Nutritional stress in eukaryotic cells: Oxidative species and regulation of survival in time of scarceness

The survival response to glucose limitation in eukaryotic cells involves different signaling pathways highly conserved from yeasts to mammals. Upon nutritional restriction, a network driven by kinases such as the AMP dependent protein kinase (AMPK/Snf1), the Target of Rapamycin kinase (TOR), the Protein kinases A (PKA) or B (PKB/Akt) control stress defenses, cell cycle regulators, pro and anti apoptotic proteins, respiratory complexes, etc. In this work we review the state of the art in this scenario of kinase pathways, i.e. their principal effectors and links, both in yeasts and mammals. We also focus in downstream actors such as sirtuins and the Forkhead box class O transcription factors. Besides, we particularly analyze the participation of these kinases on the balance of Reactive Oxygen Species and their role in the regulation of survival during glucose deprivation. Key results on yeast stationary phase survival and the contribution of such genetics studies are discussed.

► Survival response to glucose lack in eukaryotes involves highly conserved signaling.
► We review main issues in this network (effectors and links) from yeasts to mammals.
► Useful results on stationary-phase yeasts and benefits of genetics are discussed.