scholarly journals The asymmetric chemical structures of two mating pheromones reflect their differential roles in mating of fission yeast

2019 ◽  
Vol 132 (12) ◽  
pp. jcs230722 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taisuke Seike ◽  
Hiromi Maekawa ◽  
Taro Nakamura ◽  
Chikashi Shimoda
PLoS Biology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. e3000101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taisuke Seike ◽  
Chikashi Shimoda ◽  
Hironori Niki

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taisuke Seike ◽  
Hiromi Maekawa ◽  
Taro Nakamura ◽  
Chikashi Shimoda

AbstractIn the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the mating reaction is controlled by two mating pheromones, M-factor and P-factor, secreted by M- and P-type cells, respectively. M-factor is a C-terminally farnesylated lipid peptide, whereas P-factor is a simple peptide. To examine whether this chemical asymmetry in the two pheromones is essential for conjugation, we constructed a mating system in which either pheromone can stimulate both M- and P-cells, and examined whether the resulting autocrine strains can mate. Autocrine M-cells responding to M-factor successfully mated with P-factor-less P-cells, indicating that P-factor is not essential for conjugation; by contrast, autocrine P-cells responding to P-factor were unable to mate with M-factor-less M-cells. The sterility of the autocrine P-cells was completely recovered by expressing the M-factor receptor. These observations indicate that the different chemical characteristics of the two types of pheromone, a lipid and a simple peptide, are not essential; however, a lipid peptide is absolutely required for successful mating. Our findings allow us to propose a model of the differential roles of M-factor and P-factor in conjugation of S. pombe.Summary statementLipid pheromone peptides secreted locally from one cell may be concentrated at the fusion site with an opposite mating-type cell, which then polarizes to enable successful conjugation in S. pombe.


1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 4964-4970 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Willer ◽  
L Hoffmann ◽  
U Styrkársdóttir ◽  
R Egel ◽  
J Davey ◽  
...  

The mat1 locus is a key regulator of both conjugation and meiosis in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Two alternative DNA segments of this locus, mat1-P and mat1-M, specify the haploid cell types (Plus and Minus). Each segment includes two genes: mat1-P includes mat1-Pc and mat1-Pm, while mat1-M includes mat1-Mc and mat1-Mm. The mat1-Pc and mat1-Mc genes are responsible for establishing the pheromone communication system that mediates conjugation between P and M cells, while all four mat1 genes are required for meiosis in diploid P/M cells. Our understanding of the initiation of meiosis is based largely on indirect observations, and a more precise investigation of these events was required to define the interaction between the mat1 genes. Here we resolve this issue using synthetic pheromones and P/M strains with mutations in either mat1-Pc or mat1-Mc. Our results suggest a model in which the mat1 locus plays two roles in controlling meiosis. In the first instance, the mat1-Pc and mat1-Mc functions are required to produce the mating pheromones and receptors that allow the generation of a pheromone signal. This signal is required to induce the expression of mat1-Pm and mat1-Mm. This appears to be the major pheromone-dependent step in controlling meiosis since ectopic expression of these genes allows meiosis in the absence of mat1-Pc and mat1-Mc. The mat1-Pm and mat1-Mm products complete the initiation of meiosis by activating transcription of the mei3 gene.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taisuke Seike ◽  
Chikashi Shimoda ◽  
Hironori Niki

AbstractIn fungi, mating between partners critically depends on the molecular recognition of two peptidyl mating pheromones by their respective receptors. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe has two mating types, Plus (P) and Minus (M), which secrete two different mating pheromones: P-factor recognized by Mam2, and M-factor recognized by Map3, respectively. Our recent study demonstrated that a few mutations in both M-factor and Map3 can trigger reproductive isolation, a cause of speciation, in S. pombe. Here we explored the mechanism underlying reproductive isolation through genetic changes of pheromones and receptors. We investigated the diversity of genes encoding the pheromones and their receptor in 150 S. pombe wild strains. Whereas the amino acid sequences of M-factor and Map3 were completely conserved, those of P-factor and Mam2 were very diverse. In addition, the P-factor gene contained varying numbers of tandem repeats of P-factor (4–8 repeats). We also explored the recognition specificity of pheromones between S. pombe (Sp) and its close relative Schizosaccharomyces octosporus (So). So-M-factor did not have an effect on S. pombe P-cells, but So-P-factor had a partial effect on S. pombe M-cells, allowing them to mate successfully. Thus, recognition of M-factor seems to be tight, whereas that of P-factor is relatively loose. Moreover, diversity of P-factor and Mam2 might be due to a P-factor-specific peptidase. Overall, the asymmetric system for pheromone recognition in yeasts seems to allow flexible adaptation to mutational changes in the combination of pheromone and receptor while maintaining tight recognition for mating partners.


Author(s):  
N.-H. Cho ◽  
K.M. Krishnan ◽  
D.B. Bogy

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films have attracted much attention due to their useful properties and applications. These properties are quite variable depending on film preparation techniques and conditions, DLC is a metastable state formed from highly non-equilibrium phases during the condensation of ionized particles. The nature of the films is therefore strongly dependent on their particular chemical structures. In this study, electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) was used to investigate how the chemical bonding configurations of DLC films vary as a function of sputtering power densities. The electrical resistivity of the films was determined, and related to their chemical structure.DLC films with a thickness of about 300Å were prepared at 0.1, 1.1, 2.1, and 10.0 watts/cm2, respectively, on NaCl substrates by d.c. magnetron sputtering. EEL spectra were obtained from diamond, graphite, and the films using a JEOL 200 CX electron microscope operating at 200 kV. A Gatan parallel EEL spectrometer and a Kevex data aquisition system were used to analyze the energy distribution of transmitted electrons. The electrical resistivity of the films was measured by the four point probe method.


Author(s):  
Atsuko Shirai ◽  
Akihisa Matsuyama ◽  
Yoko Yashiroda ◽  
Ritsuko Arai ◽  
Minoru Yoshida

2013 ◽  
Vol 67 (10) ◽  
pp. 1131-1136
Author(s):  
Toshiyuki Takano
Keyword(s):  

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
William A. Shirley ◽  
Brian P. Kelley ◽  
Yohann Potier ◽  
John H. Koschwanez ◽  
Robert Bruccoleri ◽  
...  

This pre-print explores ensemble modeling of natural product targets to match chemical structures to precursors found in large open-source gene cluster repository antiSMASH. Commentary on method, effectiveness, and limitations are enclosed. All structures are public domain molecules and have been reviewed for release.


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