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Blank LM, Kuepfer L, Sauer U. Large-scale 13C-flux analysis reveals mechanistic principles of metabolic network robustness to null mutations in yeast. Genome Biol 2005; 6:R49. [PMID: 15960801 PMCID: PMC1175969 DOI: 10.1186/gb-2005-6-6-r49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 231] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2005] [Revised: 03/08/2005] [Accepted: 04/06/2005] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome-scale 13C-flux analysis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae revealed that the apparent dispensability of knockout mutants with metabolic function can be explained by gene inactivity under a particular condition, by network redundancy through duplicated genes or by alternative pathways. Background Quantification of intracellular metabolite fluxes by 13C-tracer experiments is maturing into a routine higher-throughput analysis. The question now arises as to which mutants should be analyzed. Here we identify key experiments in a systems biology approach with a genome-scale model of Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolism, thereby reducing the workload for experimental network analyses and functional genomics. Results Genome-scale 13C flux analysis revealed that about half of the 745 biochemical reactions were active during growth on glucose, but that alternative pathways exist for only 51 gene-encoded reactions with significant flux. These flexible reactions identified in silico are key targets for experimental flux analysis, and we present the first large-scale metabolic flux data for yeast, covering half of these mutants during growth on glucose. The metabolic lesions were often counteracted by flux rerouting, but knockout of cofactor-dependent reactions, as in the adh1, ald6, cox5A, fum1, mdh1, pda1, and zwf1 mutations, caused flux responses in more distant parts of the network. By integrating computational analyses, flux data, and physiological phenotypes of all mutants in active reactions, we quantified the relative importance of 'genetic buffering' through alternative pathways and network redundancy through duplicate genes for genetic robustness of the network. Conclusions The apparent dispensability of knockout mutants with metabolic function is explained by gene inactivity under a particular condition in about half of the cases. For the remaining 207 viable mutants of active reactions, network redundancy through duplicate genes was the major (75%) and alternative pathways the minor (25%) molecular mechanism of genetic network robustness in S. cerevisiae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars M Blank
- Institute of Biotechnology, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lars Kuepfer
- Institute of Biotechnology, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Uwe Sauer
- Institute of Biotechnology, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Capaldi
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene 97403
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Abstract
The Saccharomyces cerevisiae COX5b gene contains a small intron that is unique in two respects. First, it interrupts the ATG codon that initiates translation of the COX5b product. Second, it contains a sequence at the 5' splice junction (5'-GCATGT-3') that differs from the highly conserved yeast hexanucleotide (5'-GTAPyGT-3') and from the 5'-GT found at the corresponding position in nearly all introns of eucaryotic protein-coding genes. We have analyzed both the transcripts derived from the COX5b gene and the splicing of its intron. We show here that an unspliced mRNA precursor constituted a minor fraction of the total COX5b message, even when the gene was overexpressed. We also show that both major transcripts derived from COX5b had been spliced. Our results suggest that at least in the case of COX5b, a 5'-GC can function as efficiently as the highly conserved 5'-GT in the splicing reaction.
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Abstract
The Saccharomyces cerevisiae COX5b gene contains a small intron that is unique in two respects. First, it interrupts the ATG codon that initiates translation of the COX5b product. Second, it contains a sequence at the 5' splice junction (5'-GCATGT-3') that differs from the highly conserved yeast hexanucleotide (5'-GTAPyGT-3') and from the 5'-GT found at the corresponding position in nearly all introns of eucaryotic protein-coding genes. We have analyzed both the transcripts derived from the COX5b gene and the splicing of its intron. We show here that an unspliced mRNA precursor constituted a minor fraction of the total COX5b message, even when the gene was overexpressed. We also show that both major transcripts derived from COX5b had been spliced. Our results suggest that at least in the case of COX5b, a 5'-GC can function as efficiently as the highly conserved 5'-GT in the splicing reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Hodge
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine 92717
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Poyton RO, Trueblood CE, Wright RM, Farrell LE. Expression and function of cytochrome c oxidase subunit isologues. Modulators of cellular energy production? Ann N Y Acad Sci 1988; 550:289-307. [PMID: 2854400 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1988.tb35344.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- R O Poyton
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309-0347
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Structural analysis of two genes encoding divergent forms of yeast cytochrome c oxidase subunit V. Mol Cell Biol 1988. [PMID: 2824989 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.7.10.3511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, subunit V of the inner mitochondrial membrane protein complex cytochrome c oxidase is encoded by two nonidentical genes, COX5a and COX5b. Both genes are present as single copies in S. cerevisiae and in several other Saccharomyces species. Nucleotide sequencing studies with the S. cerevisiae COX5 genes reveal that they encode proteins of 153 and 151 amino acids, respectively. Overall, the coding sequences of COX5a and COX5b have nucleotide and protein homologies of 67 and 66%, respectively. They are saturated for nucleotide substitutions that result in a synonomous codon, indicating a long divergence time between these two genes. Nucleotide sequences flanking the COX5a and COX5b coding regions exhibit no significant homology. The COX5a protein, pre-subunit Va, contains a 20-amino-acid leader peptide, whereas the COX5b protein, pre-subunit Vb, contains a 17-amino-acid leader peptide. These two leader peptides exhibit only 45% homology in the primary sequence, but have similar predicted secondary structures. By analyzing the RNA transcripts from both genes we have found that COX5a is a contiguous gene but that COX5b contains an intron. Surprisingly, the COX5b intron interrupts the AUG codon that initiates translation of the pre-subunit Vb polypeptide and contains a 5' donor splice sequence that differs from that normally found in yeast introns.
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Differential effectiveness of yeast cytochrome c oxidase subunit genes results from differences in expression not function. Mol Cell Biol 1988. [PMID: 2824990 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.7.10.3520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, COX5a and COX5b encode two distinct forms of cytochrome c oxidase subunit V, Va and Vb, respectively. To determine the relative contribution of COX5a and COX5b to cytochrome c oxidase function, we have disrupted each gene. Cytochrome c oxidase activity levels and respiration rates of strains carrying null alleles of COX5a or COX5b or both indicate that some form of subunit V is required for cytochrome c oxidase function and that COX5a is much more effective than COX5b in providing this function. Wild-type respiration is supported by a single copy of either COX5a or COX5ab (a constructed chimeric gene sharing 5' sequences with COX5a). In contrast, multiple copies of COX5b or COX5ba (a chimeric gene with 5' sequences from COX5b) are required to support wild-type respiration. These results suggest that the decreased effectiveness of COX5b is due to inefficiency in gene expression rather than to any deficiency in the gene product, Vb. This conclusion is supported by two observations: (i) a COX5a-lacZ fusion gene produces more beta-galactosidase than a COX5b-lacZ fusion gene, and (ii) the COX5a transcript is significantly more abundant than the COX5b transcript or the COXsba transcript. We conclude that COX5a is expressed more efficiently than COX5b and that, although mature subunits Va and Vb are only 67% homologous, they do not differ significantly in their ability to assemble and function as subunits of the holoenzyme.
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Trueblood CE, Poyton RO. Differential effectiveness of yeast cytochrome c oxidase subunit genes results from differences in expression not function. Mol Cell Biol 1987; 7:3520-6. [PMID: 2824990 PMCID: PMC368004 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.7.10.3520-3526.1987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, COX5a and COX5b encode two distinct forms of cytochrome c oxidase subunit V, Va and Vb, respectively. To determine the relative contribution of COX5a and COX5b to cytochrome c oxidase function, we have disrupted each gene. Cytochrome c oxidase activity levels and respiration rates of strains carrying null alleles of COX5a or COX5b or both indicate that some form of subunit V is required for cytochrome c oxidase function and that COX5a is much more effective than COX5b in providing this function. Wild-type respiration is supported by a single copy of either COX5a or COX5ab (a constructed chimeric gene sharing 5' sequences with COX5a). In contrast, multiple copies of COX5b or COX5ba (a chimeric gene with 5' sequences from COX5b) are required to support wild-type respiration. These results suggest that the decreased effectiveness of COX5b is due to inefficiency in gene expression rather than to any deficiency in the gene product, Vb. This conclusion is supported by two observations: (i) a COX5a-lacZ fusion gene produces more beta-galactosidase than a COX5b-lacZ fusion gene, and (ii) the COX5a transcript is significantly more abundant than the COX5b transcript or the COXsba transcript. We conclude that COX5a is expressed more efficiently than COX5b and that, although mature subunits Va and Vb are only 67% homologous, they do not differ significantly in their ability to assemble and function as subunits of the holoenzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Trueblood
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309-0347
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Cumsky MG, Trueblood CE, Ko C, Poyton RO. Structural analysis of two genes encoding divergent forms of yeast cytochrome c oxidase subunit V. Mol Cell Biol 1987; 7:3511-9. [PMID: 2824989 PMCID: PMC368003 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.7.10.3511-3519.1987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, subunit V of the inner mitochondrial membrane protein complex cytochrome c oxidase is encoded by two nonidentical genes, COX5a and COX5b. Both genes are present as single copies in S. cerevisiae and in several other Saccharomyces species. Nucleotide sequencing studies with the S. cerevisiae COX5 genes reveal that they encode proteins of 153 and 151 amino acids, respectively. Overall, the coding sequences of COX5a and COX5b have nucleotide and protein homologies of 67 and 66%, respectively. They are saturated for nucleotide substitutions that result in a synonomous codon, indicating a long divergence time between these two genes. Nucleotide sequences flanking the COX5a and COX5b coding regions exhibit no significant homology. The COX5a protein, pre-subunit Va, contains a 20-amino-acid leader peptide, whereas the COX5b protein, pre-subunit Vb, contains a 17-amino-acid leader peptide. These two leader peptides exhibit only 45% homology in the primary sequence, but have similar predicted secondary structures. By analyzing the RNA transcripts from both genes we have found that COX5a is a contiguous gene but that COX5b contains an intron. Surprisingly, the COX5b intron interrupts the AUG codon that initiates translation of the pre-subunit Vb polypeptide and contains a 5' donor splice sequence that differs from that normally found in yeast introns.
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Affiliation(s)
- M G Cumsky
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado at Boulder 80309-0347
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Kloeckener-Gruissem B, McEwen JE, Poyton RO. Nuclear functions required for cytochrome c oxidase biogenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: multiple trans-acting nuclear genes exert specific effects on expression of each of the cytochrome c oxidase subunits encoded on mitochondrial DNA. Curr Genet 1987; 12:311-22. [PMID: 2833360 DOI: 10.1007/bf00405753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Fourteen nuclear complementation groups of mutants that specifically affect the three mitochondrially-encoded subunits of yeast cytochrome c oxidase have been characterized. Genes represented by these complementation groups are not required for mitochondrial transcription, transcript processing, or translation per se but are required for the expression of one of the three genes--COX1, COX2, or COX3--which encode the cytochrome c oxicase subunits I, II, or III, respectively. Five of these genes affect the biogenesis of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, 3 affect the biogenesis of subunit II, 3 affect the biogenesis of subunit III and 3 affect the biogenesis of both cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and cytochrome b, the product of COB. Among the 5 complementation groups of mutants that affect the expression of COX1, 2 lack COX1 transcripts, 1 produces incompletely processed COX1 transcripts, and 2 contain normal levels of normal-sized COX1 transcripts. In contrast, all 3 complementation groups which affect the expression of COX2 and all 3 complementation groups which affect the expression of COX3 exhibit no, or little, detectable difference with respect to the wild type pattern of transcripts. The 3 complementation groups which affect the expression of both COX1 and COB all have aberrant COX1 and COB transcript patterns. These findings indicate that multiple trans-acting nuclear genes are required for specific expression of each COX gene encoded on mitochondrial DNA and suggest that their products act at different steps in the expression of these mitochondrial genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Kloeckener-Gruissem
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309-0347
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McEwen JE, Ko C, Kloeckner-Gruissem B, Poyton RO. Nuclear functions required for cytochrome c oxidase biogenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Characterization of mutants in 34 complementation groups. J Biol Chem 1986. [DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9258(18)67323-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Two nonidentical forms of subunit V are functional in yeast cytochrome c oxidase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1985; 82:2235-9. [PMID: 2986105 PMCID: PMC397531 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.82.8.2235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the inner mitochondrial membrane protein cytochrome c oxidase is composed of nine polypeptide subunits. Six of these subunits (IV, V, VI, VII, VIIa, VIII) are encoded by the nuclear genome, and the remaining three (I, II, III) are encoded by mitochondrial DNA. We report here the existence of two nonidentical subunit V polypeptides, which are encoded by separate genes within the yeast genome. One gene, COX5a, encodes the polypeptide Va, normally found in preparations of holocytochrome c oxidase. The other gene, COX5b, encodes the polypeptide Vb, which cross-reacts with anti-subunit Va antiserum and restores respiratory competency and cytochrome oxidase activity in transformants of cox5a structural gene mutants. This polypeptide also copurifies with the holoenzyme prepared from these transformants. We have found that COX5b is expressed in vegetatively growing yeast cells, and that the Vb polypeptide can be detected in mitochondria from strain JM28, a cox5a mutant. This mutant has 15%-20% residual cytochrome oxidase activity, and it respires at 10%-15% the wild-type rate. By disrupting the COX5b gene in this strain, we show that this residual activity is directly attributable to the presence of a chromosomal copy of the COX5b gene. Taken together, these results suggest that Va or Vb can function as cytochrome oxidase subunits in yeast and that Vb may be used under some specific, as yet undefined, physiological conditions.
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Rapid method for isolation and screening of cytochrome c oxidase-deficient mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J Bacteriol 1985; 161:831-5. [PMID: 2982789 PMCID: PMC214973 DOI: 10.1128/jb.161.3.831-835.1985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
We describe here a new method for the specific isolation of cytochrome c oxidase-deficient mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. One unique feature of the method is the use of tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine as a cytochrome c oxidase activity stain for yeast colonies. The staining of yeast colonies by tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine is dependent upon a functional cytochrome c oxidase and is unaffected by other lesions in respiration. Since the tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine colony staining reaction is rapid and simple, it greatly facilitates both the identification and characterization of cytochrome c oxidase-deficient mutants. Another feature of the method, which is made possible by the tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine colony stain, is the use of an op1 parent strain for the isolation of nuclear pet or mitochondrial mit mutants in specific protein-coding genes. A parent strain that carries this marker selects against rho0 or rho- classes of pleiotropic respiratory-deficient mutants, since these are lethal in op1 strains. We have used this method to isolate 123 independently derived cytochrome c oxidase-deficient pet mutants and 300 independently derived mit mutants.
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Wright RM, Ko C, Cumsky MG, Poyton RO. Isolation and sequence of the structural gene for cytochrome c oxidase subunit VI from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J Biol Chem 1984. [DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9258(17)42563-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
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The nuclear-coded subunits of yeast cytochrome c oxidase. I. Fractionation of the holoenzyme into chemically pure polypeptides and the identification of two new subunits using solvent extraction and reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. J Biol Chem 1984. [DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9258(20)82178-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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