scholarly journals Yeast cells actively tune their membranes to phase separate at temperatures that scale with growth temperatures

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chantelle L. Leveille ◽  
Caitlin E. Cornell ◽  
Alexey J. Merz ◽  
Sarah L. Keller

Membranes of vacuoles, the lysosomal organelles in yeast, undergo extraordinary changes during the cell's normal growth cycle. The cycle begins with a stage of rapid cell growth. Then, as glucose becomes scarce, growth slows, and the vacuole membranes phase-separate into micron-scale liquid domains. Recent studies suggest that these domains are important for yeast survival by laterally organizing membrane proteins that play a key role in a central signaling pathway conserved among eukaryotes (TORC1). An outstanding question in the field has been whether yeast stringently regulate the phase transition and how they respond to new physical conditions. Here, we measure transition temperatures - an increase of roughly 15°C returns vacuole membranes to a state that appears uniform across a range of growth temperatures. We find that broad populations of yeast grown at a single temperature regulate the transition to occur over a surprisingly narrow temperature range. Moreover, the transition temperature scales linearly with the growth temperature, demonstrating that the cells physiologically adapt to maintain proximity to the transition. Next, we ask how yeast adjust their membranes to achieve phase separation. Specifically, we test how levels of ergosterol, the main sterol in yeast, induce or eliminate membrane domains. We isolate vacuoles from yeast during their rapid stage of growth, when their membranes do not natively exhibit domains. We find that membrane domains materialize when ergosterol is depleted, contradicting the assumption that increases in ergosterol cause membrane phase separation in vivo, and in agreement with prior studies that use artificial and cell-derived membranes.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetsuo Mioka ◽  
Guo Tian ◽  
Wang Shiyao ◽  
Takuma Tsuji ◽  
Takuma Kishimoto ◽  
...  

AbstractMembrane phase separation accompanied with micron-scale domains of lipids and proteins occurs in artificial membranes; however, a similar large phase separation has not been reported in the plasma membrane of the living cells. We demonstrate here that a stable micron-scale protein-free region is generated in the plasma membrane of the yeast mutants lacking phosphatidylserine. We named this region the “void zone”. Transmembrane proteins, peripheral membrane proteins, and certain phospholipids are excluded from the void zone. The void zone is rich in ergosterol and requires ergosterol and sphingolipids for its formation. These characteristics of the void zone are similar to the properties of the cholesterol-enriched domain in phase-separated artificial membranes. We propose that phosphatidylserine prevents the formation of the void zone by preferentially interacting with ergosterol. We also found that void zones were frequently in contact with vacuoles, in which a membrane domain was also formed at the contact site.Summary statementYeast cells lacking phosphatidylserine generate protein-free plasma membrane domains, and vacuoles contact with this domain. This is the first report of micron-scale plasma membrane domains in living cells.


Author(s):  
Hao Wang ◽  
Ruo-Chen Guo ◽  
Xue-Hao Zhang ◽  
Peng-Sheng Fan ◽  
Ben-Li Song ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao Wang ◽  
Ruo-Chen Guo ◽  
Xue-Hao Zhang ◽  
Peng-Sheng Fan ◽  
Ben-Li Song ◽  
...  

2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amparo Pascual-Ahuir ◽  
Ramón Serrano ◽  
Markus Proft

ABSTRACT In the transcriptional response of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to stress, both activators and repressors are implicated. Here we demonstrate that the ion homeostasis determinant,HAL1, is regulated by two antagonistically operating bZIP transcription factors, the Sko1p repressor and the Gcn4p activator. A single CRE-like sequence (CRE HAL1 ) at position −222 to −215 with the palindromic core sequence TTACGTAA is essential for stress-induced expression of HAL1. Down-regulation of HAL1 under normal growth conditions requires specific binding of Sko1p to CRE HAL1 and the corepressor gene SSN6. Release from this repression depends on the function of the high-osmolarity glycerol pathway. The Gcn4p transcriptional activator binds in vitro to the same CRE HAL1 and is necessary for up-regulatedHAL1 expression in vivo, indicating a dual control mechanism by a repressor-activator pair occupying the same promoter target sequence. gcn4 mutants display a strong sensitivity to elevated K+ or Na+ concentrations in the growth medium. In addition to reduced HAL1 expression, this sensitivity is explained by the fact that amino acid uptake is drastically impaired by high Na+ and K+concentrations in wild-type yeast cells. The reduced amino acid biosynthesis of gcn4 mutants would result in amino acid deprivation. Together with the induction of HAL1 by amino acid starvation, these results suggest that salt stress and amino acid availability are physiologically interconnected.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. eabe5905
Author(s):  
Je-Kyung Ryu ◽  
Céline Bouchoux ◽  
Hon Wing Liu ◽  
Eugene Kim ◽  
Masashi Minamino ◽  
...  

Structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) protein complexes are able to extrude DNA loops. While loop extrusion constitutes a fundamental building block of chromosomes, other factors may be equally important. Here, we show that yeast cohesin exhibits pronounced clustering on DNA, with all the hallmarks of biomolecular condensation. DNA-cohesin clusters exhibit liquid-like behavior, showing fusion of clusters, rapid fluorescence recovery after photobleaching and exchange of cohesin with the environment. Strikingly, the in vitro clustering is DNA length dependent, as cohesin forms clusters only on DNA exceeding 3 kilo–base pairs. We discuss how bridging-induced phase separation, a previously unobserved type of biological condensation, can explain the DNA-cohesin clustering through DNA-cohesin-DNA bridges. We confirm that, in yeast cells in vivo, a fraction of cohesin associates with chromatin in a manner consistent with bridging-induced phase separation. Biomolecular condensation by SMC proteins constitutes a new basic principle by which SMC complexes direct genome organization.


Author(s):  
Je-Kyung Ryu ◽  
Celine Bouchoux ◽  
Hon Wing Liu ◽  
Eugene Kim ◽  
Masashi Minamino ◽  
...  

AbstractCohesin is a key protein complex that organizes the spatial structure of chromosomes during interphase. Here, we show that yeast cohesin shows pronounced clustering on DNA in an ATP-independent manner, exhibiting all the hallmarks of phase separation. In vitro visualization of cohesin on DNA shows DNA-cohesin clusters that exhibit liquid-like behavior. This includes mutual fusion and reversible dissociation upon depleting the cohesin concentration, increasing the ionic strength, or adding 1,6-hexanediol, conditions that disrupt weak interactions. We discuss how bridging-induced phase separation can explain the DNA-cohesin clustering through DNA-cohesin-DNA bridges. We confirm that, in vivo, a fraction of cohesin associates with chromatin in yeast cells in a manner consistent with phase separation. Our findings establish that SMC proteins can exhibit phase separation, which has potential to clarify previously unexplained aspects of in vivo SMC behavior and constitute an additional principle by which SMC complexes impact genome organization.One sentence summaryYeast cohesin complex is observed to phase separate with DNA into liquid droplets, which it accomplishes by ATP-independent DNA bridging.


Author(s):  
AMOL SHETE ◽  
PRIYANKA THORAT ◽  
RAJENDRA DOIJAD ◽  
SACHIN SAJANE

Objective: The objectives of present investigation were to prepare and evaluate proniosomes of neomycin sulphate (NS) by coacervation phase separation method by using sorbitan monostearate (span 60) and lecithin as a surfactant to increase the penetration through the skin and study the effect of concentration of the same. Methods: Proniosomes of neomycin sulphate (NS) were prepared by coacervation phase separation method by using span 60 and lecithin. The effect of concentration of span 60 and lecithin was studied by factorial design. The prepared proniosomes were converted to gel by using carbopol as a gelling agent. The prepared formulations were evaluated for entrapment efficiency, in vitro drug diffusion, in vitro antibacterial activity and in vivo skin irritation test etc. Results: All Formulation showed the percentage entrapment efficiency in the range 38.31±0.05% to 77.96±0.06%, good homogeneity and gel was easily spreadable with minimal of shear. Optimized formulation showed enhanced rate of diffusion in vitro, increase in zone of inhibition against staphylococcus aureus, no skin irritation and showed good stability. Conclusion: The results of present study indicates that proniosomal gel formulated by using combination of span 60, Lecithin, cholesterol can be used to enhance skin delivery of NS because of excellent permeation of drug. Developed proniosomal gel formulation was promising carrier for NS


Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 915
Author(s):  
Jazelli Mueterthies ◽  
Davit A. Potoyan

Proteins with low complexity, disordered sequences are receiving increasing attention due to their central roles in the biogenesis and regulation of membraneless organelles. In eukaryotic organisms, a substantial fraction of disordered proteins reside in the nucleus, thereby facilitating the formation of nuclear bodies, nucleolus, and chromatin compartmentalization. The heterochromatin family of proteins (HP1) is an important player in driving the formation of gene silenced mesoscopic heterochromatin B compartments and pericentric regions. Recent experiments have shown that the HP1a sequence of Drosophila melanogaster can undergo liquid-liquid phase separation under both in vitro and in vivo conditions, induced by changes of the monovalent salt concentration. While the phase separation of HP1a is thought to be the mechanism underlying chromatin compartmentalization, the molecular level mechanistic picture of salt-driven phase separation of HP1a has remained poorly understood. The disordered hinge region of HP1a is seen as the driver of salt-induced condensation because of its charge enriched sequence and post-translational modifications. Here, we set out to decipher the mechanisms of salt-induced condensation of HP1a through a systematic study of salt-dependent conformations of single chains and fuzzy dimers of disordered HP1a hinge sequences. Using multiple independent all-atom simulations with and without enhanced sampling, we carry out detailed characterization of conformational ensembles of disordered HP1a chains under different ionic conditions using various polymeric and structural measures. We show that the mobile ion release, enhancement of local transient secondary structural elements, and side-chain exposure to solvent are robust trends that accompany fuzzy dimer formation. Furthermore, we find that salt-induced changes in the ensemble of conformations of HP1a disordered hinge sequence fine-tune the inter-chain vs. self-chain interactions in ways that favor fuzzy dimer formation under low salt conditions in the agreement with condensation trends seen in experiments.


Genetics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 156 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R H Evans ◽  
Brian A Hemmings

Abstract PP2A is a central regulator of eukaryotic signal transduction. The human catalytic subunit PP2Acα functionally replaces the endogenous yeast enzyme, Pph22p, indicating a conservation of function in vivo. Therefore, yeast cells were employed to explore the role of invariant PP2Ac residues. The PP2Acα Y127N substitution abolished essential PP2Ac function in vivo and impaired catalysis severely in vitro, consistent with the prediction from structural studies that Tyr-127 mediates substrate binding and its side chain interacts with the key active site residues His-118 and Asp-88. The V159E substitution similarly impaired PP2Acα catalysis profoundly and may cause global disruption of the active site. Two conditional mutations in the yeast Pph22p protein, F232S and P240H, were found to cause temperature-sensitive impairment of PP2Ac catalytic function in vitro. Thus, the mitotic and cell lysis defects conferred by these mutations result from a loss of PP2Ac enzyme activity. Substitution of the PP2Acα C-terminal Tyr-307 residue by phenylalanine impaired protein function, whereas the Y307D and T304D substitutions abolished essential function in vivo. Nevertheless, Y307D did not reduce PP2Acα catalytic activity significantly in vitro, consistent with an important role for the C terminus in mediating essential protein-protein interactions. Our results identify key residues important for PP2Ac function and characterize new reagents for the study of PP2A in vivo.


Genetics ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 153 (4) ◽  
pp. 1573-1581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanna Chou ◽  
Sukalyan Chatterjee ◽  
Mark Lee ◽  
Kevin Struhl

Abstract The general transcription factor IIA (TFIIA) forms a complex with TFIID at the TATA promoter element, and it inhibits the function of several negative regulators of the TATA-binding protein (TBP) subunit of TFIID. Biochemical experiments suggest that TFIIA is important in the response to transcriptional activators because activation domains can interact with TFIIA, increase recruitment of TFIID and TFIIA to the promoter, and promote isomerization of the TFIID-TFIIA-TATA complex. Here, we describe a double-shut-off approach to deplete yeast cells of Toa1, the large subunit of TFIIA, to <1% of the wild-type level. Interestingly, such TFIIA-depleted cells are essentially unaffected for activation by heat shock factor, Ace1, and Gal4-VP16. However, depletion of TFIIA causes a general two- to threefold decrease of transcription from most yeast promoters and a specific cell-cycle arrest at the G2-M boundary. These results indicate that transcriptional activation in vivo can occur in the absence of TFIIA.


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