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Showing papers in "Yeast in 1995"


Journal ArticleDOI
15 Apr 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: The LiAc/SS‐DNA/PEG method was shown to be more effective than other treatments known to make cells transformable and caused tighter binding of 32P‐labelled plasmid DNA than did double‐stranded (DS) carrier.
Abstract: An improved lithium acetate (LiAc)/single-stranded DNA (SS-DNA)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) protocol which yields >1 × 106 transformants/μg plasmid DNA and the original protocol described by Schiestl and Gietz (1989) were used to investigate aspects of the mechanism of LiAc/SS-DNA/PEG transformation. The highest transformation efficiency was observed when 1 × 108 cells were transformed with 100 ng plasmid DNA in the presence of 50 μg SS carrier DNA. The yield of transformants increased linearly up to 5 μg plasmid per transformation. A 20-min heat shock at 42°C was necessary for maximal yields. PEG was found to deposit both carrier DNA and plasmid DNA onto cells. SS carrier DNA bound more effectively to the cells and caused tighter binding of 32P-labelled plasmid DNA than did double-stranded (DS) carrier. The LiAc/SS-DNA/PEG transformation method did not result in cell fusion. DS carrier DNA competed with DS vector DNA in the transformation reaction. SS plasmid DNA transformed cells poorly in combination with both SS and DS carrier DNA. The LiAc/SS-DNA/PEG method was shown to be more effective than other treatments known to make cells transformable. A model for the mechanism of transformation by the LiAc/SS-DNA/PEG method is discussed.

2,029 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jan 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: A set of GAL2+ yeast strains that are isogenic to strain S288C have been constructed and contain non‐reverting mutations in genes commonly used for selection for recombinant plasmids.
Abstract: A set of GAL2+ yeast strains that are isogenic to strain S288C have been constructed. They contain non-reverting mutations in genes commonly used for selection for recombinant plasmids. Strains from this collection are being used for the European Union Yeast Genome Sequencing Programme. Representative strains from this collection have been deposited with the ATCC.

958 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
01 Oct 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: PCR epitope tagging (PET) provides a rapid and direct technique for tagging that does not require any cloning steps and is used to tag three Saccharomyces cerevisiae proteins, Cln1, Sic1 and Est1.
Abstract: Epitope tagging is the insertion of a short stretch of amino acids constituting an epitope into another protein. Tagged proteins can be identified by Western, immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence assays using pre-existing antibodies. We have designed vectors containing the URA3 gene flanked by direct repeats of epitope tags. We use the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the tag-URA3-tag cassette such that the ends of the PCR fragments possess homology to the gene of interest. In vivo recombination is then used to direct integration of the fragment to the location of interest, and transformants are selected by their Ura+ phenotype. Finally, selection for Ura- cells on 5-fluoro-orotic acid plates yields cells where recombination between the repeated epitopes has 'popped out' the URA3 gene, leaving a single copy of the epitope at the desired location. PCR epitope tagging (PET) provides a rapid and direct technique for tagging that does not require any cloning steps. We have used PET to tag three Saccharomyces cerevisiae proteins, Cln1, Sic1 and Est1.

324 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
15 Sep 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: Results of experiments to localize the flocculation genes FLO5 and FLO8, combined with the in silicio analysis of the available sequence data of the yeast genome, have revealed that these genes belong to a family which comprises at least four genes and three pseudogenes.
Abstract: The quality of brewing strains is, in large part, determined by their flocculation properties. By classical genetics, several dominant, semidominant and recessive flocculation genes have been recognized. Recent results of experiments to localize the flocculation genes FLO5 and FLO8, combined with the in silicio analysis of the available sequence data of the yeast genome, have revealed that the flocculation genes belong to a family which comprises at least four genes and three pseudogenes. All members of this gene family are located near the end of chromosomes, just like the SUC, MEL and MAL genes, which are also important for good quality baking or brewing strains. Transcription of the flocculation genes is repressed by several regulatory genes. In addition, a number of genes have been found which cause cell aggregation upon disruption or overexpression in an as yet unknown manner. In total, 33 genes have been reported that are involved in flocculation or cell aggregation.

272 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Dec 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: All eukaryotic cells contain a wide variety of proteins embedded in the plasma and internal membranes, which ensure transmembrane solute transport, and a large proportion of these transport proteins can be grouped into families apparently conserved throughout organisms.
Abstract: All eukaryotic cells contain a wide variety of proteins embedded in the plasma and internal membranes, which ensure transmembrane solute transport. It is now established that a large proportion of these transport proteins can be grouped into families apparently conserved throughout organisms. This article presents the data of an in silicio analysis aimed at establishing a preliminary classification of membrane transport proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This analysis was conducted at a time when about 65% of all yeast genes were available in public databases. In addition to approximately 60 transport proteins whose function was at least partially known, approximately 100 deduced protein sequences of unknown function display significant sequence similarity to membrane transport proteins characterized in yeast and/or other organisms. While some protein families have been well characterized by classical genetic experimental approaches, others have largely if not totally escaped characterization. The proteins revealed by this in silicio analysis also include a putative K+ channel, proteins similar to aquaporins of plant and animal origin, proteins similar to Na+-solute symporters, a protein very similar to electroneural cation-chloride cotransporters, and a putative Na+-H+ antiporter. A new research area is anticipated: the functional analysis of many transport proteins whose existence was revealed by genome sequencing.

265 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Dec 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: Yeast chromosome ends have several interesting properties including: non‐nucleosomal chromatin structure; transcriptional position effect variegation for genes with adjacent telomeres; nuclear peripheral localization; apparent physical clustering; non‐random recombinational interactions.
Abstract: Yeast chromosome ends are similar in structure and function to chromosome ends in most, if not all, eukaryotic organisms. There is a G-rich terminal repeat at the ends which is maintained by telomerase. In addition to the classical functions of protecting the end from degradation and end-to-end fusions, and completing replication, yeast telomeres have several interesting properties including: non-nucleosomal chromatin structure; transcriptional position effect variegation for genes with adjacent telomeres; nuclear peripheral localization; apparent physical clustering; non-random recombinational interactions. A number of genes have been identified that are involved in modifying one or more of these properties. These include genes involved in general DNA metabolism, chromatin structure and telomere maintenance. Adjacent to the terminal repeat is a mosaic of middle repetitive elements that exhibit a great deal of polymorphism both between individual strains and among different chromosome ends. Much of the sequence redundancy in the yeast genome is found in the sub-telomeric regions (within the last 25 kb of each end). The sub-telomeric regions are generally low in gene density, low in transcription, low in recombination, and they are late replicating. The only element which appears to be shared by all chromosome ends is part of the previously defined X element containing an ARS consensus. Most of the ‘core’ X elements also contain an Abf1p binding site and a URS1-like element, which may have consequences for the chromatin structure, nuclear architecture and transcription of native telomeres. Possible functions of sub-telomeric repeats include: fillers for increasing chromosome size to some minimum threshold level necessary for chromosome stability; barrier against transcriptional silencing; a suitable region for adaptive amplification of genes; secondary mechanism of telomere maintenance via recombination when telomerase activity is absent.

252 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Dec 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: The data that have led to the current picture of yeast pre‐rRNA processing are reviewed, mainly in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and the underlying mechanisms are reviewed.
Abstract: Post-transcriptional processing of precursor-ribosomal RNA comprises a complex pathway of endonucleolytic cleavages, exonucleolytic digestion and covalent modifications. The general order of the various processing steps is well conserved in eukaryotic cells, but the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Recent analysis of pre-rRNA processing, mainly in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has significantly improved our understanding of this important cellular activity. Here we will review the data that have led to our current picture of yeast pre-rRNA processing.

218 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Mar 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: Analysis of the CCC2p amino acid sequence reveals that it encodes a member of the P‐type ATPase family and is most similar to a subfamily thought to consist of Cu2+ transporters, including the human genes that mutate to cause Wilson disease and Menkes disease.
Abstract: We have isolated, sequenced, mapped and disrupted a gene, CCC2, from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This gene displays non-allelic complementation of the Ca2+-sensitive phenotype conferred by the csg1 mutation. Analysis of the CCC2p amino acid sequence reveals that it encodes a member of the P-type ATPase family and is most similar to a subfamily thought to consist of Cu2+ transporters, including the human genes that mutate to cause Wilson disease and Menkes disease. The ability of this gene, in two or more copies, to reverse the csg1 defect suggests that Ca2+-induced death of csg1 mutant cells is related to Cu2+ metabolism. Cells without CCC2 require increased Cu2+ concentrations for growth. Therefore CCC2p may function to provide Cu2+ to a cellular compartment rather than in removal of excess of Cu2+. The sequence of CCC2 is available through GenBank under accession number L36317.

171 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Nov 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: The potential of methylotrophic yeasts as hosts for the high level production of valuable foreign proteins and the possibility of accumulating the foreign gene products inside peroxisomes is discussed.
Abstract: In this contribution we discuss the potential of methylotrophic yeasts as hosts for the high level production of valuable foreign proteins. Recent relevant achievements on the intracellular production or secretion of proteins are summarized. Special attention is paid to a specific advantage of the use of methylotrophic yeasts, namely the possibility of accumulating the foreign gene products inside peroxisomes. This approach may be of major advantage when the protein product is toxic for the host cell and, also, to protect these proteins from undesired side-effects such as proteolysis or aggregation.

167 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
30 Apr 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: It is concluded that, during carbon‐limited growth of S. cerevisiae on mixtures of glucose and ethanol, biosynthetic intermediates with three or more carbon atoms are preferentially synthesized from glucose.
Abstract: Growth efficiency and regulation of key enzyme activities were studied in carbon- and energy-limited chemostat cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae grown on mixtures of glucose and ethanol at a fixed dilution rate. Biomass yields on substrate carbon and oxygen could be adequately described as the net result of growth on the single substrates. Activities of isocitrate lyase and malate synthase were not detected in cell-free extracts of glucose-limited cultures. However, both enzymes were present when the ethanol fraction in the reservoir medium exceeded the theoretical minimum above which the glyoxylate cycle is required for anabolic reactions. Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase activity was only detectable at high ethanol fractions in the feed, when activity of this enzyme was required for synthesis of hexose phosphates. Phospho-enol-pyruvate-carboxykinase activity was not detectable in extracts from glucose-grown cultures and increased with the ethanol fraction in the feed. It is concluded that, during carbon-limited growth of S. cerevisiae on mixtures of glucose and ethanol, biosynthetic intermediates with three or more carbon atoms are preferentially synthesized from glucose. Synthesis of the key enzymes of gluconeogenesis and the glyoxylate cycle is adapted to the cells' requirement for these intermediates. The gluconeogenic enzymes and their physiological antagonists (pyruvate kinase, pyruvate carboxylase and phosphofructokinase) were expressed simultaneously at high ethanol fractions in the feed. If futile cycling is prevented under these conditions, this is not primarily achieved by tight control of enzyme synthesis.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Dec 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: It is proposed that both [URE3] and [PSI] are prions, infectious proteins analogous to the scrapie agent mediating transmissible spongiform encephalopathies of mammals.
Abstract: [URE3] is a non-Mendelian genetic element that mimics recessive mutations in the chromosomal URE2 gene making cells derepressed for nitrogen catabolic enzymes. [PSI] is a non-Mendelian enhancer of readthrough of translational termination similar in its effects to some mutations in the chromosomal SUP35 gene. Three lines of evidence led to the proposal75 that both [URE3] and [PSI] are prions, infectious proteins analogous to the scrapie agent mediating transmissible spongiform encephalopathies of mammals. (1) Both [PSI] and [URE3] are reversibly curable. (2) [PSI] propagation requires SUP35 and [URE3] propagation requires URE2 with recessive chromosomal mutants having the same phenotypes as the presence of the respective dominant non-Mendelian element. (3) Overproduction of Sup35p and Ure2p increases the frequency of cells acquiring [PSI] or [URE3], respectively.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Feb 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: The transcriptional regulation of the HXK1, HxK2 and GLK1 genes is described in the hope of revealing differences in the steady‐state levels of mRNA associated with a particular carbon source used in the culture medium.
Abstract: In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the transcriptional regulation of most glycolytic genes has been extensively studied. By contrast, little is known about the transcriptional control of the three glucose-phosphorylating enzymes, although this catalytic reaction has an important role in the regulation of cell metabolism. In this paper, we describe the transcriptional regulation of the HXK1, HXK2 and GLK1 genes in the hope of revealing differences in the steady-state levels of mRNA associated with a particular carbon source used in the culture medium. Our results provide evidence supporting a differential expression of the three genes depending on the carbon source used for growth. We have also studied the induction and repression kinetics of mRNA expression for the HXK1, HXK2 and GLK1 genes.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Feb 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: After mother–daughter cell conjugation, formation of long holobasidia with terminal basidiospores was observed without mycelium production in Rhodomyces dendrorhous (including the type strain of Phaffia rhodozyma) on polyol‐containing media.
Abstract: After mother–daughter cell conjugation, formation of long holobasidia with terminal basidiospores was observed without mycelium production in Rhodomyces dendrorhous (including the type strain of Phaffia rhodozyma) on polyol-containing media. Basidiospores are not forcibly discharged and germinate by budding. A new genus Xanthophyllomyces (Filobasidiaceae, Tremellales) with a species, X. dendrorhous, is proposed for the telemorphic state of R. dendrorhous.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Oct 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: A fusion polymerase chain reaction (PCR) strategy is adapted to synthesize gene disruption alleles of any sequenced yeast gene of interest and allows one to construct precise disruptions of anysequenced open reading frame in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Abstract: We adapted a fusion polymerase chain reaction (PCR) strategy to synthesize gene disruption alleles of any sequenced yeast gene of interest. The first step of the construction is to amplify sequences flanking the reading frame we want to disrupt and to amplify the selectable marker sequence. Then we fuse the upstream fragment to the marker sequence by fusion PCR, isolate this product and fuse it to the downstream sequence in a second fusion PCR reaction. The final PCR product can then be transformed directly into yeast. This method is rapid, relatively inexpensive, offers the freedom to choose from among a variety of selectable markers and allows one to construct precise disruptions of any sequenced open reading frame in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Dec 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: The mae1 gene of the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe was identified on the basis of its ability to complement a mutant defective in the transport of malic acid, encoding a polypeptide of 438 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 49 kDa.
Abstract: The mae1 gene of the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe was identified on the basis of its ability to complement a mutant defective in the transport of malic acid. Analysis of the DNA sequence revealed an open reading frame of 1314 base pairs, encoding a polypeptide of 438 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 49 kDa. A hydropathy profile of the predicted amino acid sequence revealed a protein with ten membrane-spanning or associated domains and hydrophilic N- and C- termini. The predicted secondary structure of the protein in similar to models proposed for other integral membrane proteins from both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The S. pombe mae1 gene encodes a single mRNA of 1.5 kb. The mea1 gene is expressed constitutively and is not subject to catabolite repression as was previously reported for the malate permease systems of Candida utilis and Hansenula anomala. The mae1 gene was mapped 2842 bp 5' to the MFml gene on chromosome I. Transport assays revealed that the mae1 gene encodes a permease involved in the uptake of L-malate, succinate and malonic acid.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Dec 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: Strains have been produced with the ability to ferment a wider range of carbohydrates, with altered flocculation properties and which produce beers with modified flavours and many have been tested on the pilot scale and one, an amylolytic brewing yeast, has received approval for commercial use.
Abstract: Academic studies and traditional breeding of yeasts depend upon their sporulation lifestyle. The strains used have been specially selected to sporulate readily and to mate producing new yeast types. Unfortunately brewing yeast strains do not behave in this way. They sporulate poorly, any spores which are formed are usually non-viable and any haploid strains produced are invariably non-maters. Only in recent years, with the development of recombinant-DNA techniques, has the specific breeding of new brewing yeast strains become widespread. Strains have been produced with the ability to ferment a wider range of carbohydrates, with altered flocculation properties and which produce beers with modified flavours. Many have been tested on the pilot scale and one, an amylolytic brewing yeast, has received approval for commercial use.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Nov 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: The polymorphism observed might reflect the enormous variability induced by the ethanol followed by the selection of those mtDNA sequences which make the mitochondria metabolically active under these conditions.
Abstract: Yeast strains which form velum on the surface of Sherry wine during the aging process have been isolated and characterized. According to their metabolic and molecular features most of the yeasts that were isolated belong to different races of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (beticus, cheresiensis, montuliensis and rouxii). Due to the conditions under which these yeasts were isolated, all strains have in common the capacity to develop a film as an adaptive mechanism which allows them to grow and survive in 15.5% vol. ethanol. All strains were prototrophs for amino acids and most vitamins but they gave different responses to the killer factor. However, whereas their physiological features were similar, they showed a great heterogeneity with regards to the nuclear and mitochondrial genome (mtDNA): DNA content per cell was quite variable (1.3 to 2n), electrophoretic karyotypes of nuclear genomes indicated a main pattern with some variations, and polymorphism shown by the mtDNA was very high. Under extreme conditions such as Sherry wine with 15.5% vol. ethanol, no fermentable sugar and an exclusively oxidative metabolism, cells hardly grow and the maintenance of a live population depends on survival and respiration, which in turn depend on the mtDNA. At the same time these environmental conditions are mutagenic for the mtDNA, causing an increase in variation. Thus, the polymorphism observed might reflect the enormous variability induced by the ethanol followed by the selection of those mtDNA sequences which make the mitochondria metabolically active under these conditions.

Journal ArticleDOI
15 Jun 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: The proteins identified here are concerned with four major areas of yeast cellular physiology: carbon metabolism, heat shock, amino acid biosynthesis and purine biosynthesis.
Abstract: This publication marks the beginning of the construction of a gene-protein index that relates proteins which are resolved on the two-dimensional protein map of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with their corresponding genes. We report the identification of 36 novel polypeptide spots on the yeast protein map. They correspond to the products of 26 genes. Together with the polypeptide spots previously identified, this raises to 41 the number of genes whose products have been identified on the protein map. The proteins identified here are concerned with four major areas of yeast cellular physiology: carbon metabolism, heat shock, amino acid biosynthesis and purine biosynthesis. Given the molecular weight and isoelectric point of the identified proteins, and the codon-usage bias of the corresponding genes, it can be estimated that 25 to 35% of all the soluble yeast proteins are detectable under the labelling and running gel conditions used in this study.

Journal ArticleDOI
30 Apr 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: The Northern analysis showed that DNA from the flocculation gene FLO1 hybridized to mRNA molecules of 4·8 kb, and it was concluded that theFLO1 gene is transcriptionally regulated.
Abstract: Northern analysis showed that DNA from the flocculation gene FLO1 hybridized to mRNA molecules of 4·8 kb. This transcript was specific for the FLO1 gene at the right end of chromosome I since disruption of this gene resulted in the disappearance of the transcript. We further found an absolute correlation between flocculation and the presence of transcripts hybridizing to FLO1 DNA, both in various flocculent and non-flocculent strains and in cells from the non-flocculating and flocculating stages of growth. In all cases transcripts were present in flocculating and absent from non-flocculating cultures. From these results we conclude that the FLO1 gene is transcriptionally regulated. Mutations in TUP1 or SSN6 cause flocculation. Several transcripts hybridizing to FLO1 DNA were present in the mutants but not in the corresponding wild-type strains. Disruption of the FLO1 gene in the tup1 and ssn6 strains showed that one of the transcripts corresponded to the FLO1 gene. Disruption of FLO1 did not abolish flocculation completely but only reduced it, indicating that at least two flocculation genes, including FLO1, are activated or derepressed by mutations in the TUP1/SSN6 regulatory cascade.


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jul 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: The sequencing of a 6619 bp region encoding for a flocculation gene previously cloned from a strain defined as FLO5 (Bidard et al., 1994) has revealed that it was a FLO1 gene.
Abstract: The sequencing of a 6619 bp region encoding for a flocculation gene previously cloned from a strain defined as FLO5 (Bidard et al., 1994) has revealed that it was a FLO1 gene. The FLO1 gene product has been localized at the cell surface of the yeast cell by immunofluorescent microscopy. The Flo1 protein contains four regions with repeated sequences which account for about 70% of the amino acids of this protein. A functional analysis of the major repeated region has revealed that it plays an important role in determining the flocculation level. A gene disruption experiment has shown that FLO5 strain STX 347-1D contains at least two flocculation genes of the FLO1 type but that they are supposed to be inactive and do not contribute to its flocculation. However, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays performed on intact cells have revealed that a protein expressed at the cell surface of the FLO5 strain STX 347-1D is antigenically related to Flo1p. A deletion analysis of the 5' region of the FLO1 gene has shown that the expression is submitted to controls which depend on the genetic background of the strain.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jan 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: The more stringent conditions employed in this screening compared with previous ones that also employed a dominant genetics approach to isolate overexpression‐sensitive genes has allowed us to extend the number of yeast genes that exhibit this phenotype.
Abstract: In order to characterize new yeast genes regulating cell proliferation, a number of overexpression-sensitive clones have been isolated from a Saccharomyces cerevisiae cDNA library in a multicopy vector under the control of the GAL1 promoter, on the basis of growth arrest phenotype under galactose-induction conditions. Thirteen of the independent clones isolated in this way correspond to previously known genes (predominantly coding for morphogenesis-related proteins or for multifunctional transcriptional factors), while the remaining 11 independent clones represent new genes with unknown functions. The more stringent conditions employed in this screening compared with previous ones that also employed a dominant genetics approach to isolate overexpression-sensitive genes has allowed us to extend the number of yeast genes that exhibit this phenotype. The effect of overexpression of MCM1 (whose product participates in the regulation of a number of apparently unrelated cellular functions) has been studied in more detail. Galactose-induced overexpression of MCM1 leads to rapid growth arrest at the G1 or S cell cycle stages, with many morphologically-abnormal cells. Several of the other clones also exhibit a G1 arrest terminal phenotype when overexpressed.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jul 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: A gene was isolated from Z. rouxii which exhibited homology to the Na+/H+‐antiporter gene (sod2) from Schizosaccharomyces pombe, which encoded a product of 791 amino acids, which was larger than the product encoded by its Sz.
Abstract: In order to clarify the relationship between salt-tolerance of Zygosaccharomyces rouxii and the function of Na+/H(+)-antiporter, a gene was isolated from Z. rouxii which exhibited homology to the Na+/H(+)-antiporter gene (sod2) from Schizosaccharomyces pombe. This newly isolated gene (Z-SOD2) encoded a product of 791 amino acids, which was larger than the product encoded by its Sz. pombe homologue. The predicted amino-acid sequence of Z-Sod2p was highly homologous to that of the Sz. pombe protein, but included an extra-hydrophilic stretch in the C-terminal region. The expression of Z-SOD2 was constitutive and independent of NaCl-shock. Z-SOD2-disruptants of Z. rouxii did not grow in media supplemented with 3 M-NaCl, but grew well in the presence of 50% sorbitol, indicating that the function of Z-SOD2 was closely related to the salt-tolerance of Z. rouxii. Several genes are also compared and discussed in relation to the salt-tolerance of Z. rouxii.

Journal ArticleDOI
30 Sep 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: The availability of mutants of host chromosomal gene products involved in maintaining the efficiency of ribosomal frameshifting bodes well for the use of yeast in future studies of Ribosomal Frameshifting.
Abstract: Proper maintenance of translational reading frame by ribosomes is essential for cell growth and viability. In the last 10 years it has been shown that a number of viruses induce ribosomes to shift reading frame in order to regulate the expression of gene products having enzymatic functions. Studies on ribosomal frameshifting in viruses of yeast have been particularly enlightening. The roles of viral mRNA sequences and secondary structures have been elucidated and a picture of how these interact with host chromosomal gene products is beginning to emerge. The efficiency of ribosomal frameshifting is important for viral particle assembly, and has identified ribosomal frameshifting as a potential target for antiviral agents. The availability of mutants of host chromosomal gene products involved in maintaining the efficiency of ribosomal frameshifting bodes well for the use of yeast in future studies of ribosomal frameshifting.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Aug 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: The data suggest that the Scp160 protein is required during cell division for faithful partitioning of the ER–nuclear envelope membranes which in S. cerevisiae enclose the duplicated chromosomes.
Abstract: We have cloned a new gene, SCP160, from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the deduced amino acid sequence of which does not exhibit overall similarity to any known yeast protein. A weak resemblance between the C-terminal part of the Scp160 protein and regulatory subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinases from eukaryotes as well as the pstB protein of Escherichia coli was observed. The SCP160 gene resides on the left arm of chromosome X and codes for a polypeptide of molecular weight around 160 kDa. By immunofluorescence microscopy the Scp160 protein appears to be localized to the nuclear envelope and to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). However, no signal sequence or membrane-spanning region exists, suggesting that the Scp160 protein is attached to the cytoplasmic surface of the ER-nuclear envelope membranes. Disruption of the SCP160 gene is not lethal but results in cells of decreased viability, abnormal morphology and increased DNA content. This phenotype is not reversible by transformation with a plasmid carrying the wild-type gene. Crosses of SCP160 deletion mutant strains among each other or with unrelated strains lead to irregular segregation of genetic markers. Taken together the data suggest that the Scp160 protein is required during cell division for faithful partitioning of the ER-nuclear envelope membranes which in S. cerevisiae enclose the duplicated chromosomes.

Journal ArticleDOI
15 Sep 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: The isolated plasmid containing a gene, ATH1, that results in eight‐ to ten‐fold higher acid trehalase activity in yeast cells when present in high copy suggests that ATH 1 may be the structural gene encoding vacuolar acid tre Halase or that the gene product may be an essential regulatory component involved in control of trehal enzyme activity.
Abstract: We have isolated a plasmid containing a gene, ATH1, that results in eight- to ten-fold higher acid trehalase activity in yeast cells when present in high copy. The screening procedure was based on overproduction-induced mislocalization of acid trehalase activity; overproduction of vacuolar enzymes that transit through the secretory pathway leads to secretion to the cell surface. A DNA fragment that confers cell surface expression of acid trehalase activity was cloned and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequence displayed no homology to known proteins, indicating that we have identified a novel gene. A deletion in the genomic copy of the ATH1 gene eliminates vacuolar acid trehalase activity. These results suggest that ATH1 may be the structural gene encoding vacuolar acid trehalase or that the gene product may be essential regulatory component involved in control of trehalase activity.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Feb 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: Evidence is presented here that glycerol, the main compatible solute this yeast accumulates so as to maintain osmotic balance, is actively co‐transported with protons, and it is suggested that the main role of this system is in osmoregulation, by keeping Glycerol accumulated inside the cells, compensating for leakage, due to its liposoluble character.
Abstract: Pichia sorbitophila is a halotolerant yeast capable of surviving to extracellular NaCl concentrations up to 4 M in mineral medium when glucose or glycerol are the only carbon and energy sources. Evidence is presented here that glycerol, the main compatible solute this yeast accumulates so as to maintain osmotic balance, is actively co-transported with protons. This transport system was shown to be constitutive, not needing induction by either glycerol or salt, and was not repressible by glucose. In glucose- or glycerol-grown cells, a simple diffusion was detectable, and iterative calculations were performed to calculate kinetic parameters, in the presence and in the absence of NaCl. At 25 degrees C, pH 5.0, in glucose-grown cells these were: Km = 0.81 +/- 0.11 mM and Vmax = 634.2 +/- 164.8 mumol h-1 per g (glycerol); Km = 1.28 +/- 0.60 mM and Vmax = 558.6 +/- 100.6 mumol h-1 per g (protons). Correspondent stoichiometry was approximately 1, either for these conditions or in the presence of 1 M-NaCl. An increase in accumulation capacity was evident when different concentrations of NaCl were present. This capacity was shown to be dependent on delta pH and membrane potential, consistently with an electrogenic character. We suggest that the main role of this system is in osmoregulation, by keeping glycerol accumulated inside the cells, compensating for leakage, due to its liposoluble character.


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Oct 1995-Yeast
TL;DR: Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains two genes (DOGR1 and DOGR2) that are able to confer 2‐deoxyglucose resistance when they are overexpressed, and these genes are very similar, sharing 92% identity at the protein level.
Abstract: Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains two genes (DOGR1 and DOGR2) that are able to confer 2-deoxyglucose resistance when they are overexpressed. These genes are very similar, sharing 92% identity at the protein level. They code for two isoenzymes with 2-deoxyglucose-6 phosphate (2-DOG-6P) phosphatase activity. These enzymes have been purified and characterized. DogR1p shows an optimum pH of 6, an optimum temperature of 30 degrees C and a KM on 2-DOG-6P of 17 mM. DogR2p shows a similar optimum pH, but the optimum temperature is 40 degrees C and it exhibits a KM on 2-DOG-6P of 41 mM. Both enzymes require 10 mM-MgCl2 for maximal activity and they are inhibited by inorganic phosphate.