scholarly journals The Short Life Span of Saccharomyces cerevisiae sgs1 and srs2 Mutants Is a Composite of Normal Aging Processes and Mitotic Arrest Due to Defective Recombination

Genetics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 157 (4) ◽  
pp. 1531-1542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitch McVey ◽  
Matt Kaeberlein ◽  
Heidi A Tissenbaum ◽  
Leonard Guarente

Abstract Evidence from many organisms indicates that the conserved RecQ helicases function in the maintenance of genomic stability. Mutation of SGS1 and WRN, which encode RecQ homologues in budding yeast and humans, respectively, results in phenotypes characteristic of premature aging. Mutation of SRS2, another DNA helicase, causes synthetic slow growth in an sgs1 background. In this work, we demonstrate that srs2 mutants have a shortened life span similar to sgs1 mutants. Further dissection of the sgs1 and srs2 survival curves reveals two distinct phenomena. A majority of sgs1 and srs2 cells stops dividing stochastically as large-budded cells. This mitotic cell cycle arrest is age independent and requires the RAD9-dependent DNA damage checkpoint. Late-generation sgs1 and srs2 cells senesce due to apparent premature aging, most likely involving the accumulation of extrachromosomal rDNA circles. Double sgs1 srs2 mutants are viable but have a high stochastic rate of terminal G2/M arrest. This arrest can be suppressed by mutations in RAD51, RAD52, and RAD57, suggesting that the cell cycle defect in sgs1 srs2 mutants results from inappropriate homologous recombination. Finally, mutation of RAD1 or RAD50 exacerbates the growth defect of sgs1 srs2 cells, indicating that sgs1 srs2 mutants may utilize single-strand annealing as an alternative repair pathway.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
So-mi Kang ◽  
Min-Ho Yoon ◽  
Su-Jin Lee ◽  
Jinsook Ahn ◽  
Sang Ah Yi ◽  
...  

AbstractWerner syndrome (WRN) is a rare progressive genetic disorder, caused by functional defects in WRN protein and RecQ4L DNA helicase. Acceleration of the aging process is initiated at puberty and the expected life span is approximately the late 50 s. However, a Wrn-deficient mouse model does not show premature aging phenotypes or a short life span, implying that aging processes differ greatly between humans and mice. Gene expression analysis of WRN cells reveals very similar results to gene expression analysis of Hutchinson Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) cells, suggesting that these human progeroid syndromes share a common pathological mechanism. Here we show that WRN cells also express progerin, an abnormal variant of the lamin A protein. In addition, we reveal that duplicated sequences of human WRN (hWRN) from exon 9 to exon 10, which differ from the sequence of mouse WRN (mWRN), are a natural inhibitor of progerin. Overexpression of hWRN reduced progerin expression and aging features in HGPS cells. Furthermore, the elimination of progerin by siRNA or a progerin-inhibitor (SLC-D011 also called progerinin) can ameliorate senescence phenotypes in WRN fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes, derived from WRN-iPSCs. These results suggest that progerin, which easily accumulates under WRN-deficient conditions, can lead to premature aging in WRN and that this effect can be prevented by SLC-D011.


2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 3286-3291 ◽  
Author(s):  
David B. Lombard ◽  
Caroline Beard ◽  
Brad Johnson ◽  
Robert A. Marciniak ◽  
Jessie Dausman ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Werner's syndrome (WS) is a human disease with manifestations resembling premature aging. The gene defective in WS, WRN, encodes a DNA helicase. Here, we describe the generation of mice bearing a mutation that eliminates expression of the C terminus of the helicase domain of the WRN protein. Mutant mice are born at the expected Mendelian frequency and do not show any overt histological signs of accelerated senescence. These mice are capable of living beyond 2 years of age. Cells from these animals do not show elevated susceptibility to the genotoxins camptothecin or 4-NQO. However, mutant fibroblasts senesce approximately one passage earlier than controls. Importantly,WRN−/− ;p53−/− mice show an increased mortality rate relative toWRN+/− ;p53−/− animals. We consider possible models for the synergy betweenp53 and WRN mutations for the determination of life span.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Velázquez ◽  
Marcel Albacar ◽  
Chunyi Zhang ◽  
Carlos Calafí ◽  
María López-Malo ◽  
...  

Abstract Control of the protein phosphorylation status is a major mechanism for regulation of cellular processes, and its alteration often lead to functional disorders. Ppz1, a protein phosphatase only found in fungi, is the most toxic protein when overexpressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To investigate the molecular basis of this phenomenon, we carried out combined genome-wide transcriptomic and phosphoproteomic analyses. We have found that Ppz1 overexpression causes major changes in gene expression, affecting ~ 20% of the genome, together with oxidative stress and increase in total adenylate pools. Concurrently, we observe changes in the phosphorylation pattern of near 400 proteins (mainly dephosphorylated), including many proteins involved in mitotic cell cycle and bud emergence, rapid dephosphorylation of Snf1 and its downstream transcription factor Mig1, and phosphorylation of Hog1 and its downstream transcription factor Sko1. Deletion of HOG1 attenuates the growth defect of Ppz1-overexpressing cells, while that of SKO1 aggravates it. Our results demonstrate that Ppz1 overexpression has a widespread impact in the yeast cells and reveals new aspects of the regulation of the cell cycle.


2003 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 891-908 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elzbieta Pastwa ◽  
Janusz Błasiak

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are a serious threat for the cell and when not repaired or misrepaired can result in mutations or chromosome rearrangements and eventually in cell death. Therefore, cells have evolved a number of pathways to deal with DSB including homologous recombination (HR), single-strand annealing (SSA) and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). In mammals DSBs are primarily repaired by NHEJ and HR, while HR repair dominates in yeast, but this depends also on the phase of the cell cycle. NHEJ functions in all kinds of cells, from bacteria to man, and depends on the structure of DSB termini. In this process two DNA ends are joined directly, usually with no sequence homology, although in the case of same polarity of the single stranded overhangs in DSBs, regions of microhomology are utilized. The usage of microhomology is common in DNA end-joining of physiological DSBs, such as at the coding ends in V(D)J (variable(diversity) joining) recombination. The main components of the NHEJ system in eukaryotes are the catalytic subunit of DNA protein kinase (DNA-PK(cs)), which is recruited by DNA Ku protein, a heterodimer of Ku70 and Ku80, as well as XRCC4 protein and DNA ligase IV. A complex of Rad50/Mre11/Xrs2, a family of Sir proteins and probably other yet unidentified proteins can be also involved in this process. NHEJ and HR may play overlapping roles in the repair of DSBs produced in the S phase of the cell cycle or at replication forks. Aside from DNA repair, NHEJ may play a role in many different processes, including the maintenance of telomeres and integration of HIV-1 genome into a host genome, as well as the insertion of pseudogenes and repetitive sequences into the genome of mammalian cells. Inhibition of NHEJ can be exploited in cancer therapy in radio-sensitizing cancer cells. Identification of all key players and fundamental mechanisms underlying NHEJ still requires further research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (9) ◽  
pp. 879-889 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinbao Li ◽  
Huize Sun ◽  
Yulin Huang ◽  
Yali Wang ◽  
Yuyan Liu ◽  
...  

AbstractDouble strand breaks (DSBs) are the most detrimental type of DNA damage that must be repaired to ensure genome integrity and cell survival. Unrepaired or improperly repaired DSBs can potentially cause tumorigenesis or cell death. DSBs are primarily repaired by non-homologous end joining or homologous recombination (HR). The HR pathway is initiated by processing of the 5′-end of DSBs to generate 3′-end single-strand DNA (ssDNA). Furthermore, the intermediate is channeled to one of the HR sub-pathways, including: (i) double Holliday junction (dHJ) pathway, (ii) synthesis-dependent strand annealing (SDSA), (iii) break-induced replication (BIR), and (iv) single-strand annealing (SSA). In the dHJ sub-pathway, the 3′-ssDNA coated with Rad51 recombinase performs homology search and strand invasion, forming a displacement loop (D-loop). Capture of the second end by the D-loop generates a dHJ intermediate that is subsequently dissolved by DNA helicase or resolved by nucleases, producing non-crossover or crossover products. In SDSA, the newly synthesized strand is displaced from the D-loop and anneals to the end on the other side of the DSBs, producing non-crossovers. In contrast, BIR repairs one-end DSBs by copying the sequence up to the end of the template chromosome, resulting in translocation or loss of heterozygosity. SSA takes place when resection reveals flanking homologous repeats that can anneal, leading to deletion of the intervening sequences. A variety of reporter assays have been developed to monitor distinct HR sub-pathways in both Saccharomyces cerevisiae and mammals. Here, we summarize the principles and representative assays for different HR sub-pathways with an emphasis on the studies in the budding yeast.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yurie Ogura ◽  
Ryoji Kaneko ◽  
Kota Ujibe ◽  
Yuma Wakamatsu ◽  
Hiromi Hirata

AbstractThe klotho gene encodes a transmembrane protein αKlotho that interacts with a fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor in renal tubular epithelial cells and functions as a co-receptor for FGF23, which is an osteocytes-derived hormone. This bone-to-kidney signal promotes urinary phosphate excretion. Interestingly, αKlotho knockout mice show an accelerated aging and a shortened life span. Similarly, C. elegans lacking the αklotho homologue showed a short life span. However, the physiological basis of aging-related function of αklotho remain unclear. The αklotho-deficient vertebrate animals other than mice have been awaited as an alternative model of premature aging. We here employed zebrafish in our study and revealed that αklotho mutant zebrafish appeared to be normal at 3 months postfertilization (mpf) but eventually underwent premature death by 9 mpf, while normal zebrafish is known to survive for 42 months. We also assessed the motor ability of zebrafish in a forced swimming assay and found that αklotho mutant zebrafish displayed reduced swimming performance before their survival declined. A recent study also reported a similar finding that αklotho-deficient zebrafish exhibited a short life span and reduced spontaneous movements. Taken together, these results suggest that αKlotho mutant zebrafish show premature aging and are useful to investigate aging in vertebrates.


Genetics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 158 (2) ◽  
pp. 597-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Malagón ◽  
Andrés Aguilera

AbstractWe have shown that the spt6-140 and spt4-3 mutations, affecting chromatin structure and transcription, stimulate recombination between inverted repeats by a RAD52-dependent mechanism that is very efficient in the absence of RAD51, RAD54, RAD55, and RAD57. Such a mechanism of recombination is RAD1-RAD59-dependent and yields gene conversions highly associated with the inversion of the repeat. The spt6-140 mutation alters transcription and chromatin in our inverted repeats, as determined by Northern and micrococcal nuclease sensitivity analyses, respectively. Hyper-recombination levels are diminished in the absence of transcription. We believe that the chromatin alteration, together with transcription impairment caused by spt6-140, increases the incidence of spontaneous recombination regardless of whether or not it is mediated by Rad51p-dependent strand exchange. Our results suggest that spt6, as well as spt4, primarily stimulates a mechanism of break-induced replication. We discuss the possibility that the chromatin alteration caused by spt6-140 facilitates a Rad52p-mediated one-ended strand invasion event, possibly inefficient in wild-type chromatin. Our results are consistent with the idea that the major mechanism leading to inversions might not be crossing over but break-induced replication followed by single-strand annealing.


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