scholarly journals ARE MITOTIC FUNCTIONS REQUIRED IN MEIOSIS?

Genetics ◽  
1974 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 745-753
Author(s):  
G Simchen

ABSTRACT Sporulation of diploid yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), homozygous or heterozygous for temperature-sensitive mitotic cell-cycle mutations, was examined at the restrictive and permissive temperatures. Twenty genes, represented by 32 heterozygotes and 60 homozygotes, were divided into three groups, showing (i) normal sporulation, (ii) no sporulation at the restrictive temperature but normal sporulation at the permissive temperature, (iii) no sporulation at both temperatures. Group (i) as well as several other strains were tested for their meiotic behavior with regard to intragenic recombination and haploidization. The conclusion reached was that all the mitotic nuclear-division and DNA-synthesis functions were required in meiosis. The only cell-division mutations not to affect meiosis were in three cytokinesis loci and in one budemergence locus.

1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 6350-6360
Author(s):  
F Houman ◽  
C Holm

To investigate chromosome segregation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we examined a collection of temperature-sensitive mutants that arrest as large-budded cells at restrictive temperatures (L. H. Johnston and A. P. Thomas, Mol. Gen. Genet. 186:439-444, 1982). We characterized dbf8, a mutation that causes cells to arrest with a 2c DNA content and a short spindle. DBF8 maps to chromosome IX near the centromere, and it encodes a 36-kDa protein that is essential for viability at all temperatures. Mutational analysis reveals that three dbf8 alleles are nonsense mutations affecting the carboxy-terminal third of the encoded protein. Since all of these mutations confer temperature sensitivity, it appears that the carboxyl-terminal third of the protein is essential only at a restrictive temperature. In support of this conclusion, an insertion of URA3 at the same position also confers a temperature-sensitive phenotype. Although they show no evidence of DNA damage, dbf8 mutants exhibit increased rates of chromosome loss and nondisjunction even at a permissive temperature. Taken together, our data suggest that Dbf8p plays an essential role in chromosome segregation.


1982 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 718-726 ◽  
Author(s):  
J S Wood ◽  
L H Hartwell

Methyl-benzimidazole-2-ylcarbamate (MBC) inhibits the mitotic cell cycle of Saccharomyces cerevisiae at a stage subsequent to DNA synthesis and before the completion of nuclear division (Quinlan, R. A., C. I. Pogson, and K, Gull, 1980, J Cell Sci., 46: 341-352). The step in the cell cycle that is sensitive to MBC inhibition was ordered to reciprocal shift experiments with respect to the step catalyzed by cdc gene products. Execution of the CDC7 step is required for the initiation of DNA synthesis and for completion of the MBC-sensitive step. Results obtained with mutants (cdc2, 6, 8, 9, and 21) defective in DNA replication and with an inhibitor of DNA replication (hydroxyurea) suggest that some DNA replication required for execution of the MBC-sensitive step but that the completion of replication is not. Of particular interest were mutants (cdc5, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 23) that arrest cell division after DNA replication but before nuclear division since previous experiments had not been able to resolve the pathway of events in this part of the cell cycle. Execution of the CDC17 step was found to be a prerequisite for execution of the MBC-sensitive step; the CDC13, 16 and 23 steps are executed independently of the MBC-sensitive step; execution of the MBC-sensitive step is prerequisite for execution of the MBC-sensitive step; execution of the MBC-sensitive step is prerequisite for execution of the CDC14 and 23 steps. These results considerably extend the dependent pathway of events that constitute the cell cycle of S. cerevisiae.


Genetics ◽  
1978 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-68
Author(s):  
Yona Kassir ◽  
Giora Simchen

ABSTRACT Vegetative cells carrying the new temperature-sensitive mutation cdc40 arrest at the restrictive temperature with a medial nuclear division phenotype. DNA replication is observed under these conditions, but most cells remain sensitive to hydroxyurea and do not complete the ongoing cell cycle if the drug is present during release from the temperature block. It is suggested that the cdc40 lesion affects an essential function in DNA synthesis. Normal meiosis is observed at the permissive temperature in cdc40 homozygotes. At the restrictive temperature, a full round of premeiotic DNA replication is observed, but neither commitment to recombination nor later meiotic events occur. Meiotic cells that are already committed to the recombination process at the permissive temperature do not complete it if transferred to the restrictive temperature before recombination is realized. These temperature shift-up experiments demonstrate that the CDC40 function is required for the completion of recombination events, as well as for the earlier stage of recombination commitment. Temperature shift-down experiments with cdc40 homozygotes suggest that meiotic segregation depends on the final events of recombination rather than on commitment to recombination.


1984 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leland H. Johnston ◽  
Anthony L. Johnson

SUMMARYThe occurrence of induced recombination in the mitotic cell cycle in yeast has been analysed using conditional cell-cycle mutants held at the restrictive temperature. The strains used were heteroallelic atgalland assaying for functional galactokinase shortly after irradiation (Johnston, 1982) allowed an unambiguous determination of the cell cycle stages in which recombination could occur. Recombination was observed in most strains, including those with thecdc36mutation, defective in ‘start’; thecdc4, 7anddbf4mutations which arrest cells in G1; thedbf1, 2andcdc6mutations affecting S phase;cdc16andcdc17which block cells in G2 and alsocdc14and15which arrest cells in ‘late nuclear division’. Recombination can therefore occur within each of the major phases of the yeast cell cycle. This analysis has also revealed that thecdc8mutation results in a defect in induced mitotic recombination.


1993 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Raths ◽  
J Rohrer ◽  
F Crausaz ◽  
H Riezman

alpha-factor, one of two peptide hormones responsible for synchronized mating between MATa and MAT alpha-cell types in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, binds to its cell surface receptor and is internalized in a time-, temperature-, and energy-dependent manner (Chvatchko, Y., I. Howald, and H. Riezman. 1986. Cell. 46:355-364). After internalization, alpha-factor is delivered to the vacuole via vesicular intermediates and degraded there consistent with an endocytic mechanism (Singer, B., and H. Riezman. 1990. J. Cell Biol. 110:1911-1922; Chvatchko, Y., I. Howald, and H. Riezman. 1986. Cell. 46:355-364). We have isolated two mutants that are defective in the internalization process. Both mutations confer a recessive, temperature-sensitive growth phenotype upon cells that cosegregates with their endocytosis defect. Lucifer yellow, a marker for fluid-phase endocytosis, shows accumulation characteristics in the mutants that are similar to the uptake characteristics of 35S-alpha-factor. The endocytic defect in end4 cells appears immediately upon shift to restrictive temperature and is reversible at permissive temperature if new protein synthesis is allowed. Furthermore, the end4 mutation only affects alpha-factor internalization and not the later delivery of alpha-factor to the vacuole. Other vesicle-mediated processes seem to be normal in end3 and end4 mutants. END3 and END4 are the first genes shown to be necessary for the internalization step of receptor-borne and fluid-phase markers in yeast.


Genetics ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 144 (4) ◽  
pp. 1387-1397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela K Foreman ◽  
Ronald W Davis

To identify new gene products involved in chromosome segregation, we isolated Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants that require centromere binding factor I (Cbf1p) for viability. One Cbf1p-dependent mutant (denoted cdp1-1) was selected for further analysis. The CDP1 gene encodes a novel 125-kD protein that is notably similar to previously identified mouse, human and Caenorhabditis elegans proteins. CDP1Δ and cdp1-1 mutant cells were temperature sensitive for growth. At the permissive temperature, cdp1-1 and cdp1Δ cells lost chromosomes at a frequencies ∼20-fold and ∼110-fold higher than wild-type cells, respectively. These mutants also displayed unusually long and numerous bundles of cytoplasmic microtubules as revealed by immunofluorescent staining. In addition, we occasionally observed improperly oriented mitotic spindles, residing entirely within one of the cells. Presumably as a result of undergoing nuclear division with improperly oriented spindles, a large percentage of cdp1 cells had accumulated multiple nuclei. While cdp1 mutant cells were hypersensitive to the microtubule-disrupting compound thiabendazole, they showed increased resistance to the closely related compound benomyl relative to wild-type cells. Taken together, these results suggest that Cdp1p plays a role in governing tubulin dynamics within the cell and may interact directly with microtubules or tubulin.


1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 6350-6360 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Houman ◽  
C Holm

To investigate chromosome segregation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we examined a collection of temperature-sensitive mutants that arrest as large-budded cells at restrictive temperatures (L. H. Johnston and A. P. Thomas, Mol. Gen. Genet. 186:439-444, 1982). We characterized dbf8, a mutation that causes cells to arrest with a 2c DNA content and a short spindle. DBF8 maps to chromosome IX near the centromere, and it encodes a 36-kDa protein that is essential for viability at all temperatures. Mutational analysis reveals that three dbf8 alleles are nonsense mutations affecting the carboxy-terminal third of the encoded protein. Since all of these mutations confer temperature sensitivity, it appears that the carboxyl-terminal third of the protein is essential only at a restrictive temperature. In support of this conclusion, an insertion of URA3 at the same position also confers a temperature-sensitive phenotype. Although they show no evidence of DNA damage, dbf8 mutants exhibit increased rates of chromosome loss and nondisjunction even at a permissive temperature. Taken together, our data suggest that Dbf8p plays an essential role in chromosome segregation.


Genetics ◽  
1977 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-72
Author(s):  
G Simchen ◽  
J Hirschberg

ABSTRACT The mitotic cell-cycle mutation cdc4 has been reported to block the initiation of nuclear DNA replication and the separation of spindle plaques after their replication. Meiosis in cdc4/cdc4 diploids is normal at the permissive temperature (25°) and is arrested at the first division (one-nucleus stage) at the restrictive temperature (34° or 36°). Arrested cells at 34° show a high degree of commitment to recombination (at least 50% of the controls) but no haploidization, while cells arrested at 36° are not committed to recombination. Meiotic cells arrested at 34° show a delayed and reduced synthesis of DNA (at most 40% of the control), at least half of which is probably mitochondrial. It is suggested that recombination commitment does not depend on the completion of nuclear premeiotic DNA replication in sporulation medium.—Transfer of cdc4/cdc4 cells to the restrictive temperature at the onset of sporulation produces a uniform phenotype of arrest at a 1-nucleus morphology. On the other hand, shifts of the meiotic cells to the restrictive temperature at later times produce two additional phenotypes of arrest, thus suggesting that the function of cdc4 is required at several points in meiosis (at least at three different times).


Genetics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 155 (2) ◽  
pp. 509-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa M Stone ◽  
Cheryl Reifsnyder ◽  
Mitch McVey ◽  
Brandy Gazo ◽  
Lorraine Pillus

Abstract Silent information regulators, or Sir proteins, play distinct roles in chromatin-mediated transcriptional control at the silent mating-type loci, telomeres, and within the rDNA repeats of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. An unusual collection of sir3 mutant alleles was identified in a genetic screen for enhancers of the sir1 mutant mating-defective phenotype. These sir3-eso mutants, like the sir1 mutant, exhibit little or no mating defects alone, but the sir1 sir3-eso double mutants are essentially nonmating. All of the sir3-eso mutants are defective in telomeric silencing. In some mutants, this phenotype is suppressed by tethering Sir1p to telomeres; other mutants are dominant for mating and telomeric silencing defects. Additionally, several sir3-eso mutants are nonmating in combination with the nat1 N-terminal acetyltransferase mutant. The temperature-sensitive allele sir3-8 has an eso phenotype at permissive temperature, yet acts as a null allele at restrictive temperature due to loss of sir3-8 protein. Sequence analysis showed that eight of the nine sir3-eso alleles have mutations within the N-terminal region that is highly similar to the DNA replication initiation protein Orc1p. Together, these data reveal modular domains for Sir3p and further define its function in silencing chromatin.


Genetics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 157 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet R Mullen ◽  
Vivek Kaliraman ◽  
Samer S Ibrahim ◽  
Steven J Brill

Abstract The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Sgs1 protein is a member of the RecQ family of DNA helicases and is required for genome stability, but not cell viability. To identify proteins that function in the absence of Sgs1, a synthetic-lethal screen was performed. We obtained mutations in six complementation groups that we refer to as SLX genes. Most of the SLX genes encode uncharacterized open reading frames that are conserved in other species. None of these genes is required for viability and all SLX null mutations are synthetically lethal with mutations in TOP3, encoding the SGS1-interacting DNA topoisomerase. Analysis of the null mutants identified a pair of genes in each of three phenotypic classes. Mutations in MMS4 (SLX2) and SLX3 generate identical phenotypes, including weak UV and strong MMS hypersensitivity, complete loss of sporulation, and synthetic growth defects with mutations in TOP1. Mms4 and Slx3 proteins coimmunoprecipitate from cell extracts, suggesting that they function in a complex. Mutations in SLX5 and SLX8 generate hydroxyurea sensitivity, reduced sporulation efficiency, and a slow-growth phenotype characterized by heterogeneous colony morphology. The Slx5 and Slx8 proteins contain RING finger domains and coimmunoprecipitate from cell extracts. The SLX1 and SLX4 genes are required for viability in the presence of an sgs1 temperature-sensitive allele at the restrictive temperature and Slx1 and Slx4 proteins are similarly associated in cell extracts. We propose that the MMS4/SLX3, SLX5/8, and SLX1/4 gene pairs encode heterodimeric complexes and speculate that these complexes are required to resolve recombination intermediates that arise in response to DNA damage, during meiosis, and in the absence of SGS1/TOP3.


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