Developmental changes in translatable RNA species associated with meiosis and spore formation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Identification of a sporulation-specific promoter regulating divergent transcription of two novel sporulation genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Promoters that control gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae only in a sporulation-specific manner have previously been isolated from a genomic yeast DNA library fused to a promoterless Escherichia coli lacZ gene. Two novel sporulation-specific genes, SPS18 and SPS19, were isolated using this technique. These genes are divergently controlled by the same promoter but with SPS18 expressed at four times the level of SPS19. Deletion analysis has shown that the promoter elements that exert sporulation control on each of the genes overlap, having a common 25 bp sequence located within the intergenic region. SPS18 encodes a 34-KDa protein of 300 amino acids that contains a putative zinc-binding domain and a region of highly basic residues that could target the protein to the nucleus. SPS19 encodes a 31-KDa protein of 295 amino acids, which has a peroxisomal targeting signal (SKL) at its C terminus; this protein belongs to the family of non-metallo short-chain alcohol dehydrogenases. A null mutation deleting the intergenic promoter prevented expression of both genes, and when homozygous in diploids, reduced the extent of sporulation four-fold; the spores that did form were viable, but failed to become resistant to ether, and were more sensitive to lytic enzymes. This phenotype reflects a defect in spore wall maturation, indicating that the product of at least one of the genes functions during the process of spore wall formation. Therefore these genes belong to the class of late sporulation-specific genes that are sequentially activated during the process of meiosis and spore formation.

Isolation and characterization of sporulation-specific promoters in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A library of random yeast genomic DNA:lacZ fusions has been constructed using an episomal yeast-Escherichia coli shuttle vector (pCS1). Plasmid pCS1 requires insertion of a promoter and an in frame ATG codon upstream of its resident truncated lacZ gene to regulate expression in yeast. Yeast genomic DNA fragments of 4-6 kb were generated by partial digestion with Sau3A and ligated into the unique BamHI site of plasmid pCS1 to generate a library of 5 x 10(4) individual E. coli transformants. This library was screened to identify promoter-lacZ fusions that were expressed uniquely during sporulation. Of 342 yeast transformants that exhibited beta-galactosidase activity, two were found to express the lacZ gene in a sporulation-specific manner. This paper presents the characterization of two genomic yeast DNA fragments containing promoters that control lacZ expression during the sporulation process. Expression from the promoter present in plasmid pJC18 occurred from 11-21 hours into the sporulation process, while the promoter in plasmid pJC217 was active from 4-14 hours. Staining of nuclear DNA to correlate nuclear morphology with timing of gene expression showed when each of these promoters was active in terms of the morphological stages of sporulation.

Regulation of chorismate mutase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae ARO7 gene was cloned by screening a wild-type gene bank for complementation of an aro7 auxotrophic mutant. In vitro mutagenesis of the isolated plasmid (pJFB1) gave several transformants resistant to levels of the phenylalanine analogue 2-thienylalanine inhibitory to the wild-type transformant. Chorismate mutase assays indicated that two of the mutants (J14-26IV6 and J14-26IV9) were resistant to feedback inhibition by tyrosine displayed by wild-type strains. Analysis of the effect of other aromatic amino acids on chorismate mutase activity showed that tryptophan counteracted this inhibition. Analysis of the effect of tyrosine in the growth medium on enzyme activity indicated that the wild-type ARO7 gene was repressed by tyrosine, a phenomenon not previously reported. Two of the 2-thienylalanine resistant mutants (J14-26IV3 and J14-26IV9) appeared to be resistant to this repression. Transcriptional analysis confirmed that the level of ARO7 transcript decreased with increasing tyrosine concentration. In stain J14-26IV9 the ARO7 transcript level was not affected. J14-26IV9, therefore, appears to be a double mutant, resistant to both feedback inhibition and repression by tyrosine.

Identification and characterization of mutations affecting sporulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mutations affecting the synthesis of the sporulation amyloglucosidase were isolated in a homothallic strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, SCMS7-1. Two were found, both of which were deficient in sporulation at 34 degrees. One, SL484, sporulated to 50% normal levels at 30 degrees but less than 5% at 34 degrees or 22 degrees. The other, SL641, failed to sporulate at any temperature. Both mutants were blocked before premeiotic DNA synthesis, and both complemented spo1, spo3, and spo7. Genetic analysis of the mutation in SL484 indicated linkage to TRP5 and placed the gene 10 map units from TRP5 on chromosome VII. A plasmid containing an insert which complements the mutation in SL484 fails to complement SL641. We therefore conclude that these two mutations are in separate genes and we propose to call these genes SPO17 and SPO18. These two genes are (with SPO7, SPO8, and SPO9) among the earliest identified in the sporulation pathway and may interact directly with the positive and negative regulators RME and IME.

Two-dimensional gel analysis of yeast proteins: application to the study of changes in the levels of major polypeptides of Saccharomyces cerevisiae depending on the fermentable or nonfermentable nature of the carbon source

Taking advantage of the recent identification of polypeptides of the carbon metabolism machinery on the yeast protein map [1], we applied two-dimensional gel electrophoresis to a study of changes in protein composition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae depending on the fermentable or nonfermentable nature of the carbon source. The levels of the 250 most abundant polypeptides were compared. Thirty-three were found to display markedly increased levels during growth on nonfermentable carbon sources. These 33 polypeptides include 11 mitochondrial polypeptides and polypeptides corresponding to alcohol dehydrogenase II, acetyl-CoA synthetase, phosphoenol pyruvate kinase and hexokinase PI. Sixteen other polypeptides, in contrast, reached their higher levels during growth on fermentable carbon sources. Among these were identified the monomeric subunits of 6 glycolytic enzymes. Collectively the 33 polypeptides of the first class comprised over 30% of the total soluble proteins of cells grown on nonfermentable carbon source and 3% during growth on fermentable carbon source. The protein fraction of the 16 polypeptides of the second class corresponded to 10% and 38%, respectively. Together these results show that two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, when coupled with the identification of polypeptides of the carbon metabolism apparatus, provides a valuable tool for approaching questions concerning carbon metabolism in S. cerevisiae.

Transcriptional regulation of sporulation genes in yeast

The relative transcription rates of three sporulation-regulated genes of yeast (SPR1, SPR2 and SPR3) were determined at intervals during sporulation, using a filter binding assay. The binding of in vivo labeled RNA to the corresponding DNAs increased 3- to 12-fold at the time of meiosis I, in parallel with the accumulation of the SPR transcripts. SPR1 and SPR3 mRNA abundance increased from less than 0.7 to 130 and 90 copies per cell, respectively, between the time of shift to sporulation medium and the initiation of spore formation. This represented a 150-to 200-fold increase in the steady-state levels of these RNAs. Similarly, the levels of beta-galactosidase present in sporulating cells harboring fusions between SPR3 and Escherichia coli lacZ increased at least 700-fold. We conclude that SPR1, SPR2 and SPR3 transcription is modulated during sporulation, possibly in response to earlier events in the process.

Activation of meiosis and sporulation by repression of the RME1 product in yeast

The ability of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to enter meiosis and sporulate is conferred by the a1-alpha 2 regulatory activity of the mating-type locus. We have cloned the RME1 gene and show that: the RME1 transcript is repressed by a1-alpha 2 in a/alpha cells; overexpression of the RME1 product in a/alpha cells blocks sporulation; and inactivation of RME1 by a null mutation constructed in vitro permits cells lacking a1-alpha 2 activity to sporulate. The RME1 product thus inhibits meiosis; the mating-type locus permits entry into meiosis by repression of RME1.

Control of cell growth and division in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Considerable advances have been made in recent years in our understanding of the biochemistry of protein and nucleic acid synthesis and, particularly, the molecular biology of gene expression in eukaryotes. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and to a lesser extent Schizosaccharomyces pombe, has had a preeminent role as a focus for these studies, principally because of the facility with which these organisms can be experimentally manipulated biochemically and genetically. This review will be designed to critically examine and integrate recent advances in several vital areas of regulatory control of enzyme synthesis in yeast: structure and organization of DNA, transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional modification, control of translation, post-translational modification and secretion, and cell-cycle modulation. It will attempt to emphasize and illustrate, where detailed information is available, principal underlying molecular mechanisms, and it will attempt to make relevant comparisons of this material to inferred and demonstrated facets of regulatory control of enzyme and protein synthesis in higher eukaryotes.

Modification of nuclear gene expression by inhibition of mitochondrial translation during sporulation in MAT alpha/MATa diploids of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Sporulation of S. cerevisiae MAT alpha-/MATa was accompanied by a novel pattern of protein synthesis as shown by the disappearance of some "mitotic" polypeptides and by the appearance of a new set of "meiotic" polypeptides. Inhibition of mitochondrial protein synthesis by erythromycin within the 1st h caused the disappearance of several "meiotic" polypeptides. These meiotic polypeptides were also sensitive to cycloheximide and were localized in the cytosol, demonstrating that they were not mitochondrial translational products. Since erythromycin affected neither protein synthesis nor sporulation in a mitochondrially inherited eryr mutant, we conclude that mitochondrial protein synthesis is needed for the expression of some nuclear genes during sporulation.