Engineering the biocatalytic selectivity of iridoid production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs) represent a structurally diverse, medicinally essential class of plant derived natural products. The universal MIA building block strictosidine was recently produced in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, setting the stage for optimization of microbial production. However, the irreversible reduction of pathway intermediates by yeast enzymes results in a non-recoverable loss of carbon, which has a strong negative impact on metabolic flux. In this study, we identified and engineered the determinants of biocatalytic selectivity which control flux towards the iridoid scaffold from which all MIAs are derived. Development of a bioconversion based production platform enabled analysis of the metabolic flux and interference around two critical steps in generating the iridoid scaffold: oxidation of 8-hydroxygeraniol to the dialdehyde 8-oxogeranial followed by reductive cyclization to form nepetalactol. In vitro reconstitution of previously uncharacterized shunt pathways enabled the identification of two distinct routes to a reduced shunt product including endogenous 'ene'-reduction and non-productive reduction by iridoid synthase when interfaced with endogenous alcohol dehydrogenases. Deletion of five genes involved in α,β-unsaturated carbonyl metabolism resulted in a 5.2-fold increase in biocatalytic selectivity of the desired iridoid over reduced shunt product. We anticipate that our engineering strategies will play an important role in the development of S. cerevisiae for sustainable production of iridoids and MIAs

Ndt80 activates the meiotic <i>ORC1</i> transcript isoform and <i>SMA2</i> via a bi-directional middle sporulation element in <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>

<p>The origin of replication complex subunit <i>ORC1</i> is important for DNA replication. The gene is known to encode a meiotic transcript isoform (<i>mORC1</i>) with an extended 5′-untranslated region (5′-UTR), which was predicted to inhibit protein translation. However, the regulatory mechanism that controls the m<i>ORC1</i> transcript isoform is unknown and no molecular biological evidence for a role of <i>mORC1</i> in negatively regulating Orc1 protein during gametogenesis is available. By interpreting RNA profiling data obtained with growing and sporulating diploid cells, mitotic haploid cells, and a starving diploid control strain, we determined that m<i>ORC1</i> is a middle meiotic transcript isoform. Regulatory motif predictions and genetic experiments reveal that the activator Ndt80 and its middle sporulation element (MSE) target motif are required for the full induction of <i>mORC1</i> and the divergently transcribed meiotic <i>SMA2</i> locus. Furthermore, we find that the MSE-binding negative regulator Sum1 represses both <i>mORC1</i> and <i>SMA2</i> during mitotic growth. Finally, we demonstrate that an MSE deletion strain, which cannot induce <i>mORC1</i>, contains abnormally high Orc1 levels during post-meiotic stages of gametogenesis. Our results reveal the regulatory mechanism that controls <i>mORC1</i>, highlighting a novel developmental stage-specific role for the MSE element in bi-directional <i>mORC1</i>/<i>SMA2</i> gene activation, and correlating <i>mORC1</i> induction with declining Orc1 protein levels. Because eukaryotic genes frequently encode multiple transcripts possessing 5′-UTRs of variable length, our results are likely relevant for gene expression during development and disease in higher eukaryotes.</p

RAM: A Conserved Signaling Network That Regulates Ace2p Transcriptional Activity and Polarized Morphogenesis

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, polarized morphogenesis is critical for bud site selection, bud development, and cell separation. The latter is mediated by Ace2p transcription factor, which controls the daughter cell-specific expression of cell separation genes. Recently, a set of proteins that include Cbk1p kinase, its binding partner Mob2p, Tao3p (Pag1p), and Hym1p were shown to regulate both Ace2p activity and cellular morphogenesis. These proteins seem to form a signaling network, which we designate RAM for regulation of Ace2p activity and cellular morphogenesis. To find additional RAM components, we conducted genetic screens for bilateral mating and cell separation mutants and identified alleles of the PAK-related kinase Kic1p in addition to Cbk1p, Mob2p, Tao3p, and Hym1p. Deletion of each RAM gene resulted in a loss of Ace2p function and caused cell polarity defects that were distinct from formin or polarisome mutants. Two-hybrid and coimmunoprecipitation experiments reveal a complex network of interactions among the RAM proteins, including Cbk1p–Cbk1p, Cbk1p–Kic1p, Kic1p–Tao3p, and Kic1p–Hym1p interactions, in addition to the previously documented Cbk1p–Mob2p and Cbk1p–Tao3p interactions. We also identified a novel leucine-rich repeat-containing protein Sog2p that interacts with Hym1p and Kic1p. Cells lacking Sog2p exhibited the characteristic cell separation and cell morphology defects associated with perturbation in RAM signaling. Each RAM protein localized to cortical sites of growth during both budding and mating pheromone response. Hym1p was Kic1p- and Sog2p-dependent and Sog2p and Kic1p were interdependent for localization, indicating a close functional relationship between these proteins. Only Mob2p and Cbk1p were detectable in the daughter cell nucleus at the end of mitosis. The nuclear localization and kinase activity of the Mob2p–Cbk1p complex were dependent on all other RAM proteins, suggesting that Mob2p–Cbk1p functions late in the RAM network. Our data suggest that the functional architecture of RAM signaling is similar to the S. cerevisiae mitotic exit network and Schizosaccharomyces pombe septation initiation network and is likely conserved among eukaryotes

Identification of a biomarker panel using a multiplex proximity ligation assay improves accuracy of pancreatic cancer diagnosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pancreatic cancer continues to prove difficult to clinically diagnose. Multiple simultaneous measurements of plasma biomarkers can increase sensitivity and selectivity of diagnosis. Proximity ligation assay (PLA) is a highly sensitive technique for multiplex detection of biomarkers in plasma with little or no interfering background signal.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We examined the plasma levels of 21 biomarkers in a clinically defined cohort of 52 locally advanced (Stage II/III) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cases and 43 age-matched controls using a multiplex proximity ligation assay. The optimal biomarker panel for diagnosis was computed using a combination of the PAM algorithm and logistic regression modeling. Biomarkers that were significantly prognostic for survival in combination were determined using univariate and multivariate Cox survival models.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Three markers, CA19-9, OPN and CHI3L1, measured in multiplex were found to have superior sensitivity for pancreatic cancer vs. CA19-9 alone (93% vs. 80%). In addition, we identified two markers, CEA and CA125, that when measured simultaneously have prognostic significance for survival for this clinical stage of pancreatic cancer (<it>p </it>< 0.003).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A multiplex panel assaying CA19-9, OPN and CHI3L1 in plasma improves accuracy of pancreatic cancer diagnosis. A panel assaying CEA and CA125 in plasma can predict survival for this clinical cohort of pancreatic cancer patients.</p

Integrated RNA- and protein profiling of fermentation and respiration in diploid budding yeast provides insight into nutrient control of cell growth and development.

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