The role of recombinational repair proteins in mating type switching in fission yeast cells

2006 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 385-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Vagin ◽  
F. K. Khasanov ◽  
V. I. Bashkirov
Keyword(s):  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Mating Type ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Recombinational Repair ◽  
Mating Type Switching

scholarly journals Schizosaccharomyces pombe ras1 and byr1 are functionally related genes of the ste family that affect starvation-induced transcription of mating-type genes.

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 549-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
S A Nadin-Davis ◽  
A Nasim
Keyword(s):  
Gene Family ◽  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Mating Type ◽  
Growth Cycle ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Null Alleles ◽  
Northern Analysis ◽  
Gene Transcript ◽  
Type Gene

We have further investigated the function of the ras1 and byr1 genes, which were previously shown to be critical for sexual differentiation in fission yeast cells. Several physiological similarities between strains containing null alleles of these genes supports the idea that ras1 and byr1 are functionally closely related. Furthermore, we have found that byr1 is allelic to ste1, one of at least 10 genes which when mutated can cause sterility. Since ras1 had previously been found to be allelic to ste5, both ras and byr genes are now clearly shown to be a part of the ste gene family, thus confirming their close functional relationship. The observation that the mating-type loci could overcome the sporulation block of ras1 and byr1 mutant strains prompted investigation of the role of the ras-byr pathway in the induction of the mating-type gene transcripts upon nitrogen starvation. By Northern analysis of RNA preparations from strains carrying wild-type or mutant ras1 alleles and grown to different stages of the growth cycle, we have shown that ras1 plays an important role in inducing the Pi transcript of the mating-type loci and the mei3 gene transcript. These observations provide a molecular basis for the role of the ste gene family, including ras1 and byr1, in meiosis and indicate that further characterization of other ste genes would be very useful for elucidating the mechanism of ras1 function in fission yeast cells.

Schizosaccharomyces pombe ras1 and byr1 are functionally related genes of the ste family that affect starvation-induced transcription of mating-type genes

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 549-560
Author(s):  
S A Nadin-Davis ◽  
A Nasim
Keyword(s):  
Gene Family ◽  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Mating Type ◽  
Growth Cycle ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Null Alleles ◽  
Northern Analysis ◽  
Gene Transcript ◽  
Type Gene

We have further investigated the function of the ras1 and byr1 genes, which were previously shown to be critical for sexual differentiation in fission yeast cells. Several physiological similarities between strains containing null alleles of these genes supports the idea that ras1 and byr1 are functionally closely related. Furthermore, we have found that byr1 is allelic to ste1, one of at least 10 genes which when mutated can cause sterility. Since ras1 had previously been found to be allelic to ste5, both ras and byr genes are now clearly shown to be a part of the ste gene family, thus confirming their close functional relationship. The observation that the mating-type loci could overcome the sporulation block of ras1 and byr1 mutant strains prompted investigation of the role of the ras-byr pathway in the induction of the mating-type gene transcripts upon nitrogen starvation. By Northern analysis of RNA preparations from strains carrying wild-type or mutant ras1 alleles and grown to different stages of the growth cycle, we have shown that ras1 plays an important role in inducing the Pi transcript of the mating-type loci and the mei3 gene transcript. These observations provide a molecular basis for the role of the ste gene family, including ras1 and byr1, in meiosis and indicate that further characterization of other ste genes would be very useful for elucidating the mechanism of ras1 function in fission yeast cells.

scholarly journals A Recombinationally Repressed Region Between mat2 and mat3 Loci Shares Homology to Centromeric Repeats and Regulates Directionality of Mating-Type Switching in Fission Yeast

Genetics ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 146 (4) ◽  
pp. 1221-1238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiv I S Grewal ◽  
Amar J S Klar
Keyword(s):  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Mating Type ◽  
Sequencing Analysis ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Cloning And Sequencing ◽  
Type Region ◽  
Repeat Sequences ◽  
Mating Type Switching ◽  
Cell Type Specific

Cells of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe switch mating type by replacing genetic information at the transcriptionally active mat1 locus with sequences copied from one of two closely linked silent loci, mat2-P or mat3-M. By a process referred to as directionality of switching, cells predominantly switch to the opposite mat1 allele; the mat1-P allele preferentially recombines with mat3, while mat1-M selects the mat2. In contrast to efficient recombination at mat1, recombination within the adjoining mat2-mat3 interval is undetectable. We defined the role of sequences between mat2 and mat3, designated the K-region, in directionality as well as recombinational suppression. Cloning and sequencing analysis revealed that a part of the K-region is homologous to repeat sequences present at centromeres, which also display transcriptional and recombinational suppression. Replacement of 7.5 kb of the K-region with the ura4  + gene affected directionality in a variegated manner. Analysis of the swi6-mod locus, which was previously shown to affect directionality, in KΔ::ura4  + strains suggested the existence of at least two overlapping directionality mechanisms. Our work furthers the model that directionality is regulated by cell-type-specific organization of the heterochromatin-like structure in the mating-type region and provides evidence that the K-region contributes to silencing of the mat2-mat3 interval.

scholarly journals The fission yeast homologue of CENP-B, Abp1, regulates directionality of mating-type switching

2008 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 1029-1038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorena Aguilar-Arnal ◽  
Francesc-Xavier Marsellach ◽  
Fernando Azorín
Keyword(s):  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Mating Type ◽  
Mating Type Switching

scholarly journals swi6, a gene required for mating-type switching, prohibits meiotic recombination in the mat2-mat3 "cold spot" of fission yeast.

Genetics ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 129 (4) ◽  
pp. 1033-1042
Author(s):  
A J Klar ◽  
M J Bonaduce
Keyword(s):  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Mating Type ◽  
Meiotic Recombination ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Strand Break ◽  
Double Strand Break ◽  
Cold Spot ◽  
Additional Result ◽  
Type Locus ◽  
Mating Type Switching

Abstract Mitotic interconversion of the mating-type locus (mat1) of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is initiated by a double-strand break at mat1. The mat2 and mat3 loci act as nonrandom donors of genetic information for mat1 switching such that switches occur primarily (or only) to the opposite mat1 allele. Location of the mat1 "hot spot" for transposition should be contrasted with the "cold spot" of meiotic recombination located within the adjoining mat2-mat3 interval. That is, meiotic interchromosomal recombination in mat2, mat3 and the intervening 15-kilobase region does not occur at all. swi2 and swi6 switching-deficient mutants possess the normal level of double-strand break at mat1, yet they fail to switch efficiently. By testing for meiotic recombination in the cold spot, we found the usual lack of recombination in a swi2 mutant but a significant level of recombination in a swi6 mutant. Therefore, the swi6 gene function is required to keep the donor loci inert for interchromosomal recombination. This finding, combined with the additional result that switching primarily occurs intrachromosomally, suggests that the donor loci are made accessible for switching by folding them onto mat1, thus causing the cold spot of recombination.

scholarly journals The size-wise nucleus: nuclear volume control in eukaryotes

2007 ◽  
Vol 179 (4) ◽  
pp. 583-584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Huber ◽  
Larry Gerace
Keyword(s):  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Cell Size ◽  
Size Control ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Nuclear Size ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Volume Control ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Relationship

Eukaryotic cells have an “awareness” of their volume and organellar volumes, and maintain a nuclear size that is proportional to the total cell size. New studies in budding and fission yeast have examined the relationship between cell and nuclear volumes. It was found that the size of the nucleus remains proportional to cell size in a wide range of genetic backgrounds and growth conditions that alter cell volume and DNA content. Moreover, in multinucleated fission yeast cells, Neumann and Nurse (see p. 593 of this issue) found that the sizes of individual nuclei are controlled by the relative amount of cytoplasm surrounding each nucleus. These results highlight a role of the cytoplasm in nuclear size control.

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