Isolation of the SUP45 omnipotent suppressor gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and characterization of its gene product.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae SUP45+ gene has been isolated from a genomic clone library by genetic complementation of paromomycin sensitivity, which is a property of a mutant strain carrying the sup45-2 allele. This plasmid complements all phenotypes associated with the sup45-2 mutation, including nonsense suppression, temperature sensitivity, osmotic sensitivity, and paromomycin sensitivity. Genetic mapping with a URA3+-marked derivative of the complementing plasmid that was integrated into the chromosome by homologous recombination demonstrated that the complementing fragment contained the SUP45+ gene and not an unlinked suppressor. The SUP45+ gene is present as a single copy in the haploid genome and is essential for viability. In vitro translation of the hybrid-selected SUP45+ transcript yielded a protein of Mr = 54,000, which is larger than any known ribosomal protein. RNA blot hybridization analysis showed that the steady-state level of the SUP45+ transcript is less than 10% of that for ribosomal protein L3 or rp59 transcripts. When yeast cells are subjected to a mild heat shock, the synthesis rate of the SUP45+ transcript was transiently reduced, approximately in parallel with ribosomal protein transcripts. Our data suggest that the SUP45+ gene does not encode a ribosomal protein. We speculate that it codes for a translation-related function whose precise nature is not yet known.

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mRNA transcription in nuclei isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.6.5.1633-1639.1986 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 6 (5) ◽

pp. 1633-1639

Author(s):

J F Jerome ◽

J A Jaehning

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Rna Polymerase Ii ◽

Blot Hybridization ◽

Single Copy ◽

Rna Polymerases ◽

Slot Blot Hybridization ◽

Genes Encoding ◽

Diploid Cells ◽

Alpha Amanitin

We developed an improved method for the isolation of transcriptionally active nuclei from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which allows analysis of specific transcripts. When incubated with alpha-32P-labeled ribonucleoside triphosphates in vitro, nuclei isolated from haploid or diploid cells transcribed rRNA, tRNA, and mRNAs in a strand-specific manner, as shown by slot blot hybridization of the in vitro synthesized RNA to cloned genes encoding 5.8S, 18S and 28S rRNAs, tRNATyr, and GAL7, URA3, TY1 and HIS3 mRNAs. A yeast strain containing a high-copy-number plasmid which overproduced GAL7 mRNA was initially used to facilitate detection of a discrete message. We optimized conditions for the transcription of genes expressed by each of the three yeast nuclear RNA polymerases. Under optimal conditions, labeled transcripts could be detected from single-copy genes normally expressed at low levels in the cells (HIS3 and URA3). We determined that the alpha-amanitin sensitivity of transcript synthesis in the isolated nuclei paralleled the sensitivity of the corresponding purified RNA polymerases; in particular, mRNA synthesis was 50% sensitive to 1 microgram of alpha-amanitin per ml, establishing transcription of mRNA by RNA polymerase II.

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The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Homologue of Mammalian Translation Initiation Factor 6 Does Not Function as a Translation Initiation Factor

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.19.2.1416 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 1416-1426 ◽

Cited By ~ 81

Author(s):

Kausik Si ◽

Umadas Maitra

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Cell Growth ◽

Translation Initiation ◽

Ribosomal Subunit ◽

Single Copy ◽

Translation Initiation Factor ◽

Yeast Cells ◽

Initiation Factor ◽

Ribosomal Subunits

ABSTRACT Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 6 (eIF6) binds to the 60S ribosomal subunit and prevents its association with the 40S ribosomal subunit. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene that encodes the 245-amino-acid eIF6 (calculated M r 25,550), designated TIF6, has been cloned and expressed inEscherichia coli. The purified recombinant protein prevents association between 40S and 60S ribosomal subunits to form 80S ribosomes. TIF6 is a single-copy gene that maps on chromosome XVI and is essential for cell growth. eIF6 expressed in yeast cells associates with free 60S ribosomal subunits but not with 80S monosomes or polysomal ribosomes, indicating that it is not a ribosomal protein. Depletion of eIF6 from yeast cells resulted in a decrease in the rate of protein synthesis, accumulation of half-mer polyribosomes, reduced levels of 60S ribosomal subunits resulting in the stoichiometric imbalance in the 40S/60S subunit ratio, and ultimately cessation of cell growth. Furthermore, lysates of yeast cells depleted of eIF6 remained active in translation of mRNAs in vitro. These results indicate that eIF6 does not act as a true translation initiation factor. Rather, the protein may be involved in the biogenesis and/or stability of 60S ribosomal subunits.

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mRNA transcription in nuclei isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.6.5.1633 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 6 (5) ◽

pp. 1633-1639 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

J F Jerome ◽

J A Jaehning

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Rna Polymerase Ii ◽

Blot Hybridization ◽

Single Copy ◽

Rna Polymerases ◽

Slot Blot Hybridization ◽

Genes Encoding ◽

Diploid Cells ◽

Alpha Amanitin

We developed an improved method for the isolation of transcriptionally active nuclei from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which allows analysis of specific transcripts. When incubated with alpha-32P-labeled ribonucleoside triphosphates in vitro, nuclei isolated from haploid or diploid cells transcribed rRNA, tRNA, and mRNAs in a strand-specific manner, as shown by slot blot hybridization of the in vitro synthesized RNA to cloned genes encoding 5.8S, 18S and 28S rRNAs, tRNATyr, and GAL7, URA3, TY1 and HIS3 mRNAs. A yeast strain containing a high-copy-number plasmid which overproduced GAL7 mRNA was initially used to facilitate detection of a discrete message. We optimized conditions for the transcription of genes expressed by each of the three yeast nuclear RNA polymerases. Under optimal conditions, labeled transcripts could be detected from single-copy genes normally expressed at low levels in the cells (HIS3 and URA3). We determined that the alpha-amanitin sensitivity of transcript synthesis in the isolated nuclei paralleled the sensitivity of the corresponding purified RNA polymerases; in particular, mRNA synthesis was 50% sensitive to 1 microgram of alpha-amanitin per ml, establishing transcription of mRNA by RNA polymerase II.

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Effect of intron mutations on processing and function of Saccharomyces cerevisiae SUP53 tRNA in vitro and in vivo.

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.6.7.2663 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 6 (7) ◽

pp. 2663-2673 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

M C Strobel ◽

J Abelson

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Trna Gene ◽

Nuclear Extract ◽

Nonsense Suppression ◽

Trna Genes ◽

Suppressor Activity ◽

Specific Sequence ◽

Made In

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae leucine-inserting amber suppressor tRNA gene SUP53 (a tRNALeu3 allele) was used to investigate the relationship between precursor tRNA structure and mature tRNA function. This gene encodes a pre-tRNA which contains a 32-base intron. The mature tRNASUP53 contains a 5-methylcytosine modification of the anticodon wobble base. Mutations were made in the SUP53 intron. These mutant genes were transcribed in an S. cerevisiae nuclear extract preparation. In this extract, primary tRNA gene transcripts are end-processed and base modified after addition of cofactors. The base modifications made in vitro were examined, and the mutant pre-tRNAs were analyzed for their ability to serve as substrates for partially purified S. cerevisiae tRNA endonuclease and ligase. Finally, the suppressor function of these mutant tRNA genes was assayed after their integration into the S. cerevisiae genome. Mutant analysis showed that the totally intact precursor tRNA, rather than any specific sequence or structure of the intron, was necessary for efficient nonsense suppression by tRNASUP53. Less efficient suppressor activity correlated with the absence of the 5-methylcytosine modification. Most of the intron-altered precursor tRNAs were successfully spliced in vitro, indicating that modifications are not critical for recognition by the tRNA endonuclease and ligase.

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Prenylation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Chs4p Affects Chitin Synthase III Activity and Chitin Chain Length

Eukaryotic Cell ◽

10.1128/ec.00203-06 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 328-336 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Kariona A. Grabińska ◽

Paula Magnelli ◽

Phillips W. Robbins

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Chain Length ◽

Attachment Site ◽

Chitin Synthase ◽

Yeast Cells ◽

Average Chain Length ◽

Calcofluor White ◽

Protein Factor

ABSTRACT Chs4p (Cal2/Csd4/Skt5) was identified as a protein factor physically interacting with Chs3p, the catalytic subunit of chitin synthase III (CSIII), and is indispensable for its enzymatic activity in vivo. Chs4p contains a putative farnesyl attachment site at the C-terminal end (CVIM motif) conserved in Chs4p of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and other fungi. Several previous reports questioned the role of Chs4p prenylation in chitin biosynthesis. In this study we reinvestigated the function of Chs4p prenylation. We provide evidence that Chs4p is farnesylated by showing that purified Chs4p is recognized by anti-farnesyl antibody and is a substrate for farnesyl transferase (FTase) in vitro and that inactivation of FTase increases the amount of unmodified Chs4p in yeast cells. We demonstrate that abolition of Chs4p prenylation causes a ∼60% decrease in CSIII activity, which is correlated with a ∼30% decrease in chitin content and with increased resistance to the chitin binding compound calcofluor white. Furthermore, we show that lack of Chs4p prenylation decreases the average chain length of the chitin polymer. Prenylation of Chs4p, however, is not a factor that mediates plasma membrane association of the protein. Our results provide evidence that the prenyl moiety attached to Chs4p is a factor modulating the activity of CSIII both in vivo and in vitro.

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Secretion-defective mutations in the signal sequence for Saccharomyces cerevisiae invertase

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.6.7.2382-2391.1986 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 6 (7) ◽

pp. 2382-2391

Author(s):

C A Kaiser ◽

D Botstein

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Secretory Pathway ◽

Signal Sequence ◽

Mutant Gene ◽

Yeast Cells ◽

Molecular Weight Characteristic ◽

Cell Extracts ◽

Substitution Mutations ◽

Membrane Components

Nine mutations in the signal sequence region of the gene specifying the secreted Saccharomyces cerevisiae enzyme invertase were constructed in vitro. The consequences of these mutations were studied after returning the mutated genes to yeast cells. Short deletions and two extensive substitution mutations allowed normal expression and secretion of invertase. Other substitution mutations and longer deletions blocked the formation of extracellular invertase. Yeast cells carrying this second class of mutant gene expressed novel active internal forms of invertase that exhibited the following properties. The new internal proteins had the mobilities in denaturing gels expected of invertase polypeptides that had retained a defective signal sequence and were otherwise unmodified. The large increase in molecular weight characteristic of glycosylation was not seen. On nondenaturing gels the mutant enzymes were found as heterodimers with a normal form of invertase that is known to be cytoplasmic, showing that the mutant forms of the enzyme are assembled in the same compartment as the cytoplasmic enzyme. All of the mutant enzymes were soluble and not associated with the membrane components after fractionation of crude cell extracts on sucrose gradients. Therefore, these signal sequence mutations result in the production of active internal invertase that has lost the ability to enter the secretory pathway. This demonstrates that the signal sequence is required for the earliest steps in membrane translocation.

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Cap-dependent and cap-independent translation by internal initiation of mRNAs in cell extracts prepared from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.14.11.7322-7330.1994 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 14 (11) ◽

pp. 7322-7330 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

N Iizuka ◽

L Najita ◽

A Franzusoff ◽

P Sarnow

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Yeast Cells ◽

In Vitro Translation ◽

Translation System ◽

Translational Efficiency ◽

Coding Region ◽

Initiation Mechanism ◽

Noncoding Regions ◽

Cell Extracts ◽

Independent Translation

Translation extracts were prepared from various strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The translation of mRNA molecules in these extracts were cooperatively enhanced by the presence of 5'-terminal cap structures and 3'-terminal poly(A) sequences. These cooperative effects could not be observed in other translation systems such as those prepared from rabbit reticulocytes, wheat germ, and human HeLa cells. Because the yeast translation system mimicked the effects of the cap structure and poly(A) tail on translational efficiency seen in vivo, this system was used to study cap-dependent and cap-independent translation of viral and cellular mRNA molecules. Both the 5' noncoding regions of hepatitis C virus and those of coxsackievirus B1 conferred cap-independent translation to a reporter coding region during translation in the yeast extracts; thus, the yeast translational apparatus is capable of initiating cap-independent translation. Although the translation of most yeast mRNAs was cap dependent, the unusually long 5' noncoding regions of mRNAs encoding cellular transcription factors TFIID and HAP4 were shown to mediate cap-independent translation in these extracts. Furthermore, both TFIID and HAP4 5' noncoding regions mediated translation of a second cistron when placed into the intercistronic spacer region of a dicistronic mRNA, indicating that these leader sequences can initiate translation by an internal ribosome binding mechanism in this in vitro translation system. This finding raises the possibility that an internal translation initiation mechanism exists in yeast cells for regulated translation of endogenous mRNAs.

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Functional interaction between p21rap1A and components of the budding pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.12.9.4084-4092.1992 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 12 (9) ◽

pp. 4084-4092

Author(s):

P C McCabe ◽

H Haubruck ◽

P Polakis ◽

F McCormick ◽

M A Innis

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Mammalian Cells ◽

Bound States ◽

Yeast Cells ◽

Temperature Sensitive ◽

Wild Type ◽

Amino Terminal ◽

Loop Region

The rap1A gene encodes a 21-kDa, ras-related GTP-binding protein (p21rap1A) of unknown function. A close structural homolog of p21rap1A (65% identity in the amino-terminal two-thirds) is the RSR1 gene product (Rsr1p) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Although Rsr1p is not essential for growth, its presence is required for nonrandom selection of bud sites. To assess the similarity of these proteins at the functional level, wild-type and mutant forms of p21rap1A were tested for complementation of activities known to be fulfilled by Rsr1p. Expression of p21rap1A, like multicopy expression of RSR1, suppressed the conditional lethality of a temperature-sensitive cdc24 mutation. Point mutations predicted to affect the localization of p21rap1A or its ability to cycle between GDP and GTP-bound states disrupted suppression of cdc24ts, while other mutations in the 61-65 loop region improved suppression. Expression of p21rap1A could not, however, suppress the random budding phenotype of rsr1 cells. p21rap1A also apparently interfered with the normal activity of Rsrlp, causing random budding in diploid wild-type cells, suggesting an inability of p21rap1A to interact appropriately with Rsr1p regulatory proteins. Consistent with this hypothesis, we found an Rsr1p-specific GTPase-activating protein (GAP) activity in yeast membranes which was not active toward p21rap1A, indicating that p21rap1A may be predominantly GTP bound in yeast cells. Coexpression of human Rap1-specific GAP suppressed the random budding due to expression of p21rap1A or its derivatives, including Rap1AVal-12. Although Rap1-specific GAP stimulated the GTPase of Rsr1p in vitro, it did not dominantly interfere with Rsr1p function in vivo. A chimera consisting of Rap1A1-165::Rsr1p166-272 did not exhibit normal Rsr1p function in the budding pathway. These results indicated that p21rap1A and Rsr1p share at least partial functional homology, which may have implications for p21rap1A function in mammalian cells.

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The immunosuppressant FK506 inhibits amino acid import in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.13.8.5010-5019.1993 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 5010-5019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J Heitman ◽

A Koller ◽

J Kunz ◽

R Henriquez ◽

A Schmidt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Amino Acids ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Cyclosporin A ◽

Secretory Pathway ◽

Yeast Cells ◽

Amino Acid Transporters ◽

Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Eukaryotic Microorganisms

The immunosuppressants cyclosporin A, FK506, and rapamycin inhibit growth of unicellular eukaryotic microorganisms and also block activation of T lymphocytes from multicellular eukaryotes. In vitro, these compounds bind and inhibit two different types of peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerases. Cyclosporin A binds cyclophilins, whereas FK506 and rapamycin bind FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs). Cyclophilins and FKBPs are ubiquitous, abundant, and targeted to multiple cellular compartments, and they may fold proteins in vivo. Previously, a 12-kDa cytoplasmic FKBP was shown to be only one of at least two FK506-sensitive targets in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We find that a second FK506-sensitive target is required for amino acid import. Amino acid-auxotrophic yeast strains (trp1 his4 leu2) are FK506 sensitive, whereas prototrophic strains (TRP1 his4 leu2, trp1 HIS4 leu2, and trp1 his4 LEU2) are FK506 resistant. Amino acids added exogenously to the growth medium mitigate FK506 toxicity. FK506 induces GCN4 expression, which is normally induced by amino acid starvation. FK506 inhibits transport of tryptophan, histidine, and leucine into yeast cells. Lastly, several genes encoding proteins involved in amino acid import or biosynthesis confer FK506 resistance. These findings demonstrate that FK506 inhibits amino acid import in yeast cells, most likely by inhibiting amino acid transporters. Amino acid transporters are integral membrane proteins which import extracellular amino acids and constitute a protein family sharing 30 to 35% identity, including eight invariant prolines. Thus, the second FK506-sensitive target in yeast cells may be a proline isomerase that plays a role in folding amino acid transporters during transit through the secretory pathway.

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