Approaching a complete repository of sequence-verified protein-encoding clones for Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Plasticity of the mitotic spindle in response to karyotype variation

Karyotypes, composed of chromosomes, must be accurately partitioned by the mitotic spindle for optimal cell health. However, it is unknown how underlying characteristics of karyotypes, such as chromosome number and size, govern the scaling of the mitotic spindle to ensure accurate chromosome segregation and cell proliferation. We utilize budding yeast strains engineered with fewer chromosomes, including just two "mega chromosomes," to study how spindle size and function are responsive to, and scaled by, karyotype. We determined that deletion and overexpression of spindle-related genes are detrimental to the growth of strains with two chromosomes, suggesting that mega chromosomes exert altered demands on the spindle. Using confocal microscopy, we demonstrate that cells with fewer but longer chromosomes have smaller spindle pole bodies, fewer microtubules, and longer spindles. Moreover, using electron tomography and confocal imaging, we observe elongated, bent anaphase spindles with fewer core microtubules in strains with mega chromosomes. Cells harboring mega chromosomes grow more slowly, are delayed in mitosis, and a subset struggle to complete chromosome segregation. We propose that the karyotype of the cell dictates the microtubule number, type, spindle pole body size, and spindle length, subsequently influencing the dynamics of mitosis, such as the rate of spindle elongation and the velocity of pole separation. Taken together, our results suggest that mitotic spindles are highly plastic ultrastructures that can accommodate and adjust to a variety of karyotypes, even within a species.

Nascent mitochondrial proteins initiate the localized condensation of cytosolic protein aggregates on the mitochondrial surface

Eukaryotes organize cellular contents into membrane-bound organelles and membrane-less condensates, for example, protein aggregates. An unsolved question is why the ubiquitously distributed proteins throughout the cytosol give rise to spatially localized protein aggregates on the organellar surface, like mitochondria. We report that the mitochondrial import receptor Tom70 is involved in the localized condensation of protein aggregates in budding yeast and human cells. This is because misfolded cytosolic proteins do not autonomously aggregate in vivo; instead, they are recruited to the condensation sites initiated by Tom70's substrates (nascent mitochondrial proteins) on the organellar membrane using multivalent hydrophobic interactions. Knocking out Tom70 partially impairs, while overexpressing Tom70 increases the formation and association between cytosolic protein aggregates and mitochondria. In addition, ectopic targeting Tom70 and its substrates to the vacuole surface is able to redirect the localized aggregation from mitochondria to the vacuolar surface. Although other redundant mechanisms may exist, this nascent mitochondrial proteins-based initiation of protein aggregation likely explains the localized condensation of otherwise ubiquitously distributed molecules on the mitochondria. Disrupting the mitochondrial association of aggregates impairs their asymmetric retention during mitosis and reduces the mitochondrial import of misfolded proteins, suggesting a proteostasis role of the organelle-condensate interactions.

Alzheimer's Disease: Significant Benefit from the Yeast-Based Models

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related, multifaceted neurological disorder associated with accumulation of aggregated proteins (amyloid Aβ and hyperphosphorylated tau), loss of synapses and neurons, and alterations in microglia. AD was recognized by the World Health Organization as a global public health priority. The pursuit of a better understanding of AD forced researchers to pay attention to well-defined single-celled yeasts. Yeasts, despite obvious limitations in application to neuroscience, show high preservation of basic biological processes with all eukaryotic organisms and offer great advantages over other disease models due to the simplicity, high growth rates on low-cost substrates, relatively simple genetic manipulations, the large knowledge base and data collections, and availability of an unprecedented amount of genomic and proteomic toolboxes and high-throughput screening techniques, inaccessible to higher organisms. Research reviewed above clearly indicates that yeast models, together with other, more simple eukaryotic models including animal models, C. elegans and Drosophila, significantly contributed to understanding Aβ and tau biology. These models allowed high throughput screening of factors and drugs that interfere with Aβ oligomerization, aggregation and toxicity, and tau hyperphosphorylation. In the future, yeast models will remain relevant, with a focus on creating novel high throughput systems to facilitate the identification of the earliest AD biomarkers among different cellular networks in order to achieve the main goal-to develop new promising therapeutic strategies to treat or prevent the disease.

Meiotic cDNA libraries reveal gene truncations and mitochondrial proteins important for competitive fitness in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Gametogenesis is an evolutionarily conserved developmental program whereby a diploid progenitor cell undergoes meiosis and cellular remodeling to differentiate into haploid gametes, the precursors for sexual reproduction. Even in the simple eukaryotic organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the meiotic transcriptome is very rich and complex, thereby necessitating new tools for functional studies. Here, we report the construction of 5 stage-specific, inducible complementary DNA libraries from meiotic cells that represent over 84% of the genes found in the budding yeast genome. We employed computational strategies to detect endogenous meiotic transcript isoforms as well as library-specific gene truncations. Furthermore, we developed a robust screening pipeline to test the effect of each complementary DNA on competitive fitness. Our multiday proof-of-principle time course revealed 877 complementary DNAs that were detrimental for competitive fitness when overexpressed. The list included mitochondrial proteins that cause dose-dependent disruption of cellular respiration as well as library-specific gene truncations that expose a dominant negative effect on competitive growth. Together, these high-quality complementary DNA libraries provide an important tool for systematically identifying meiotic genes, transcript isoforms, and protein domains that are important for a specific biological function.

Ist2 recruits the lipid transporters Osh6/7 to ER-PM contacts to maintain phospholipid metabolism

ER-plasma membrane (PM) contacts are proposed to be held together by distinct families of tethering proteins, which in yeast include the VAP homologues Scs2/22, the extended-synaptotagmin homologues Tcb1/2/3, and the TMEM16 homologue Ist2. It is unclear whether these tethers act redundantly or whether individual tethers have specific functions at contacts. Here, we show that Ist2 directly recruits the phosphatidylserine (PS) transport proteins and ORP family members Osh6 and Osh7 to ER-PM contacts through a binding site located in Ist2's disordered C-terminal tethering region. This interaction is required for phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) production by the PS decarboxylase Psd2, whereby PS transported from the ER to the PM by Osh6/7 is endocytosed to the site of Psd2 in endosomes/Golgi/vacuoles. This role for Ist2 and Osh6/7 in nonvesicular PS transport is specific, as other tethers/transport proteins do not compensate. Thus, we identify a molecular link between the ORP and TMEM16 families and a role for endocytosis of PS in PE synthesis.

Systematic analysis of bypass suppression of essential genes

Essential genes tend to be highly conserved across eukaryotes, but, in some cases, their critical roles can be bypassed through genetic rewiring. From a systematic analysis of 728 different essential yeast genes, we discovered that 124 (17%) were dispensable essential genes. Through whole-genome sequencing and detailed genetic analysis, we investigated the genetic interactions and genome alterations underlying bypass suppression. Dispensable essential genes often had paralogs, were enriched for genes encoding membrane-associated proteins, and were depleted for members of protein complexes. Functionally related genes frequently drove the bypass suppression interactions. These gene properties were predictive of essential gene dispensability and of specific suppressors among hundreds of genes on aneuploid chromosomes. Our findings identify yeast's core essential gene set and reveal that the properties of dispensable essential genes are conserved from yeast to human cells, correlating with human genes that display cell line-specific essentiality in the Cancer Dependency Map (DepMap) project.

Modeling DNA trapping of anticancer therapeutic targets using missense mutations identifies dominant synthetic lethal interactions

Genetic screens can identify synthetic lethal (SL) interactions and uncover potential anticancer therapeutic targets. However, most SL screens have utilized knockout or knockdown approaches that do not accurately mimic chemical inhibition of a target protein. Here, we test whether missense mutations can be utilized as a model for a type of protein inhibition that creates a dominant gain-of-function cytotoxicity. We expressed missense mutations in the FEN1 endonuclease and the replication-associated helicase, CHL1, that inhibited enzymatic activity but retained substrate binding, and found that these mutations elicited a dominant SL phenotype consistent with the generation of cytotoxic protein-DNA or protein-protein intermediates. Genetic screens with nuclease-defective hFEN1 and helicase-deficient yCHL1 captured dominant SL interactions, in which ectopic expression of the mutant form, in the presence of the wild-type form, caused SL in specific mutant backgrounds. Expression of nuclease-defective hFEN1 in yeast elicited DNA binding-dependent dominant SL with homologous recombination mutants. In contrast, dominant SL interactions with helicase-deficient yCHL1 were observed in spindle-associated, Ctf18-alternative replication factor C (Ctf18-RFC) clamp loader complex, and cohesin mutant backgrounds. These results highlight the different mechanisms underlying SL interactions that occur in the presence of an inhibited form of the target protein and point to the utility of modeling trapping mutations in pursuit of more clinically relevant SL interactions.

Direct binding of ESCRT protein Chm7 to phosphatidic acid-rich membranes at nuclear envelope herniations

Mechanisms that control nuclear membrane remodeling are essential to maintain the integrity of the nucleus but remain to be fully defined. Here, we identify a phosphatidic acid (PA)-binding capacity in the nuclear envelope (NE)-specific ESCRT, Chm7, in budding yeast. Chm7's interaction with PA-rich membranes is mediated through a conserved hydrophobic stretch of amino acids, which confers recruitment to the NE in a manner that is independent of but required for Chm7's interaction with the LAP2-emerin-MAN1 (LEM) domain protein Heh1 (LEM2). Consistent with the functional importance of PA binding, mutation of this region abrogates recruitment of Chm7 to membranes and abolishes Chm7 function in the context of NE herniations that form during defective nuclear pore complex (NPC) biogenesis. In fact, we show that a PA sensor specifically accumulates within these NE herniations. We suggest that local control of PA metabolism is important for ensuring productive NE remodeling and that its dysregulation may contribute to pathologies associated with defective NPC assembly.

Systematic High-Content Screening of Fluorescently Tagged Yeast Double Mutant Strains

We describe a protocol for high-content screening in budding yeast that can be used to study genetic interactions from a cell biological perspective. This approach can be used to map genetic interactions by monitoring one or more subcellular fluorescent markers of interest. In this case, changes in the morphology or abundance of a subcellular compartment, pathway or bioprocess are monitored in the background of a systematic array of yeast double mutants. Alternatively, the protocol can be used to monitor proteome-wide abundance and localization changes in a double mutant of interest by screening the yeast ORF-GFP collection. The protocol can be readily adapted for high-content screening of triple mutants, other large-scale yeast collections or expanded to screening of multiple growth conditions.

Chemical-Genetic Interactions with the Proline Analog L-Azetidine-2-Carboxylic Acid in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Non-proteinogenic amino acids, such as the proline analog L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (AZC), are detrimental to cells because they are mis-incorporated into proteins and lead to proteotoxic stress. Our goal was to identify genes that show chemical-genetic interactions with AZC in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and thus also potentially define the pathways cells use to cope with amino acid mis-incorporation. Screening the yeast deletion and temperature sensitive collections, we found 72 alleles with negative chemical-genetic interactions with AZC treatment and 12 alleles that suppress AZC toxicity. Many of the genes with negative chemical-genetic interactions are involved in protein quality control pathways through the proteasome. Genes involved in actin cytoskeleton organization and endocytosis also had negative chemical-genetic interactions with AZC. Related to this, the number of actin patches per cell increases upon AZC treatment. Many of the same cellular processes were identified to have interactions with proteotoxic stress caused by two other amino acid analogs, canavanine and thialysine, or a mistranslating tRNA variant that mis-incorporates serine at proline codons. Alleles that suppressed AZC-induced toxicity functioned through the amino acid sensing TOR pathway or controlled amino acid permeases required for AZC uptake. Further suggesting the potential of genetic changes to influence the cellular response to proteotoxic stress, overexpressing many of the genes that had a negative chemical-genetic interaction with AZC suppressed AZC toxicity.

Independent regulation of age associated fat accumulation and longevity

Age-dependent changes in metabolism can manifest as cellular lipid accumulation, but how this accumulation is regulated or impacts longevity is poorly understood. We find that Saccharomyces cerevisiae accumulate lipid droplets (LDs) during aging. We also find that over-expressing BNA2, the first Biosynthesis of NAD⁺ (kynurenine) pathway gene, reduces LD accumulation during aging and extends lifespan. Mechanistically, this LD accumulation during aging is not linked to NAD⁺ levels, but is anti-correlated with metabolites of the shikimate and aromatic amino acid biosynthesis (SA) pathways (upstream of BNA2), which produce tryptophan (the Bna2p substrate). We provide evidence that over-expressed BNA2 skews glycolytic flux from LDs towards the SA-BNA pathways, effectively reducing LDs. Importantly, we find that accumulation of LDs does not shorten lifespan, but does protect aged cells against stress. Our findings reveal how lipid accumulation impacts longevity, and how aging cell metabolism can be rewired to modulate lipid accumulation independently from longevity.

Age-associated metabolic changes include lipid accumulation. Here, the authors show that with replicative aging yeast accumulate lipid droplets which protect cells from cold stress and can be modulated through Biosynthesis of NAD+ 2 (BNA2).

A Genetic Screen for Human Genes Suppressing FUS Induced Toxicity in Yeast

FUS is a nucleic acid binding protein that, when mutated, cause a subset of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Expression of FUS in yeast recapitulates several pathological features of the disease-causing mutant proteins, including nuclear to cytoplasmic translocation, formation of cytoplasmic inclusions, and cytotoxicity. Genetic screens using the yeast model of FUS have identified yeast genes and their corresponding human homologs suppressing FUS induced toxicity in yeast, neurons and animal models. To expand the search for human suppressor genes of FUS induced toxicity, we carried out a genome-scale genetic screen using a newly constructed library containing 13570 human genes cloned in an inducible yeast-expression vector. Through multiple rounds of verification, we found 37 human genes that, when overexpressed, suppress FUS induced toxicity in yeast. Human genes with DNA or RNA binding functions are overrepresented among the identified suppressor genes, supporting that perturbations of RNA metabolism is a key underlying mechanism of FUS toxicity.

Two factor authentication: Asf1 mediates crosstalk between H3 K14 and K56 acetylation

The ability of histone chaperone Anti-silencing factor 1 (Asf1) to direct acetylation of lysine 56 of histone H3 (H3K56ac) represents an important regulatory step in genome replication and DNA repair. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Asf1 interacts functionally with a second chaperone, Vps75, and the lysine acetyltransferase (KAT) Rtt109. Both Asf1 and Vps75 can increase the specificity of histone acetylation by Rtt109, but neither alter selectivity. However, changes in acetylation selectivity have been observed in histones extracted from cells, which contain a plethora of post-translational modifications. In the present study, we use a series of singly acetylated histones to test the hypothesis that histone pre-acetylation and histone chaperones function together to drive preferential acetylation of H3K56. We show that pre-acetylated H3K14ac/H4 functions with Asf1 to drive specific acetylation of H3K56 by Rtt109-Vps75. Additionally, we identified an exosite containing an acidic patch in Asf1 and show that mutations to this region alter Asf1-mediated crosstalk that changes Rtt109-Vps75 selectivity. Our proposed mechanism suggests that Gcn5 acetylates H3K14, recruiting remodeler complexes, allowing for the Asf1-H3K14ac/H4 complex to be acetylated at H3K56 by Rtt109-Vps75. This mechanism explains the conflicting biochemical data and the genetic links between Rtt109, Vps75, Gcn5 and Asf1 in the acetylation of H3K56.

The endonuclease Cue2 cleaves mRNAs at stalled ribosomes during No Go Decay

Translation of problematic sequences in mRNAs leads to ribosome collisions that trigger a series of quality control events including ribosome rescue, degradation of the stalled nascent polypeptide, and targeting of the mRNA for decay (No Go Decay or NGD). Using a reverse genetic screen in yeast, we identify Cue2 as the conserved endonuclease that is recruited to stalled ribosomes to promote NGD. Ribosome profiling and biochemistry provide strong evidence that Cue2 cleaves mRNA within the A site of the colliding ribosome. We demonstrate that NGD primarily proceeds via Xrn1-mediated exonucleolytic decay and Cue2-mediated endonucleolytic decay normally constitutes a secondary decay pathway. Finally, we show that the Cue2-dependent pathway becomes a major contributor to NGD in cells depleted of factors required for the resolution of stalled ribosome complexes. Together these results provide insights into how multiple decay processes converge to process problematic mRNAs in eukaryotic cells.​.

Yeast genetic interaction screens in the age of CRISPR/Cas

The ease of performing both forward and reverse genetics in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, along with its stable haploid state and short generation times, has made this budding yeast the consummate model eukaryote for genetics. The major advantage of using budding yeast for reverse genetics is this organism's highly efficient homology-directed repair, allowing for precise genome editing simply by introducing DNA with homology to the chromosomal target. Although plasmid- and PCR-based genome editing tools are quite efficient, they depend on rare spontaneous DNA breaks near the target sequence. Consequently, they can generate only one genomic edit at a time, and the edit must be associated with a selectable marker. However, CRISPR/Cas technology is efficient enough to permit markerless and multiplexed edits in a single step. These features have made CRISPR/Cas popular for yeast strain engineering in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering applications, but it has not been widely employed for genetic screens. In this review, we critically examine different methods to generate multi-mutant strains in systematic genetic interaction screens and discuss the potential of CRISPR/Cas to supplement or improve on these methods.

The budding yeast RSC complex maintains ploidy by promoting spindle pole body insertion

Sing et al. characterize an unanticipated role for the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RSC complex in ploidy maintenance. They show that RSC promotes the distribution of Nbp1 and Ndc1 to the spindle pole body (SPB) to facilitate SPB maturation and accurate chromosome segregation.

Ploidy is tightly regulated in eukaryotic cells and is critical for cell function and survival. Cells coordinate multiple pathways to ensure replicated DNA is segregated accurately to prevent abnormal changes in chromosome number. In this study, we characterize an unanticipated role for the Saccharomyces cerevisiae “remodels the structure of chromatin” (RSC) complex in ploidy maintenance. We show that deletion of any of six nonessential RSC genes causes a rapid transition from haploid to diploid DNA content because of nondisjunction events. Diploidization is accompanied by diagnostic changes in cell morphology and is stably maintained without further ploidy increases. We find that RSC promotes chromosome segregation by facilitating spindle pole body (SPB) duplication. More specifically, RSC plays a role in distributing two SPB insertion factors, Nbp1 and Ndc1, to the new SPB. Thus, we provide insight into a role for a SWI/SNF family complex in SPB duplication and ploidy maintenance.

Translocon Declogger Ste24 Protects against IAPP Oligomer-Induced Proteotoxicity

Aggregates of human islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) in the pancreas of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are thought to contribute to β cell dysfunction and death. To understand how IAPP harms cells and how this might be overcome, we created a yeast model of IAPP toxicity. Ste24, an evolutionarily conserved protease that was recently reported to degrade peptides stuck within the translocon between the cytoplasm and the endoplasmic reticulum, was the strongest suppressor of IAPP toxicity. By testing variants of the human homolog, ZMPSTE24, with varying activity levels, the rescue of IAPP toxicity proved to be directly proportional to the declogging efficiency. Clinically relevant ZMPSTE24 variants identified in the largest database of exomes sequences derived from T2D patients were characterized using the yeast model, revealing 14 partial loss-of-function variants, which were enriched among diabetes patients over 2-fold. Thus, clogging of the translocon by IAPP oligomers may contribute to β cell failure.

Reporter-Based Synthetic Genetic Array Analysis: A Functional Genomics Approach for Investigating Transcript or Protein Abundance Using Fluorescent Proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Fluorescent reporter genes have long been used to quantify various cell features such as transcript and protein abundance. Here, we describe a method, reporter synthetic genetic array (R-SGA) analysis, which allows for the simultaneous quantification of any fluorescent protein readout in thousands of yeast strains using an automated pipeline. R-SGA combines a fluorescent reporter system with standard SGA analysis and can be used to examine any array-based strain collection available to the yeast community. This protocol describes the R-SGA methodology for screening different arrays of yeast mutants including the deletion collection, a collection of temperature-sensitive strains for the assessment of essential yeast genes and a collection of inducible overexpression strains. We also present an alternative pipeline for the analysis of R-SGA output strains using flow cytometry of cells in liquid culture. Data normalization for both pipelines is discussed.

A Genetic Tool to Track Protein Aggregates and Control Prion Inheritance

Protein aggregation is a hallmark of many diseases but also underlies a wide range of positive cellular functions. This phenomenon has been difficult to study because of a lack of quantitative and high-throughput cellular tools. Here, we develop a synthetic genetic tool to sense and control protein aggregation. We apply the technology to yeast prions, developing sensors to track their aggregation states and employing prion fusions to encode synthetic memories in yeast cells. Utilizing high-throughput screens, we identify prion-curing mutants and engineer "anti-prion drives" that reverse the non-Mendelian inheritance pattern of prions and eliminate them from yeast populations. We extend our technology to yeast RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) by tracking their propensity to aggregate, searching for co-occurring aggregates, and uncovering a group of coalescing RBPs through screens enabled by our platform. Our work establishes a quantitative, high-throughput, and generalizable technology to study and control diverse protein aggregation processes in cells.

Dihydropyrimidine-Thiones and Clioquinol Synergize To Target β-Amyloid Cellular Pathologies through a Metal-Dependent Mechanism

The lack of therapies for neurodegenerative diseases arises from our incomplete understanding of their underlying cellular toxicities and the limited number of predictive model systems. It is critical that we develop approaches to identify novel targets and lead compounds. Here, a phenotypic screen of yeast proteinopathy models identified dihydropyrimidine-thiones (DHPM-thiones) that selectively rescued the toxicity caused by β-amyloid (Aβ), the peptide implicated in Alzheimer's disease. Rescue of Aβ toxicity by DHPM-thiones occurred through a metal-dependent mechanism of action. The bioactivity was distinct, however, from that of the 8-hydroxyquinoline clioquinol (CQ). These structurally dissimilar compounds strongly synergized at concentrations otherwise not competent to reduce toxicity. Cotreatment ameliorated Aβ toxicity by reducing Aβ levels and restoring functional vesicle trafficking. Notably, these low doses significantly reduced deleterious off-target effects caused by CQ on mitochondria at higher concentrations. Both single and combinatorial treatments also reduced death of neurons expressing Aβ in a nematode, indicating that DHPM-thiones target a conserved protective mechanism. Furthermore, this conserved activity suggests that expression of the Aβ peptide causes similar cellular pathologies from yeast to neurons. Our identification of a new cytoprotective scaffold that requires metal-binding underscores the critical role of metal phenomenology in mediating Aβ toxicity. Additionally, our findings demonstrate the valuable potential of synergistic compounds to enhance on-target activities, while mitigating deleterious off-target effects. The identification and prosecution of synergistic compounds could prove useful for developing AD therapeutics where combination therapies may be required to antagonize diverse pathologies.

High-throughput Screening for Protein-based Inheritance in S. cerevisiae

The encoding of biological information that is accessible to future generations is generally achieved via changes to the DNA sequence. Long-lived inheritance encoded in protein conformation (rather than sequence) has long been viewed as paradigm-shifting but rare. The best characterized examples of such epigenetic elements are prions, which possess a self-assembling behavior that can drive the heritable manifestation of new phenotypes. Many archetypal prions display a striking N/Q-rich sequence bias and assemble into an amyloid fold. These unusual features have informed most screening efforts to identify new prion proteins. However, at least three known prions (including the founding prion, PrP^Sc) do not harbor these biochemical characteristics. We therefore developed an alternative method to probe the scope of protein-based inheritance based on a property of mass action: the transient overexpression of prion proteins increases the frequency at which they acquire a self-templating conformation. This paper describes a method for analyzing the capacity of the yeast ORFeome to elicit protein-based inheritance. Using this strategy, we previously found that >1% of yeast proteins could fuel the emergence of biological traits that were long-lived, stable, and arose more frequently than genetic mutation. This approach can be employed in high throughput across entire ORFeomes or as a targeted screening paradigm for specific genetic networks or environmental stimuli. Just as forward genetic screens define numerous developmental and signaling pathways, these techniques provide a methodology to investigate the influence of protein-based inheritance in biological processes.

Gene2Function: An Integrated Online Resource for Gene Function Discovery

One of the most powerful ways to develop hypotheses regarding the biological functions of conserved genes in a given species, such as humans, is to first look at what is known about their function in another species. Model organism databases and other resources are rich with functional information but difficult to mine. Gene2Function addresses a broad need by integrating information about conserved genes in a single online resource.

Exploring genetic suppression interactions on a global scale

Genetic suppression occurs when the phenotypic defects caused by a mutation in a particular gene are rescued by a mutation in a second gene. To explore the principles of genetic suppression, we examined both literature-curated and unbiased experimental data, involving systematic genetic mapping and whole-genome sequencing, to generate a large-scale suppression network among yeast genes. Most suppression pairs identified novel relationships among functionally related genes, providing new insights into the functional wiring diagram of the cell. In addition to suppressor mutations, we identified frequent secondary mutations,in a subset of genes, that likely cause a delay in the onset of stationary phase, which appears to promote their enrichment within a propagating population. These findings allow us to formulate and quantify general mechanisms of genetic suppression.

Functional Analysis of Kinases and Transcription Factors in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Using an Integrated Overexpression Library

Kinases and transcription factors (TFs) are key modulators of important signaling pathways and their activities underlie the proper function of many basic cellular processes such as cell division, differentiation, and development. Changes in kinase and TF dosage are often associated with disease, yet a systematic assessment of the cellular phenotypes caused by the combined perturbation of kinases and TFs has not been undertaken. We used a reverse-genetics approach to study the phenotypic consequences of kinase and TF overexpression (OE) in the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We constructed a collection of strains expressing stably integrated inducible alleles of kinases and TFs and used a variety of assays to characterize the phenotypes caused by TF and kinase OE. We used the Synthetic Genetic Array (SGA) method to examine dosage-dependent genetic interactions (GIs) between 239 gain-of-function (OE) alleles of TFs and six loss-of-function (LOF) and seven OE kinase alleles, the former identifying Synthetic Dosage Lethal (SDL) interactions and the latter testing a GI we call Double Dosage Lethality (DDL). We identified and confirmed 94 GIs between 65 OE alleles of TFs and 9 kinase alleles. Follow-up experiments validated regulatory relationships between genetically interacting pairs (Cdc28–Stb1 and Pho85–Pdr1), suggesting that GI studies involving OE alleles of regulatory proteins will be a rich source of new functional information.

Genome-Scale Networks Link Neurodegenerative Disease Genes to α-Synuclein through Specific Molecular Pathways

Numerous genes and molecular pathways are implicated in neurodegenerative proteinopathies, but their inter-relationships are poorly understood. We systematically mapped molecular pathways underlying the toxicity of alpha-synuclein (α-syn), a protein central to Parkinson's disease. Genome-wide screens in yeast identified 332 genes that impact α-syn toxicity. To "humanize" this molecular network, we developed a computational method, TransposeNet. This integrates a Steiner prize-collecting approach with homology assignment through sequence, structure, and interaction topology. TransposeNet linked α-syn to multiple parkinsonism genes and druggable targets through perturbed protein trafficking and ER quality control as well as mRNA metabolism and translation. A calcium signaling hub linked these processes to perturbed mitochondrial quality control and function, metal ion transport, transcriptional regulation, and signal transduction. Parkinsonism gene interaction profiles spatially opposed in the network (ATP13A2/PARK9 and VPS35/PARK17) were highly distinct, and network relationships for specific genes (LRRK2/PARK8, ATXN2, and EIF4G1/PARK18) were confirmed in patient induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons. This cross-species platform connected diverse neurodegenerative genes to proteinopathy through specific mechanisms and may facilitate patient stratification for targeted therapy.

Intrinsically Disordered Proteins Drive Emergence and Inheritance of Biological Traits

Prions are a paradigm-shifting mechanism of inheritance in which phenotypes are encoded by self-templating protein conformations rather than nucleic acids. Here, we examine the breadth of protein-based inheritance across the yeast proteome by assessing the ability of nearly every open reading frame (ORF; ∼5,300 ORFs) to induce heritable traits. Transient overexpression of nearly 50 proteins created traits that remained heritable long after their expression returned to normal. These traits were beneficial, had prion-like patterns of inheritance, were common in wild yeasts, and could be transmitted to naive cells with protein alone. Most inducing proteins were not known prions and did not form amyloid. Instead, they are highly enriched in nucleic acid binding proteins with large intrinsically disordered domains that have been widely conserved across evolution. Thus, our data establish a common type of protein-based inheritance through which intrinsically disordered proteins can drive the emergence of new traits and adaptive opportunities.

Overexpression screens identify conserved dosage chromosome instability genes in yeast and human cancer

Somatic copy number amplification and gene overexpression are common features of many cancers. To determine the role of gene overexpression on chromosome instability (CIN), we performed genome-wide screens in the budding yeast for yeast genes that cause CIN when overexpressed, a phenotype we refer to as dosage CIN (dCIN), and identified 245 dCIN genes. This catalog of genes reveals human orthologs known to be recurrently overexpressed and/or amplified in tumors. We show that two genes, TDP1, a tyrosyl-DNA-phosphdiesterase, and TAF12, an RNA polymerase II TATA-box binding factor, cause CIN when overexpressed in human cells. Rhabdomyosarcoma lines with elevated human Tdp1 levels also exhibit CIN that can be partially rescued by siRNA-mediated knockdown of TDP1 Overexpression of dCIN genes represents a genetic vulnerability that could be leveraged for selective killing of cancer cells through targeting of an unlinked synthetic dosage lethal (SDL) partner. Using SDL screens in yeast, we identified a set of genes that when deleted specifically kill cells with high levels of Tdp1. One gene was the histone deacetylase RPD3, for which there are known inhibitors. Both HT1080 cells overexpressing hTDP1 and rhabdomyosarcoma cells with elevated levels of hTdp1 were more sensitive to histone deacetylase inhibitors valproic acid (VPA) and trichostatin A (TSA), recapitulating the SDL interaction in human cells and suggesting VPA and TSA as potential therapeutic agents for tumors with elevated levels of hTdp1. The catalog of dCIN genes presented here provides a candidate list to identify genes that cause CIN when overexpressed in cancer, which can then be leveraged through SDL to selectively target tumors.

Selective sorting and destruction of mitochondrial membrane proteins in aged yeast

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of aging, and underlies the development of many diseases. Cells maintain mitochondrial homeostasis through a number of pathways that remodel the mitochondrial proteome or alter mitochondrial content during times of stress or metabolic adaptation. Here, using yeast as a model system, we identify a new mitochondrial degradation system that remodels the mitochondrial proteome of aged cells. Unlike many common mitochondrial degradation pathways, this system selectively removes a subset of membrane proteins from the mitochondrial inner and outer membranes, while leaving the remainder of the organelle intact. Selective removal of preexisting proteins is achieved by sorting into a mitochondrial-derived compartment, or MDC, followed by release through mitochondrial fission and elimination by autophagy. Formation of MDCs requires the import receptors Tom70/71, and failure to form these structures exacerbates preexisting mitochondrial dysfunction, suggesting that the MDC pathway provides protection to mitochondria in times of stress.

High-Throughput Microscopy-Based Screening in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The budding yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiaehas served as the pioneer model organism for virtually all genome-scale methods, including genome sequencing, DNA microarrays, gene deletion collections, and a variety of proteomic platforms. Yeast has also provided a test-bed for the development of systematic fluorescence-based imaging screens to enable the analysis of protein localization and abundance in vivo. Especially important has been the integration of high-throughput microscopy with automated image-processing methods, which has allowed researchers to overcome issues associated with manual image analysis and acquire unbiased, quantitative data. Here we provide an introduction to automated imaging in budding yeast.

The cytoplasmic prolyl-tRNA synthetase of the malaria parasite is a dual-stage target of febrifugine and its analogs

The emergence of drug resistance is a major limitation of current antimalarials. The discovery of new druggable targets and pathways including those that are critical for multiple life cycle stages of the malaria parasite is a major goal for developing next-generation antimalarial drugs. Using an integrated chemogenomics approach that combined drug resistance selection, whole-genome sequencing, and an orthogonal yeast model, we demonstrate that the cytoplasmic prolyl-tRNA (transfer RNA) synthetase (PfcPRS) of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is a biochemical and functional target of febrifugine and its synthetic derivative halofuginone. Febrifugine is the active principle of a traditional Chinese herbal remedy for malaria. We show that treatment with febrifugine derivatives activated the amino acid starvation response in both P. falciparum and a transgenic yeast strain expressing PfcPRS. We further demonstrate in the Plasmodium berghei mouse model of malaria that halofuginol, a new halofuginone analog that we developed, is active against both liver and asexual blood stages of the malaria parasite. Halofuginol, unlike halofuginone and febrifugine, is well tolerated at efficacious doses and represents a promising lead for the development of dual-stage next-generation antimalarials.

Yeast as a Model for Alzheimer's Disease: Latest Studies and Advanced Strategies

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a unicellular eukaryotic model, has enabled major breakthroughs in our understanding of a plethora of cellular and molecular processes. Today, a 're-invention' of its use in fundamental and applied research is paving the way for a better understanding of the mechanisms causing neurodegeneration. The increasing emergence of neurodegenerative disorders is becoming more and more problematic in our ageing society. Most prevalent is Alzheimer's disease (AD), affecting more than 35 million people worldwide (Abbott, Nature 475, S2-S4, 2011) and causing an enormous burden on a personal and communal level. The disease is characterized by two major pathological hallmarks: extracellular amyloid plaques consisting mainly of deposits of amyloid β (Aβ) peptides, and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), consisting mainly of aggregates of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Despite the huge importance of thoroughly understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration, progress has been slow. However, multiple complementary research methods are proving their value, particularly with the work done with S. cerevisiae, which combines well-established, fast genetic and molecular techniques with the ability to faithfully capture key molecular aspects of neurodegeneration. In this review chapter, we focus on the considerable progress made using S. cerevisiae as a model system for Alzheimer's disease.

Complementation of Yeast Genes with Human Genes as an Experimental Platform for Functional Testing of Human Genetic Variants

While the pace of discovery of human genetic variants in tumors, patients, and diverse populations has rapidly accelerated, deciphering their functional consequence has become rate-limiting. Using cross-species complementation, model organisms like the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, can be utilized to fill this gap and serve as a platform for testing human genetic variants. To this end, we performed two parallel screens, a one-to-one complementation screen for essential yeast genes implicated in chromosome instability and a pool-to-pool screen that queried all possible essential yeast genes for rescue of lethality by all possible human homologs. Our work identified 65 human cDNAs that can replace the null allele of essential yeast genes, including the nonorthologous pair yRFT1/hSEC61A1. We chose four human cDNAs (hLIG1, hSSRP1, hPPP1CA, and hPPP1CC) for which their yeast gene counterparts function in chromosome stability and assayed in yeast 35 tumor-specific missense mutations for growth defects and sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents. This resulted in a set of human–yeast gene complementation pairs that allow human genetic variants to be readily characterized in yeast, and a prioritized list of somatic mutations that could contribute to chromosome instability in human tumors. These data establish the utility of this cross-species experimental approach.

Navigating yeast genome maintenance with functional genomics

Maintenance of genome integrity is a fundamental requirement of all organisms. To address this, organisms have evolved extremely faithful modes of replication, DNA repair and chromosome segregation to combat the deleterious effects of an unstable genome. Nonetheless, a small amount of genome instability is the driver of evolutionary change and adaptation, and thus a low level of instability is permitted in populations. While defects in genome maintenance almost invariably reduce fitness in the short term, they can create an environment where beneficial mutations are more likely to occur. The importance of this fact is clearest in the development of human cancer, where genome instability is a well-established enabling characteristic of carcinogenesis. This raises the crucial question: what are the cellular pathways that promote genome maintenance and what are their mechanisms? Work in model organisms, in particular the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has provided the global foundations of genome maintenance mechanisms in eukaryotes. The development of pioneering genomic tools inS. cerevisiae, such as the systematic creation of mutants in all nonessential and essential genes, has enabled whole-genome approaches to identifying genes with roles in genome maintenance. Here, we review the extensive whole-genome approaches taken in yeast, with an emphasis on functional genomic screens, to understand the genetic basis of genome instability, highlighting a range of genetic and cytological screening modalities. By revealing the biological pathways and processes regulating genome integrity, these analyses contribute to the systems-level map of the yeast cell and inform studies of human disease, especially cancer.

Modifiers of C9orf72 dipeptide repeat toxicity connect nucleocytoplasmic transport defects to FTD/ALS

C9orf72 mutations are the most common cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs) produced by unconventional translation of the C9orf72 repeat expansions cause neurodegeneration in cell culture and in animal models. We performed two unbiased screens in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and identified potent modifiers of DPR toxicity, including karyopherins and effectors of Ran-mediated nucleocytoplasmic transport, providing insight into potential disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets.

Analysis of Polygenic Mutants Suggests a Role for Mediator in Regulating Transcriptional Activation Distance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Studies of natural populations of many organisms have shown that traits are often complex, caused by contributions of mutations in multiple genes. In contrast, genetic studies in the laboratory primarily focus on studying the phenotypes caused by mutations in a single gene. However, the single mutation approach may be limited with respect to the breadth and degree of new phenotypes that can be found. We have taken the approach of isolating complex, or polygenic mutants in the lab to study the regulation of transcriptional activation distance in yeast. While most aspects of eukaryotic transcription are conserved from yeast to human, transcriptional activation distance is not. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the upstream activating sequence (UAS) is generally found within 450 base pairs of the transcription start site (TSS) and when the UAS is moved too far away, activation no longer occurs. In contrast, metazoan enhancers can activate from as far as several hundred kilobases from the TSS. Previously, we identified single mutations that allow transcription activation to occur at a greater-than-normal distance from the GAL1 UAS. As the single mutant phenotypes were weak, we have now isolated polygenic mutants that possess strong long-distance phenotypes. By identification of the causative mutations we have accounted for most of the heritability of the phenotype in each strain and have provided evidence that the Mediator coactivator complex plays both positive and negative roles in the regulation of transcription activation distance.

From the baker to the bedside: yeast models of Parkinson's disease

The baker’s yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been extensively explored for our understanding of fundamental cell biology processes highly conserved in the eukaryotic kingdom. In this context, they have proven invaluable in the study of complex mechanisms such as those involved in a variety of human disorders. Here, we first provide a brief historical perspective on the emergence of yeast as an experimental model and on how the field evolved to exploit the potential of the model for tackling the intricacies of various human diseases. In particular, we focus on existing yeast models of the molecular underpinnings of Parkinson’s disease (PD), focusing primarily on the central role of protein quality control systems. Finally, we compile and discuss the major discoveries derived from these studies, highlighting their far-reaching impact on the elucidation of PD-associated mechanisms as well as in the identification of candidate therapeutic targets and compounds with therapeutic potential.

Leveraging DNA damage response signaling to identify yeast genes controlling genome stability

Oncogenesis frequently is accompanied by rampant genome instability, which fuels genetic heterogeneity and resistance to targeted cancer therapy. We have developed an approach that allows precise, quantitative measurement of genome instability in high-throughput format in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae model system. Our approach takes advantage of the strongly DNA damage-inducible gene RNR3, in conjunction with the reporter synthetic genetic array methodology, to infer mutants exhibiting genome instability by assaying for increased Rnr3 abundance. We screen for genome instability across a set of ~1000 essential and ~4200 nonessential mutant yeast alleles in untreated conditions and in the presence of the DNA-damaging agent methylmethane sulfonate. Our results provide broad insights into the cellular processes and pathways required for genome maintenance. Through comparison with existing genome instability screens, we isolated 130 genes that had not previously been linked to genome maintenance, 51% of which have human homologs. Several of these homologs are associated with a genome instability phenotype in human cells or are causally mutated in cancer. A comprehensive understanding of the processes required to prevent genome instability will facilitate a better understanding of its sources in oncogenesis.

Power(2): the power of yeast genetics applied to the powerhouse of the cell

The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has served as a remarkable model organism for numerous seminal discoveries in biology. This paradigm extends to the mitochondria, a central hub for cellular metabolism, where studies in yeast have helped to reinvigorate the field and launch an exciting new era in mitochondrial biology. Here we discuss a few recent examples in which yeast research has laid a foundation for our understanding of evolutionarily conserved mitochondrial processes and functions, from key factors and pathways involved in the assembly of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes to metabolite transport, lipid metabolism, and interorganelle communication. We also highlight new areas of yeast mitochondrial biology that are likely to aid in our understanding of the mitochondrial etiology of disease in the future.

Mother-daughter asymmetry of pH underlies aging and rejuvenation in yeast

Replicative aging in yeast is asymmetric–mother cells age but their daughter cells are rejuvenated. Here we identify an asymmetry in pH between mother and daughter cells that underlies aging and rejuvenation. Cytosolic pH increases in aging mother cells, but is more acidic in daughter cells. This is due to the asymmetric distribution of the major regulator of cytosolic pH, the plasma membrane proton ATPase (Pma1). Pma1 accumulates in aging mother cells, but is largely absent from nascent daughter cells. We previously found that acidity of the vacuole declines in aging mother cells and limits lifespan, but that daughter cell vacuoles re-acidify. We find that Pma1 activity antagonizes mother cell vacuole acidity by reducing cytosolic protons. However, the inherent asymmetry of Pma1 increases cytosolic proton availability in daughter cells and facilitates vacuole re-acidification and rejuvenation.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.03504.001

Aging is a part of life—but its biological basis and, in particular, how aged cells give rise to young offspring (or progeny) has not been clearly established for any organism.

Budding yeast is a microorganism that is a valuable model to understand aging in more complex organisms like humans. Budding yeast cells undergo a process called ‘replicative aging’, meaning that each yeast mother cell produces a set number of daughter cells in her lifetime. However, when daughter cells arise from an aging mother cell, the daughter's age is ‘reset to zero’. How mother cells age, and how their daughters are rejuvenated, are questions that have been studied for decades.

Previously, researchers discovered that a mother cell's vacuole (an acidic compartment that stores important molecules that can become toxic) becomes less acidic as the mother cell ages. Daughter cells, on the other hand, have very acidic vacuoles, which was linked to their renewed lifespans. However, the mechanism behind this difference in the acidity of the vacuole between mother and daughter cells was unknown.

Now, Henderson et al. have found that a protein (called Pma1), which is found at the cell surface and pumps protons out of the cell, is present in mother cells but not in their newly-formed daughter cells. Furthermore, the Pma1 protein also accumulates as mother cells age. By pumping protons out of the cell, Pma1 effectively reduces the number of protons available to acidify the vacuole in the mother cell. However, because at first the daughter does not have Pma1, there are still plenty of protons inside the cell to acidify the vacuole.

When Henderson et al. reduced the activity of Pma1 in mother cells, the entire cell became more acidic, and so did their vacuoles. Conversely daughter cells engineered to have more Pma1 were less acidic and had less acidic vacuoles than normal.

Henderson et al. next asked whether reducing Pma1 activity to create a more acidic cell, could extend the lifespan of cells, and found that indeed cells with less Pma1 activity lived longer. As such, these findings indicate that an asymmetry in the acidity of the cell—caused by unequal levels of the Pma1 protein—contributes to reducing the lifespan of the mother cell and to rejuvenating the daughter cell. Thus Henderson et al. have identified one of the earliest events in the cellular aging process in budding yeast. Their findings suggest that an imbalance in an activity that is normally essential for cell survival (in this case, the activity of Pma1) can have long-term consequences for the cell that lead to aging.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.03504.002

Prion-like proteins sequester and suppress the toxicity of huntingtin exon 1

Expansions of preexisting polyglutamine (polyQ) tracts in at least nine different proteins cause devastating neurodegenerative diseases. There are many unique features to these pathologies, but there must also be unifying mechanisms underlying polyQ toxicity. Using a polyQ-expanded fragment of huntingtin exon-1 (Htt103Q), the causal protein in Huntington disease, we and others have created tractable models for investigating polyQ toxicity in yeast cells. These models recapitulate key pathological features of human diseases and provide access to an unrivalled genetic toolbox. To identify toxicity modifiers, we performed an unbiased overexpression screen of virtually every protein encoded by the yeast genome. Surprisingly, there was no overlap between our modifiers and those from a conceptually identical screen reported recently, a discrepancy we attribute to an artifact of their overexpression plasmid. The suppressors of Htt103Q toxicity recovered in our screen were strongly enriched for glutamine- and asparagine-rich prion-like proteins. Separated from the rest of the protein, the prion-like sequences of these proteins were themselves potent suppressors of polyQ-expanded huntingtin exon-1 toxicity, in both yeast and human cells. Replacing the glutamines in these sequences with asparagines abolished suppression and converted them to enhancers of toxicity. Replacing asparagines with glutamines created stronger suppressors. The suppressors (but not the enhancers) coaggregated with Htt103Q, forming large foci at the insoluble protein deposit in which proteins were highly immobile. Cells possessing foci had fewer (if any) small diffusible oligomers of Htt103Q. Until such foci were lost, cells were protected from death. We discuss the therapeutic implications of these findings.

A homolog of lariat-debranching enzyme modulates turnover of branched RNA

Turnover of the branched RNA intermediates and products of pre-mRNA splicing is mediated by the lariat-debranching enzyme Dbr1. We characterized a homolog of Dbr1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Drn1/Ygr093w, that has a pseudo-metallophosphodiesterase domain with primary sequence homology to Dbr1 but lacks essential active site residues found in Dbr1. Whereas loss of Dbr1 results in lariat-introns failing broadly to turnover, loss of Drn1 causes low levels of lariat-intron accumulation. Conserved residues in the Drn1 C-terminal CwfJ domains, which are not present in Dbr1, are required for efficient intron turnover. Drn1 interacts with Dbr1, components of the Nineteen Complex, U2 snRNA, branched intermediates, and products of splicing. Drn1 enhances debranching catalyzed by Dbr1 in vitro, but does so without significantly improving the affinity of Dbr1 for branched RNA. Splicing carried out in in vitro extracts in the absence of Drn1 results in an accumulation of branched splicing intermediates and products released from the spliceosome, likely due to less active debranching, as well as the promiscuous release of cleaved 5'-exon. Drn1 enhances Dbr1-mediated turnover of lariat-intermediates and lariat-intron products, indicating that branched RNA turnover is regulated at multiple steps during splicing.

A genome-wide tethering screen reveals novel potential post-transcriptional regulators in Trypanosoma brucei

In trypanosomatids, gene expression is regulated mainly by post-transcriptional mechanisms, which affect mRNA processing, translation and degradation. Currently, our understanding of factors that regulate either mRNA stability or translation is rather limited. We know that often, the regulators are proteins that bind to the 3′-untranslated region; they presumably interact with ribonucleases and translation factors. However, very few such proteins have been characterized in any detail. Here we describe a genome-wide screen to find proteins implicated in post-transcriptional regulation in Trypanosoma brucei. We made a library of random genomic fragments in a plasmid that was designed for expression of proteins fused to an RNA-binding domain, the lambda-N peptide. This was transfected into cells expressing mRNAs encoding a positive or negative selectable marker, and bearing the “boxB” lambda-N recognition element in the 3′-untranslated region. The screen identified about 300 proteins that could be implicated in post-transcriptional mRNA regulation. These included known regulators, degradative enzymes and translation factors, many canonical RNA-binding proteins, and proteins that act via multi-protein complexes. However there were also nearly 150 potential regulators with no previously annotated function, or functions unrelated to mRNA metabolism. Almost 50 novel regulators were shown to bind RNA using a targeted proteome array. The screen also provided fine structure mapping of the hit candidates' functional domains. Our findings not only confirm the key role that RNA-binding proteins play in the regulation of gene expression in trypanosomatids, but also suggest new roles for previously uncharacterized proteins.

Survival and adaptation of trypanosomatids to new surroundings requires activation of specific gene networks. This is mainly achieved by post-transcriptional mechanisms, and proteins that bind to specific mRNAs, and influence degradation or translation, are known to be important. However, only few such proteins have been characterized to date. The trypanosome genome encodes over 150 proteins with conserved RNA-binding domains, and it is very likely that additional proteins that do not have such domains could also modulate mRNA fate. Here, we report the results of a genome-wide screen to identify mRNA-fate regulators in Trypanosoma brucei. We used a method called “tethering” to artificially attach protein fragments to an mRNA. Our findings confirmed the role of RNA-binding proteins in the regulation of mRNA fate, and also suggested such roles for many other proteins, including some metabolic enzymes. Our results should serve as a useful resource. Moreover, the tethering screen approach could readily be adapted for use in other organisms.

Exploration of panviral proteome: high-throughput cloning and functional implications in virus-host interactions

Throughout the long history of virus-host co-evolution, viruses have developed delicate strategies to facilitate their invasion and replication of their genome, while silencing the host immune responses through various mechanisms. The systematic characterization of viral protein-host interactions would yield invaluable information in the understanding of viral invasion/evasion, diagnosis and therapeutic treatment of a viral infection, and mechanisms of host biology. With more than 2,000 viral genomes sequenced, only a small percent of them are well investigated. The access of these viral open reading frames (ORFs) in a flexible cloning format would greatly facilitate both in vitro and in vivo virus-host interaction studies. However, the overall progress of viral ORF cloning has been slow. To facilitate viral studies, we are releasing the initiation of our panviral proteome collection of 2,035 ORF clones from 830 viral genes in the Gateway® recombinational cloning system. Here, we demonstrate several uses of our viral collection including highly efficient production of viral proteins using human cell-free expression system in vitro, global identification of host targets for rubella virus using Nucleic Acid Programmable Protein Arrays (NAPPA) containing 10,000 unique human proteins, and detection of host serological responses using micro-fluidic multiplexed immunoassays. The studies presented here begin to elucidate host-viral protein interactions with our systemic utilization of viral ORFs, high-throughput cloning, and proteomic technologies. These valuable plasmid resources will be available to the research community to enable continued viral functional studies.

Applying label-free quantitation to top down proteomics

With the prospect of resolving whole protein molecules into their myriad proteoforms on a proteomic scale, the question of their quantitative analysis in discovery mode comes to the fore. Here, we demonstrate a robust pipeline for the identification and stringent scoring of abundance changes of whole protein forms <30 kDa in a complex system. The input is ~100-400 μg of total protein for each biological replicate, and the outputs are graphical displays depicting statistical confidence metrics for each proteoform (i.e., a volcano plot and representations of the technical and biological variation). A key part of the pipeline is the hierarchical linear model that is tailored to the original design of the study. Here, we apply this new pipeline to measure the proteoform-level effects of deleting a histone deacetylase (rpd3) in S. cerevisiae. Over 100 proteoform changes were detected above a 5% false positive threshold in WT vs the Δrpd3 mutant, including the validating observation of hyperacetylation of histone H4 and both H2B isoforms. Ultimately, this approach to label-free top down proteomics in discovery mode is a critical technical advance for testing the hypothesis that whole proteoforms can link more tightly to complex phenotypes in cell and disease biology than do peptides created in shotgun proteomics.

Mammalian ribosomal and chaperone protein RPS3A counteracts α-synuclein aggregation and toxicity in a yeast model system

Accumulation of aggregated forms of αSyn (α-synuclein) into Lewy bodies is a known hallmark associated with neuronal cell death in Parkinson's disease. When expressed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, αSyn interacts with the plasma membrane, forms inclusions and causes a concentration-dependent growth defect. We have used a yeast mutant, cog6Δ, which is particularly sensitive to moderate αSyn expression, for screening a mouse brain-specific cDNA library in order to identify mammalian proteins that counteract αSyn toxicity. The mouse ribosomal and chaperone protein RPS3A was identified as a suppressor of αSyn [WT (wild-type) and A53T] toxicity in yeast. We demonstrated that the 50 N-terminal amino acids are essential for this function. The yeast homologues of RPS3A were not effective in suppressing the αSyn-induced growth defect, illustrating the potential of our screening system to identify modifiers that would be missed using yeast gene overexpression as the first screening step. Co-expression of mouse RPS3A delayed the formation of αSyn–GFP inclusions in the yeast cells. The results of the present study suggest that the recently identified extraribosomal chaperonin function of RPS3A also acts on the neurodegeneration-related protein αSyn and reveal a new avenue for identifying promising candidate mammalian proteins involved in αSyn functioning.

A yeast screening system was developed and successfully used to isolate a brain protein that counteracts the toxic effects of the main protein involved in Parkinson's disease.

Yeast reveal a "druggable" Rsp5/Nedd4 network that ameliorates α-synuclein toxicity in neurons

α-Synuclein (α-syn) is a small lipid-binding protein implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease, whose pathobiology is conserved from yeast to man. There are no therapies targeting these underlying cellular pathologies, or indeed those of any major neurodegenerative disease. Using unbiased phenotypic screens as an alternative to target-based approaches, we discovered an N-aryl benzimidazole (NAB) that strongly and selectively protected diverse cell types from α-syn toxicity. Three chemical genetic screens in wild-type yeast cells established that NAB promoted endosomal transport events dependent on the E3 ubiquitin ligase Rsp5/Nedd4. These same steps were perturbed by α-syn itself. Thus, NAB identifies a druggable node in the biology of α-syn that can correct multiple aspects of its underlying pathology, including dysfunctional endosomal and endoplasmic reticulum-to-Golgi vesicle trafficking.

Functional genomics in the study of yeast cell polarity: moving in the right direction

The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been used extensively for the study of cell polarity, owing to both its experimental tractability and the high conservation of cell polarity and other basic biological processes among eukaryotes. The budding yeast has also served as a pioneer model organism for virtually all genome-scale approaches, including functional genomics, which aims to define gene function and biological pathways systematically through the analysis of high-throughput experimental data. Here, we outline the contributions of functional genomics and high-throughput methodologies to the study of cell polarity in the budding yeast. We integrate data from published genetic screens that use a variety of functional genomics approaches to query different aspects of polarity. Our integrated dataset is enriched for polarity processes, as well as some processes that are not intrinsically linked to cell polarity, and may provide new areas for future study.

The benefits of humanized yeast models to study Parkinson's disease

Over the past decade, the baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has proven to be a useful model system to investigate fundamental questions concerning the pathogenic role of human proteins in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD). These so-called humanized yeast models for PD initially focused on α-synuclein, which plays a key role in the etiology of PD. Upon expression of this human protein in the baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the events leading to aggregation and the molecular mechanisms that result in cellular toxicity are faithfully reproduced. More recently, a similar model to study the presumed pathobiology of the α-synuclein interaction partner synphilin-1 has been established. In this review we will discuss recent advances using these humanized yeast models, pointing to new roles for cell wall integrity signaling, Ca²⁺ homeostasis, mitophagy, and the cytoskeleton.

Bck2 acts through the MADS box protein Mcm1 to activate cell-cycle-regulated genes in budding yeast

The Bck2 protein is a potent genetic regulator of cell-cycle-dependent gene expression in budding yeast. To date, most experiments have focused on assessing a potential role for Bck2 in activation of the G1/S-specific transcription factors SBF (Swi4, Swi6) and MBF (Mbp1, Swi6), yet the mechanism of gene activation by Bck2 has remained obscure. We performed a yeast two-hybrid screen using a truncated version of Bck2 and discovered six novel Bck2-binding partners including Mcm1, an essential protein that binds to and activates M/G1 promoters through Early Cell cycle Box (ECB) elements as well as to G2/M promoters. At M/G1 promoters Mcm1 is inhibited by association with two repressors, Yox1 or Yhp1, and gene activation ensues once repression is relieved by an unknown activating signal. Here, we show that Bck2 interacts physically with Mcm1 to activate genes during G1 phase. We used chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments to show that Bck2 localizes to the promoters of M/G1-specific genes, in a manner dependent on functional ECB elements, as well as to the promoters of G1/S and G2/M genes. The Bck2-Mcm1 interaction requires valine 69 on Mcm1, a residue known to be required for interaction with Yox1. Overexpression of BCK2 decreases Yox1 localization to the early G1-specific CLN3 promoter and rescues the lethality caused by overexpression of YOX1. Our data suggest that Yox1 and Bck2 may compete for access to the Mcm1-ECB scaffold to ensure appropriate activation of the initial suite of genes required for cell cycle commitment.