Methylselenol Produced In Vivo from Methylseleninic Acid or Dimethyl Diselenide Induces Toxic Protein Aggregation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Methylselenol (MeSeH) has been suggested to be a critical metabolite for anticancer activity of selenium, although the mechanisms underlying its activity remain to be fully established. The aim of this study was to identify metabolic pathways of MeSeH in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to decipher the mechanism of its toxicity. We first investigated in vitro the formation of MeSeH from methylseleninic acid (MSeA) or dimethyldiselenide. Determination of the equilibrium and rate constants of the reactions between glutathione (GSH) and these MeSeH precursors indicates that in the conditions that prevail in vivo, GSH can reduce the major part of MSeA or dimethyldiselenide into MeSeH. MeSeH can also be enzymatically produced by glutathione reductase or thioredoxin/thioredoxin reductase. Studies on the toxicity of MeSeH precursors (MSeA, dimethyldiselenide or a mixture of MSeA and GSH) in S.cerevisiae revealed that cytotoxicity and selenomethionine content were severely reduced in a met17 mutant devoid of O-acetylhomoserine sulfhydrylase. This suggests conversion of MeSeH into selenomethionine by this enzyme. Protein aggregation was observed in wild-type but not in met17 cells. Altogether, our findings support the view that MeSeH is toxic in S. cerevisiae because it is metabolized into selenomethionine which, in turn, induces toxic protein aggregation.

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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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Topoisomerase I involvement in illegitimate recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.16.4.1805 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 1805-1812 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

J Zhu ◽

R H Schiestl

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Chromosome Aberrations ◽

Topoisomerase I ◽

Wild Type Strain ◽

Hot Spot ◽

Illegitimate Recombination ◽

Wild Type ◽

Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

Chromosome aberrations may cause cancer and many heritable diseases. Topoisomerase I has been suspected of causing chromosome aberrations by mediating illegitimate recombination. The effects of deletion and of overexpression of the topoisomerase I gene on illegitimate recombination in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been studied. Yeast transformations were carried out with DNA fragments that did not have any homology to the genomic DNA. The frequency of illegitimate integration was 6- to 12-fold increased in a strain overexpressing topoisomerase I compared with that in isogenic control strains. Hot spot sequences [(G/C)(A/T)T] for illegitimate integration target sites accounted for the majority of the additional events after overexpression of topoisomerase I. These hot spot sequences correspond to sequences previously identified in vitro as topoisomerase I preferred cleavage sequences in other organisms. Furthermore, such hot spot sequences were found in 44% of the integration events present in the TOP1 wild-type strain and at a significantly lower frequency in the top1delta strain. Our results provide in vivo evidence that a general eukaryotic topoisomerase I enzyme nicks DNA and ligates nonhomologous ends, leading to illegitimate recombination.

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Yeast Est2p Affects Telomere Length by Influencing Association of Rap1p with Telomeric Chromatin

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.01648-07 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 28 (7) ◽

pp. 2380-2390 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Hong Ji ◽

Christopher J. Adkins ◽

Bethany R. Cartwright ◽

Katherine L. Friedman

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Telomere Length ◽

Specific Binding ◽

Telomerase Activity ◽

Negative Regulator ◽

Wild Type ◽

Telomeric Dna ◽

Telomere Length Homeostasis

ABSTRACT In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the sequence-specific binding of the negative regulator Rap1p provides a mechanism to measure telomere length: as the telomere length increases, the binding of additional Rap1p inhibits telomerase activity in cis. We provide evidence that the association of Rap1p with telomeric DNA in vivo occurs in part by sequence-independent mechanisms. Specific mutations in EST2 (est2-LT) reduce the association of Rap1p with telomeric DNA in vivo. As a result, telomeres are abnormally long yet bind an amount of Rap1p equivalent to that observed at wild-type telomeres. This behavior contrasts with that of a second mutation in EST2 (est2-up34) that increases bound Rap1p as expected for a strain with long telomeres. Telomere sequences are subtly altered in est2-LT strains, but similar changes in est2-up34 telomeres suggest that sequence abnormalities are a consequence, not a cause, of overelongation. Indeed, est2-LT telomeres bind Rap1p indistinguishably from the wild type in vitro. Taken together, these results suggest that Est2p can directly or indirectly influence the binding of Rap1p to telomeric DNA, implicating telomerase in roles both upstream and downstream of Rap1p in telomere length homeostasis.

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A large internal deletion converts yeast LEU3 to a constitutive transcriptional activator

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.9.9.4056-4060.1989 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 4056-4060

Author(s):

P Friden ◽

C Reynolds ◽

P Schimmel

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Transcriptional Activator ◽

Large Block ◽

Wild Type ◽

Internal Deletion ◽

Dense Cluster

LEU3 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes an 886-amino-acid polypeptide that activates transcription of at least five genes by binding to an upstream decanucleotide sequence. This activation is dependent on the inducer alpha-isopropylmalate, the synthesis of which is repressed by leucine. We created a 285-amino-acid LEU3 derivative by removing a large block of internal sequences, including a dense cluster of acidic residues. This deletion protein bound to the decanucleotide sequence in vitro and activated gene expression in vivo. In contrast to wild-type LEU3, the truncated LEU3 protein was an effective transcriptional activator when alpha-isopropylmalate synthesis was repressed by leucine.

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The Saccharomyces cerevisiae PUT3 activator protein associates with proline-specific upstream activation sequences

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.9.11.4706-4712.1989 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 4706-4712

Author(s):

A H Siddiqui ◽

M C Brandriss

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Dna Binding ◽

Complex Formation ◽

Binding Activity ◽

Lacz Gene ◽

Wild Type ◽

Mobility Shift ◽

Proline Utilization

The PUT1 and PUT2 genes encoding the enzymes of the proline utilization pathway of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are induced by proline and activated by the product of the PUT3 gene. Two upstream activation sequences (UASs) in the PUT1 promoter were identified by homology to the PUT2 UAS. Deletion analysis of the two PUT1 UASs showed that they were functionally independent and additive in producing maximal levels of gene expression. The consensus PUT UAS is a 21-base-pair partially palindromic sequence required in vivo for induction of both genes. The results of a gel mobility shift assay demonstrated that the proline-specific UAS is the binding site of a protein factor. In vitro complex formation was observed in crude extracts of yeast strains carrying either a single genomic copy of the PUT3 gene or the cloned PUT3 gene on a 2 microns plasmid, and the binding was dosage dependent. DNA-binding activity was not observed in extracts of strains carrying either a put3 mutation that caused a noninducible (Put-) phenotype or a deletion of the gene. Wild-type levels of complex formation were observed in an extract of a strain carrying an allele of PUT3 that resulted in a constitutive (Put+) phenotype. Extracts from a strain carrying a PUT3-lacZ gene fusion formed two complexes of slower mobility than the wild-type complex. We conclude that the PUT3 product is either a DNA-binding protein or part of a DNA-binding complex that recognizes the UASs of both PUT1 and PUT2. Binding was observed in extracts of a strain grown in the presence or absence of proline, demonstrating the constitutive nature of the DNA-protein interaction.

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Disruption of regulatory gene GAL80 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: effects on carbon-controlled regulation of the galactose/melibiose pathway genes

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.4.8.1521-1527.1984 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 4 (8) ◽

pp. 1521-1527

Author(s):

T E Torchia ◽

R W Hamilton ◽

C L Cano ◽

J E Hopper

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Catabolite Repression ◽

Carbon Catabolite Repression ◽

Regulatory Gene ◽

Negative Regulator ◽

Null Mutation ◽

Null Mutant ◽

Wild Type

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the transcriptional expression of the galactose-melibiose catabolic pathway genes is under the control of at least three regulatory genes, GAL4, GAL80, and GAL3. We have isolated the GAL80 gene and have studied the effect of a null mutation on the carbon-controlled regulation of the MEL1 and GAL cluster genes. The null mutation was achieved in vivo by replacing the chromosomal wild-type GAL80 allele with an in vitro-created GAL80 deletion-disruption mutation. Enzyme activities and RNA levels for the GAL cluster and MEL1 genes were constitutively expressed in the null mutant strain grown on glycerol-lactate and were higher than in the isogenic wild-type yeast strain when compared after growth on galactose. Carbon catabolite repression of the GAL cluster and MEL1 genes, which occurs at the level of transcription, is retained in the null mutant. Deletion of the GAL80 gene in a gal4 cell does not restore GAL cluster and MEL1 gene expression. The data demonstrate that (i) the GAL80 protein is a purely negative regulator, (ii) the GAL80 protein does not mediate carbon catabolite repression, and (iii) the GAL4 protein is not simply an antagonizer of GAL80-mediated repression.

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A dominant trifluoperazine resistance gene from Saccharomyces cerevisiae has homology with F0F1 ATP synthase and confers calcium-sensitive growth.

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.8.8.3094 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 8 (8) ◽

pp. 3094-3103 ◽

Cited By ~ 55

Author(s):

C K Shih ◽

R Wagner ◽

S Feinstein ◽

C Kanik-Ennulat ◽

N Neff

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Atp Synthase ◽

Resistance Mutation ◽

Amino Acid Sequences ◽

Wild Type ◽

Reading Frame ◽

F0f1 Atp Synthase ◽

General Inhibitor

The antipsychotic drug trifluoperazine has been long considered a calmodulin inhibitor from in vitro studies but may function in vivo as a more general inhibitor by disturbing ion fluxes and altering the membrane potential. Resistance to trifluoperazine can arise in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells by alterations in at least three distinct genetic loci. One locus, defined by a spontaneous dominant trifluoperazine resistance mutation (TFP1-408), was isolated and sequenced. The sequence of the TFP1-408 gene revealed a large open reading frame coding for a large protein of 1,031 amino acids with predicted hydrophobic transmembrane domains. A search of existing amino acid sequences revealed a significant homology with F0F1 ATP synthase. Mutant TFP1-408 cells did not grow efficiently in the presence of 50 mM CaCl2, whereas wild-type cells did. Wild-type cells became resistant to trifluoperazine in the presence of 50 mM CaCl2 or 50 mM MgCl2. Mutant cells showed a higher rate of calcium transport relative to wild-type cells. These data suggest that the TFP1 gene product codes for a transmembrane ATPase-like enzyme possibly involved in Ca2+ transport or in generating a transmembrane ion gradient between two cellular compartments.

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Disruption of regulatory gene GAL80 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: effects on carbon-controlled regulation of the galactose/melibiose pathway genes.

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.4.8.1521 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 4 (8) ◽

pp. 1521-1527 ◽

Cited By ~ 65

Author(s):

T E Torchia ◽

R W Hamilton ◽

C L Cano ◽

J E Hopper

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Catabolite Repression ◽

Carbon Catabolite Repression ◽

Regulatory Gene ◽

Negative Regulator ◽

Null Mutation ◽

Null Mutant ◽

Wild Type

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Functional characterization of Ost3p. Loss of the 34-kD subunit of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae oligosaccharyltransferase results in biased underglycosylation of acceptor substrates.

The Journal of Cell Biology ◽

10.1083/jcb.130.3.567 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 130 (3) ◽

pp. 567-577 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

D Karaoglu ◽

D J Kelleher ◽

R Gilmore

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Functional Characterization ◽

Null Mutant ◽

Wild Type ◽

Membrane Glycoproteins ◽

En Bloc ◽

Oligosaccharide Moiety

Within the lumen of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, oligosaccharyltransferase catalyzes the en bloc transfer of a high mannose oligosaccharide moiety from the lipid-linked oligosaccharide donor to asparagine acceptor sites in nascent polypeptides. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae oligosaccharyltransferase was purified as a heteroligomeric complex consisting of six subunits (alpha-zeta) having apparent molecular masses of 64 kD (Ost1p), 45 kD (Wbp1p), 34 kD, 30 kD (Swp1p), 16 kD, and 9 kD. Here we report a structural and functional characterization of Ost3p which corresponds to the 34-kD gamma-subunit of the oligosaccharyltransferase. Unlike Ost1p, Wbp1p, and Swp1p, expression of Ost3p is not essential for viability of yeast. Instead, ost3 null mutant yeast grow at wild-type rates on solid or in liquid media irrespective of culture temperature. Nonetheless, detergent extracts prepared from ost3 null mutant membranes are twofold less active than extracts prepared from wild-type membranes in an in vitro oligosaccharyltransferase assay. Furthermore, loss of Ost3p is accompanied by significant underglycosylation of soluble and membrane-bound glycoproteins in vivo. Compared to the previously characterized ost1-1 mutant in the oligosaccharyltransferase, and the alg5 mutant in the oligosaccharide assembly pathway, ost3 null mutant yeast appear to be selectively impaired in the glycosylation of several membrane glycoproteins. The latter observation suggests that Ost3p may enhance oligosaccharide transfer in vivo to a subset of acceptor substrates.

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Saccharomyces cerevisiae SUP53 tRNA gene transcripts are processed by mammalian cell extracts in vitro but are not processed in vivo

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.8.1.361-370.1988 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 361-370

Author(s):

S Ganguly ◽

P A Sharp ◽

U L RajBhandary

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Mammalian Cells ◽

Wild Type ◽

Cell Extracts ◽

Amber Suppressor ◽

Gene Transcripts ◽

A Site ◽

Made In

We describe the results of our studies of expression of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae amber suppressor tRNA(Leu) gene (SUP53) in mammalian cells in vivo and in cell extracts in vitro. Parallel studies were carried out with the wild-type (Su-) tRNA(Leu) gene. Extracts from HeLa or CV1 cells transcribed both tRNA(Leu) genes. The transcripts were processed correctly at the 5' and 3' ends and accurately spliced to produce mature tRNA(Leu). Surprisingly, when the same tRNA(Leu) genes were introduced into CV1 cells, only pre-tRNAs(Leu) were produced. The pre-tRNAs(Leu) made in vivo were of the same size and contained the 5'-leader and 3'-trailer sequences as did pre-tRNAs(Leu) made in vitro. Furthermore, the pre-tRNAs(Leu) made in vivo were processed to mature tRNA(Leu) when incubated with HeLa cell extracts. A tRNA(Leu) gene from which the intervening sequence had been removed yielded RNAs that also were not processed at either their 5' or 3' termini. Thus, processing of pre-tRNA(Leu) in CV1 cells is blocked at the level of 5'- and 3'-end maturation. One possible explanation of the discrepancy in the results obtained in vivo and in vitro is that tRNA biosynthesis in mammalian cells involves transport of pre-tRNA from the site of its synthesis to a site or sites where processing takes place, and perhaps the yeast pre-tRNAs(Leu) synthesized in CV1 cells are not transported to the appropriate site.

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