A novel function of the mitochondrial transcription factor Mtf1 in fission yeast; Mtf1 regulates the nuclear transcription of srk1

In eukaryotic cells, Mtf1 and its homologues function as mitochondrial transcription factors for the mitochondrial RNA polymerase in the mitochondrion. Here we show that in fission yeast Mtf1 exerts a non-mitochondrial function as a nuclear factor that regulates transcription of srk1, which is a kinase involved in the stress response and cell cycle progression. We first found Mtf1 expression in the nucleus. A ChIP-chip approach identified srk1 as a putative Mtf1 target gene. Over expression of Mtf1 induced transcription of the srk1 gene and Mtf1 deletion led to a reduction in transcription of the srk1 gene in vivo. Mtf1 overexpression causes cell elongation in a srk1 dependent manner. Mtf1 overexpression can cause cytoplasmic accumulation of Cdc25. We also provide biochemical evidence that Mtf1 binds to the upstream sequence of srk1. This is the first evidence that a mitochondrial transcription factor Mtf1 can regulate a nuclear gene. Mtf1 may also have a role in cell cycle progression

Identification and characterization of the mitochondrial RNA polymerase and transcription factor in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

We have characterized the mitochondrial transcription factor (Mtf1) and RNA polymerase (Rpo41) of Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Deletion mutants show Mtf1 or Rpo41 to be essential for cell growth, cell morphology and mitochondrial membrane potential. Overexpression of Mtf1 and Rpo41 can induce mitochondrial transcription. Mtf1 and Rpo41 can bind and transcribe mitochondrial promoters in vitro and the initiating nucleotides were the same in vivo and in vitro. Mtf1 is required for efficient transcription. We discuss the functional differences between Mtf1 and Rpo41 of S. pombe with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and higher organisms. In contrast to S. cerevisiae, the established model for mitochondrial transcription, S. pombe, a petite-negative yeast, resembles higher organisms that cannot tolerate the loss of mitochondrial function. The S. pombe and human mitochondrial genomes are similar in size and much smaller than that of S. cerevisiae. This is an important first step in the development of S. pombe as an alternative and complementary model system for molecular genetic and biochemical studies of mitochondrial transcription and mitochondrial–nuclear interactions. This is the first systematic study of the cellular function and biochemistry of Rpo41 and Mtf1 in S. pombe

The Global Transcriptional Response of Fission Yeast to Hydrogen Sulfide

Background: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a newly identified member of the small family of gasotransmitters that are endogenous gaseous signaling molecules that have a fundamental role in human biology and disease. Although it is a relatively recent discovery and the mechanism of H 2S activity is not completely understood, it is known to be involved in a number of cellular processes; H 2S can affect ion channels, transcription factors and protein kinases in mammals. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this paper, we have used fission yeast as a model organism to study the global gene expression profile in response to H2S by microarray. We initially measured the genome-wide transcriptional response of fission yeast to H2S. Through the functional classification of genes whose expression profile changed in response to H2S, we found that H 2S mainly influences genes that encode putative or known stress proteins, membrane transporters, cell cycle/ meiotic proteins, transcription factors and respiration protein in the mitochondrion. Our analysis showed that there was a significant overlap between the genes affected by H2S and the stress response. We identified that the target genes of the MAPK pathway respond to H 2S; we also identified that a number of transporters respond to H 2S, these include sugar/ carbohydrate transporters, ion transporters, and amino acid transporters. We found many mitochondrial genes to be down regulated upon H2S treatment and that H2S can reduce mitochondrial oxygen consumption. Conclusion/Significance: This study identifies potential molecular targets of the signaling molecule H2S in fission yeast an

Table_3_Transcriptome profiling in response to Kanamycin B reveals its wider non-antibiotic cellular function in Escherichia coli.DOC

Aminoglycosides are not only antibiotics but also have wider and diverse non-antibiotic cellular functions. To elucidate the understanding of non-antibiotic cellular functions, here we report transcriptome-profiling analysis of Escherichia coli in the absence or presence of 0.5 and 1 μM of Kanamycin B, concentrations that are neither lethal nor inhibit growth, and identified the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at two given concentrations of Kanamycin B. Functional classification of the DEGs revealed that they were mainly related to microbial metabolism including two-component systems, biofilm formation, oxidative phosphorylation and nitrogen metabolism in diverse environments. We further showed that Kanamycin B and other aminoglycosides can induce reporter gene expression through the 5′ UTR of napF gene or narK gene (both identified as DEG) and Kanamycin B can directly bind to the RNA. The results provide new insights into a better understanding of the wider aminoglycosides cellular function in E. coli rather than its known antibiotics function.</p

Image_1_Transcriptome profiling in response to Kanamycin B reveals its wider non-antibiotic cellular function in Escherichia coli.TIF

Aminoglycosides are not only antibiotics but also have wider and diverse non-antibiotic cellular functions. To elucidate the understanding of non-antibiotic cellular functions, here we report transcriptome-profiling analysis of Escherichia coli in the absence or presence of 0.5 and 1 μM of Kanamycin B, concentrations that are neither lethal nor inhibit growth, and identified the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at two given concentrations of Kanamycin B. Functional classification of the DEGs revealed that they were mainly related to microbial metabolism including two-component systems, biofilm formation, oxidative phosphorylation and nitrogen metabolism in diverse environments. We further showed that Kanamycin B and other aminoglycosides can induce reporter gene expression through the 5′ UTR of napF gene or narK gene (both identified as DEG) and Kanamycin B can directly bind to the RNA. The results provide new insights into a better understanding of the wider aminoglycosides cellular function in E. coli rather than its known antibiotics function.</p