scholarly journals Partitioning of the 2-μm Circle Plasmid of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

2000 ◽  
Vol 149 (3) ◽  
pp. 553-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soundarapandian Velmurugan ◽  
Xian-Mei Yang ◽  
Clarence S.-M. Chan ◽  
Melanie Dobson ◽  
Makkuni Jayaram

The efficient partitioning of the 2-μm plasmid of Saccharomyces cerevisiae at cell division is dependent on two plasmid-encoded proteins (Rep1p and Rep2p), together with the cis-acting locus REP3 (STB). In addition, host encoded factors are likely to contribute to plasmid segregation. Direct observation of a 2-μm–derived plasmid in live yeast cells indicates that the multiple plasmid copies are located in the nucleus, predominantly in clusters with characteristic shapes. Comparison to a single-tagged chromosome or to a yeast centromeric plasmid shows that the segregation kinetics of the 2-μm plasmid and the chromosome are quite similar during the yeast cell cycle. Immunofluorescence analysis reveals that the plasmid is colocalized with the Rep1 and Rep2 proteins within the yeast nucleus. Furthermore, the Rep proteins (and therefore the plasmid) tend to concentrate near the poles of the yeast mitotic spindle. Depolymerization of the spindle results in partial dispersion of the Rep proteins in the nucleus concomitant with a loosening in the association between plasmid molecules. In an ipl1-2 yeast strain, shifted to the nonpermissive temperature, the chromosomes and plasmid almost always missegregate in tandem. Our results suggest that, after DNA replication, plasmid distribution to the daughter cells occurs in the form of specific DNA-protein aggregates. They further indicate that the plasmid partitioning mechanism may exploit at least some of the components of the cellular machinery required for chromosomal segregation.

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 635-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang-Nim Park ◽  
Xiaohong Zhao ◽  
Yang-In Yim ◽  
Horia Todor ◽  
Robyn Ellerbrock ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The [ PSI + ] yeast prion is formed when Sup35 misfolds into amyloid aggregates. [ PSI + ], like other yeast prions, is dependent on the molecular chaperone Hsp104, which severs the prion seeds so that they pass on as the yeast cells divide. Surprisingly, however, overexpression of Hsp104 also cures [ PSI + ]. Several models have been proposed to explain this effect: inhibition of severing, asymmetric segregation of the seeds between mother and daughter cells, and dissolution of the prion seeds. First, we found that neither the kinetics of curing nor the heterogeneity in the distribution of the green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled Sup35 foci in partially cured yeast cells is compatible with Hsp104 overexpression curing [ PSI + ] by inhibiting severing. Second, we ruled out the asymmetric segregation model by showing that the extent of curing was essentially the same in mother and daughter cells and that the fluorescent foci did not distribute asymmetrically, but rather, there was marked loss of foci in both mother and daughter cells. These results suggest that Hsp104 overexpression cures [ PSI + ] by dissolution of the prion seeds in a two-step process. First, trimming of the prion seeds by Hsp104 reduces their size, and second, their amyloid core is eliminated, most likely by proteolysis.


Genome ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. H. Rank ◽  
W. Xiao ◽  
G. M. Arndt

The 2-μm plasmid of industrial and laboratory strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae exists as two main polymorphic forms designated type I and type II. Polymorphism is restricted to the 3200-bp right unique region where types I and II show approximately 10% nucleotide divergence in trans-acting REP1 and RAF loci and 30% divergence in the cis-acting STB locus. In addition, the cis-acting STB plasmid partition locus of type II plasmids varies in sequence and copy number of a 125-bp repeat. We devised chimeric and 2-μm plasmid stability experiments to evaluate the effect of STB polymorphism on plasmid fitness in amphiploid industrial and haploid laboratory strains. Reciprocal experiments of type-II STB chimeric plasmids in type-I bakers' yeast or a type-I chimeric plasmid in type-II distillers', wine, or haploid strains showed similar partition efficiencies. However, chimeric and 2-μm plasmids carrying a 250-bp STB from a type-II haploid strain had reduced fitness in a type-II industrial wine strain. These results in conjunction with molecular analyses of 2-μm-like and 2-μm plasmids indicates the coevolution of STB with trans-acting plasmid and host-cell factors.Key words: Saccharomyces cerevisiae, 2-μm plasmid, STB adaption.


2008 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 1494-1501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio L. Alves ◽  
Ricardo A. Herberts ◽  
Claudia Hollatz ◽  
Debora Trichez ◽  
Luiz C. Miletti ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Incomplete and/or sluggish maltotriose fermentation causes both quality and economic problems in the ale-brewing industry. Although it has been proposed previously that the sugar uptake must be responsible for these undesirable phenotypes, there have been conflicting reports on whether all the known α-glucoside transporters in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (MALx1, AGT1, and MPH2 and MPH3 transporters) allow efficient maltotriose utilization by yeast cells. We characterized the kinetics of yeast cell growth, sugar consumption, and ethanol production during maltose or maltotriose utilization by several S. cerevisiae yeast strains (both MAL constitutive and MAL inducible) and by their isogenic counterparts with specific deletions of the AGT1 gene. Our results clearly showed that yeast strains carrying functional permeases encoded by the MAL21, MAL31, and/or MAL41 gene in their plasma membranes were unable to utilize maltotriose. While both high- and low-affinity transport activities were responsible for maltose uptake from the medium, in the case of maltotriose, the only low-affinity (Km , 36 ± 2 mM) transport activity was mediated by the AGT1 permease. In conclusion, the AGT1 transporter is required for efficient maltotriose fermentation by S. cerevisiae yeasts, highlighting the importance of this permease for breeding and/or selection programs aimed at improving sluggish maltotriose fermentations.


Antioxidants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 947
Author(s):  
Mercè Sunyer-Figueres ◽  
Jennifer Vázquez ◽  
Albert Mas ◽  
María-Jesús Torija ◽  
Gemma Beltran

Melatonin is a ubiquitous indolamine that plays important roles in various aspects of biological processes in mammals. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, melatonin has been reported to exhibit antioxidant properties and to modulate the expression of some genes involved in endogenous defense systems. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of supplemented melatonin at the transcriptional level in S. cerevisiae in the presence and absence of oxidative stress. This was achieved by exposing yeast cells pretreated with different melatonin concentrations to hydrogen peroxide and assessing the entry of melatonin into the cell and the yeast response at the transcriptional level (by microarray and qPCR analyses) and the physiological level (by analyzing changes in the lipid composition and mitochondrial activity). We found that exogenous melatonin crossed cellular membranes at nanomolar concentrations and modulated the expression of many genes, mainly downregulating the expression of mitochondrial genes in the absence of oxidative stress, triggering a hypoxia-like response, and upregulating them under stress, mainly the cytochrome complex and electron transport chain. Other categories that were enriched by the effect of melatonin were related to transport, antioxidant activity, signaling, and carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. The overall results suggest that melatonin is able to reprogram the cellular machinery to achieve tolerance to oxidative stress.


2006 ◽  
Vol 174 (6) ◽  
pp. 747-749 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harmit S. Malik

Most strains of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae contain many copies of a 2-μm plasmid, a selfish autonomously replicating DNA that relies on two different mechanisms to ensure its survival. One of these mechanisms involves the high fidelity segregation of the plasmids to daughter cells during cell division, a property that is starkly reminiscent of centromeres. A new study reported in this issue (see Hajra et al. on p. 779) demonstrates that this high fidelity is achieved by the 2-μm plasmid, effectively recruiting the centromeric histone Cse4 from its host yeast cell to forge its own centromere and finally revealing how the 2-μm plasmid has survived in budding yeasts over millions of years.


Genetics ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 162 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi-Yung Lai ◽  
Ewa Jaruga ◽  
Corina Borghouts ◽  
S Michal Jazwinski

Abstract The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae reproduces by asymmetric cell division, or budding. In each cell division, the daughter cell is usually smaller and younger than the mother cell, as defined by the number of divisions it can potentially complete before it dies. Although individual yeast cells have a limited life span, this age asymmetry between mother and daughter ensures that the yeast strain remains immortal. To understand the mechanisms underlying age asymmetry, we have isolated temperature-sensitive mutants that have limited growth capacity. One of these clonal-senescence mutants was in ATP2, the gene encoding the β-subunit of mitochondrial F1, F0-ATPase. A point mutation in this gene caused a valine-to-isoleucine substitution at the ninetieth amino acid of the mature polypeptide. This mutation did not affect the growth rate on a nonfermentable carbon source. Life-span determinations following temperature shift-down showed that the clonal-senescence phenotype results from a loss of age asymmetry at 36°, such that daughters are born old. It was characterized by a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential followed by the lack of proper segregation of active mitochondria to daughter cells. This was associated with a change in mitochondrial morphology and distribution in the mother cell and ultimately resulted in the generation of cells totally lacking mitochondria. The results indicate that segregation of active mitochondria to daughter cells is important for maintenance of age asymmetry and raise the possibility that mitochondrial dysfunction may be a normal cause of aging. The finding that dysfunctional mitochondria accumulated in yeasts as they aged and the propensity for old mother cells to produce daughters depleted of active mitochondria lend support to this notion. We propose, more generally, that age asymmetry depends on partition of active and undamaged cellular components to the progeny and that this “filter” breaks down with age.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanfei Cheng ◽  
Hui Zhu ◽  
Zhengda Du ◽  
Xuena Guo ◽  
Chenyao Zhou ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Saccharomyces cerevisiae is well-known as an ideal model system for basic research and important industrial microorganism for biotechnological applications. Acetic acid is an important growth inhibitor that has deleterious effects on both the growth and fermentation performance of yeast cells. Comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying S. cerevisiae adaptive response to acetic acid is always a focus and indispensable for development of robust industrial strains. eIF5A is a specific translation factor that is especially required for the formation of peptide bond between certain residues including proline regarded as poor substrates for slow peptide bond formation. Decrease of eIF5A activity resulted in temperature-sensitive phenotype of yeast, while up-regulation of eIF5A protected transgenic Arabidopsis against high temperature, oxidative or osmotic stress. However, the exact roles and functional mechanisms of eIF5A in stress response are as yet largely unknown. Results In this research, we compared cell growth between the eIF5A overexpressing and the control S. cerevisiae strains under various stressed conditions. Improvement of acetic acid tolerance by enhanced eIF5A activity was observed all in spot assay, growth profiles and survival assay. eIF5A prompts the synthesis of Ume6p, a pleiotropic transcriptional factor containing polyproline motifs, mainly in a translational related way. As a consequence, BEM4, BUD21 and IME4, the direct targets of Ume6p, were up-regulated in eIF5A overexpressing strain, especially under acetic acid stress. Overexpression of UME6 results in similar profiles of cell growth and target genes transcription to eIF5A overexpression, confirming the role of Ume6p and its association between eIF5A and acetic acid tolerance. Conclusion Translation factor eIF5A protects yeast cells against acetic acid challenge by the eIF5A-Ume6p-Bud21p/Ime4p/Bem4p axles, which provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the adaptive response and tolerance to acetic acid in S. cerevisiae and novel targets for construction of robust industrial strains.


Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 219
Author(s):  
Il-Sup Kim ◽  
Woong Choi ◽  
Jonghyeon Son ◽  
Jun Hyuck Lee ◽  
Hyoungseok Lee ◽  
...  

The cryoprotection of cell activity is a key determinant in frozen-dough technology. Although several factors that contribute to freezing tolerance have been reported, the mechanism underlying the manner in which yeast cells respond to freezing and thawing (FT) stress is not well established. Therefore, the present study demonstrated the relationship between DaMDHAR encoding monodehydroascorbate reductase from Antarctic hairgrass Deschampsia antarctica and stress tolerance to repeated FT cycles (FT2) in transgenic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. DaMDHAR-expressing yeast (DM) cells identified by immunoblotting analysis showed high tolerance to FT stress conditions, thereby causing lower damage for yeast cells than wild-type (WT) cells with empty vector alone. To detect FT2 tolerance-associated genes, 3′-quant RNA sequencing was employed using mRNA isolated from DM and WT cells exposed to FT (FT2) conditions. Approximately 332 genes showed ≥2-fold changes in DM cells and were classified into various groups according to their gene expression. The expressions of the changed genes were further confirmed using western blot analysis and biochemical assay. The upregulated expression of 197 genes was associated with pentose phosphate pathway, NADP metabolic process, metal ion homeostasis, sulfate assimilation, β-alanine metabolism, glycerol synthesis, and integral component of mitochondrial and plasma membrane (PM) in DM cells under FT2 stress, whereas the expression of the remaining 135 genes was partially related to protein processing, selenocompound metabolism, cell cycle arrest, oxidative phosphorylation, and α-glucoside transport under the same condition. With regard to transcription factors in DM cells, MSN4 and CIN5 were activated, but MSN2 and MGA1 were not. Regarding antioxidant systems and protein kinases in DM cells under FT stress, CTT1, GTO, GEX1, and YOL024W were upregulated, whereas AIF1, COX2, and TRX3 were not. Gene activation represented by transcription factors and enzymatic antioxidants appears to be associated with FT2-stress tolerance in transgenic yeast cells. RCK1, MET14, and SIP18, but not YPK2, have been known to be involved in the protein kinase-mediated signalling pathway and glycogen synthesis. Moreover, SPI18 and HSP12 encoding hydrophilin in the PM were detected. Therefore, it was concluded that the genetic network via the change of gene expression levels of multiple genes contributing to the stabilization and functionality of the mitochondria and PM, not of a single gene, might be the crucial determinant for FT tolerance in DaMDAHR-expressing transgenic yeast. These findings provide a foundation for elucidating the DaMDHAR-dependent molecular mechanism of the complex functional resistance in the cellular response to FT stress.


Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 850
Author(s):  
Karolina Nowosad ◽  
Monika Sujka ◽  
Urszula Pankiewicz ◽  
Damijan Miklavčič ◽  
Marta Arczewska

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of a pulsed electric field (PEF) on the level of iron ion accumulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells and to select PEF conditions optimal for the highest uptake of this element. Iron ions were accumulated most efficiently when their source was iron (III) nitrate. When the following conditions of PEF treatment were used: voltage 1500 V, pulse width 10 μs, treatment time 20 min, and a number of pulses 1200, accumulation of iron ions in the cells from a 20 h-culture reached a maximum value of 48.01 mg/g dry mass. Application of the optimal PEF conditions thus increased iron accumulation in cells by 157% as compared to the sample enriched with iron without PEF. The second derivative of the FTIR spectra of iron-loaded and -unloaded yeast cells allowed us to determine the functional groups which may be involved in metal ion binding. The exposure of cells to PEF treatment only slightly influenced the biomass and cell viability. However, iron-enriched yeast (both with or without PEF) showed lower fermentative activity than a control sample. Thus obtained yeast biomass containing a high amount of incorporated iron may serve as an alternative to pharmacological supplementation in the state of iron deficiency.


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