Abstract
Background
Prions are proteinaceous infectious particles that act as pathogens and cause the development of lethal neurodegenerative diseases in humans and other animals. Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a widespread model system in which mechanisms of prion induction and elimination have been identified. New and safe substances and methods are being sought to cure cells of prion proteins. It is particularly important that by treating cells from prions and restoring them from the [PSI+] to the [psi−] form, the primary growth of the cells is restored. One of the main objectives of this study was to determine the growth dynamics of S. cerevisiae cells with different [PSI+] prion variants, cells that have lost [PSI+] prion variants, and cells that never had [PSI+] prion variants.
Results
In this research, we applied GuHCl and combined GuHCl and PEF treatment against [PSI+] prion. We evaluated cells culture growth dynamics – optical density and doubling time and determined that method of [PSI+] prion elimination does not affect cell doubling time. Also, we found that both elimination methods affect the optical density reached by [psi−] cells. However, the cells in which the [PSI+] prion has been eliminated by GuHCl alone are able to reach the same optical density as unaffected [psi−] cells and higher optical density than the affected [psi−] cells by GuHCl alone.
Conclusions
These findings indicate the potential long-term positive effect of [PSI+] prion on cell growth, which persists after [PSI+] removal.
Elimination of [PSI+] Prion and Influence on Yeast Cell Growth
