Sterol regulatory element-binding protein Sre1 regulates carotenogenesis in the red yeast .

is a basidiomycete yeast that produces carotenoids, mainly astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is an organic pigment of commercial interest due to its antioxidant and coloring properties. has a functional SREBP pathway, and the Sre1 protein is the SREBP homolog in this yeast. However, how sterol regulatory element (Sre)1 promotes the biosynthesis of sterols and carotenoids in is unknown. In this work, comparative RNA-sequencing analysis between modified strains that have an active Sre1 protein and the WT was performed to identify Sre1-dependent genes. In addition, Sre1 direct target genes were identified through ChIP combined with lambda exonuclease digestion (ChIP-exo) assays. SRE motifs were detected in the promoter regions of several Sre1 direct target genes and were consistent with the SREs described in other yeast species. Sre1 directly regulates genes related to ergosterol biosynthesis as well as genes related to the mevalonate (MVA) pathway, which synthesizes the building blocks of isoprenoids, including carotenoids. Two carotenogenic genes, and , were also identified as Sre1 direct target genes. Thus, carotenogenesis in is regulated by Sre1 through the regulation of the MVA pathway and the regulation of the and genes. As the gene encodes a cytochrome P450 reductase, Sre1 regulates pathways that include cytochrome P450 enzymes, such as the biosynthesis of carotenoids and sterols. These results demonstrate that Sre1 is a sterol master regulator that is conserved in .