either enhanced or reduced protein aggregation levels during arsenite exposure. Mutants with reduced aggregation levels were enriched for functions related to protein biosynthesis and transcription, whilst functions related to cellular signalling, metabolism, and protein folding and degradation were overrepresented among mutants with enhanced aggregation levels. On a genome-wide scale, protein aggregation correlated with arsenite resistance and sensitivity, indicating that many of the identified factors are crucial to safeguard protein homeostasis (proteostasis) and to protect against arsenite toxicity. Dedicated follow-up experiments indicated that intracellular arsenic is a direct cause of protein aggregation and that accurate transcriptional and translational control are crucial for proteostasis during arsenite stress. Specifically, we provide evidence that global transcription affects protein aggregation levels, that loss of transcriptional control impacts proteostasis through distinct mechanisms, and that translational repression is central to control protein aggregation and cell viability. Some of the identified factors are associated with pathological conditions suggesting that arsenite-induced protein aggregation may impact disease processes. The broad network of cellular systems that impinge on proteostasis during arsenic stress provides a valuable resource and a framework for further elucidation of the mechanistic details of metalloid toxicity and pathogenesis. AUTHOR SUMMARY Human exposure to poisonous metals is increasing in many parts of the world and chronic exposure is associated with certain protein folding-associated disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. While the toxicity of many metals is undisputed, their molecular modes of action have remained unclear. Recent studies revealed that toxic metals such as arsenic and cadmium profoundly affect the correct folding of proteins, resulting in the accumulation of toxic protein aggregates. In this study, we used high-content microscopy to identify a broad network of cellular systems that impinge on protein homeostasis and cell viability during arsenite stress. Follow-up experiments highlight the importance of accurate transcriptional and translational control for mitigating arsenite-induced protein aggregation and toxicity. Some of the identified factors are associated with pathological conditions suggesting that arsenite-induced protein aggregation may impact disease processes. The broad network of cellular systems that impinge on proteostasis during arsenic stress provides a valuable resource and a framework for further elucidation of the mechanistic details of metal toxicity and pathogenesis.