Inhibition of Yap2 activity by MAPKAP kinase Rck1 affects yeast tolerance to cadmium

•The absence of Rck1 confers protection against cadmium toxicity.•Yap2 mediates rck1 mutant resistance to cadmium.•Rck1 affects Yap2 activity and interferes with its stability and localization.•Yap2 together with Yap1 mediates the induction of antioxidant genes observed in the rck1 mutant.•Under cadmium stress CWI genes are induced in a Yap2, but not Yap1, dependent manner.