Quantification of mRNA stability of stress-responsive yeast genes following conditional excision of open reading frames

Eukaryotic cells rapidly adjust the levels of mRNAs in response to environmental stress primarily by controlling transcription and mRNA turnover. How different stress conditions influence the fate of stress-responsive mRNAs, however, is relatively poorly understood. This is largely due to the fact that mRNA half-life assays are traditionally based on interventions (e.g., temperature-shifts using temperature-sensitive RNA polymerase II alleles or treatment with general transcription inhibitory drugs), which, rather than blocking, specifically induce transcription of stress-responsive genes. To study the half-lives of the latter suite of mRNAs, we developed and describe here a minimally perturbing alternative method, coined CEO, which is based on discontinuance of transcription following the conditional excision of open reading frames. Using CEO, we confirm that the target of rapamycin complex I (TORC1), a nutrient-activated, central stimulator of eukaryotic cell growth, favors the decay of mRNAs that depend on the stress- and/or nutrient-regulated transcription factors Msn2/4 and Gis1 for their transcription. We further demonstrate that TORC1 controls the stability of these mRNAs via the Rim15-Igo1/2-PP2ACdc55 effector branch, which reportedly also controls Gis1 promoter recruitment. These data pinpoint PP2ACdc55 as a central node in homo-directional coordination of transcription and post-transcriptional mRNA stabilization of a specific array of nutrient-regulated genes

The impact of ESCRT on Aβ1-42 induced membrane lesions in a yeast model for Alzheimer’s disease

Aβ metabolism plays a pivotal role in Alzheimer’s disease. Here, we used a yeast model to monitor Aβ42 toxicity when entering the secretory pathway and demonstrate that processing in, and exit from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is required to unleash the full Aβ42 toxic potential. Consistent with previously reported data, our data suggests that Aβ42 interacts with mitochondria, thereby enhancing formation of reactive oxygen species and eventually leading to cell demise. We used our model to search for genes that modulate this deleterious effect, either by reducing or enhancing Aβ42 toxicity, based on screening of the yeast knockout collection. This revealed a reduced Aβ42 toxicity not only in strains hampered in ER-Golgi traffic and mitochondrial functioning but also in strains lacking genes connected to the cell cycle and the DNA replication stress response. On the other hand, increased Aβ42 toxicity was observed in strains affected in the actin cytoskeleton organization, endocytosis and the formation of multivesicular bodies, including key factors of the ESCRT machinery. Since the latter was shown to be required for the repair of membrane lesions in mammalian systems, we studied this aspect in more detail in our yeast model. Our data demonstrated that Aβ42 heavily disturbed the plasma membrane integrity in a strain lacking the ESCRT-III accessory factor Bro1, a phenotype that came along with a severe growth defect and enhanced loading of lipid droplets. Thus, it appears that also in yeast ESCRT is required for membrane repair, thereby counteracting one of the deleterious effects induced by the expression of Aβ42. Combined, our studies once more validated the use of yeast as a model to investigate fundamental mechanisms underlying the etiology of neurodegenerative disorders

Protein folding activity of ribosomal rna is a selective target of two unrelated antiprion drugs

Background: 6-Aminophenanthridine (6AP) and Guanabenz (GA, a drug currently in use for the treatment of hypertension) were isolated as antiprion drugs using a yeast-based assay. These structurally unrelated molecules are also active against mammalian prion in several cell-based assays and in vivo in a mouse model for prion-based diseases.Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we report the identification of cellular targets of these drugs. Using affinity chromatography matrices for both drugs, we demonstrate an RNA-dependent interaction of 6AP and GA with the ribosome. These specific interactions have no effect on the peptidyl transferase activity of the ribosome or on global translation. In contrast, 6AP and GA specifically inhibit the ribosomal RNA-mediated protein folding activity of the ribosome.Conclusion/Significance: 6AP and GA are therefore the first compounds to selectively inhibit the protein folding activity of the ribosome. They thus constitute precious tools to study the yet largely unexplored biological role of this protein folding activity

Protein Folding Activity of Ribosomal RNA Is a Selective Target of Two Unrelated Antiprion Drugs

International audienceBACKGROUND: 6-Aminophenanthridine (6AP) and Guanabenz (GA, a drug currently in use for the treatment of hypertension) were isolated as antiprion drugs using a yeast-based assay. These structurally unrelated molecules are also active against mammalian prion in several cell-based assays and in vivo in a mouse model for prion-based diseases. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here we report the identification of cellular targets of these drugs. Using affinity chromatography matrices for both drugs, we demonstrate an RNA-dependent interaction of 6AP and GA with the ribosome. These specific interactions have no effect on the peptidyl transferase activity of the ribosome or on global translation. In contrast, 6AP and GA specifically inhibit the ribosomal RNA-mediated protein folding activity of the ribosome. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: 6AP and GA are therefore the first compounds to selectively inhibit the protein folding activity of the ribosome. They thus constitute precious tools to study the yet largely unexplored biological role of this protein folding activity

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

Homeostatic control of START through negative feedback between Cln3-Cdk1 and Rim15/Greatwall kinase in budding yeast.

How cells coordinate growth and division is key for size homeostasis. Phosphorylation by G1-CDK of Whi5/Rb inhibitors of SBF/E2F transcription factors triggers irreversible S-phase entry in yeast and metazoans, but why this occurs at a given cell size is not fully understood. We show that the yeast Rim15-Igo1,2 pathway, orthologous to Gwl-Arpp19/ENSA, is up-regulated in early G1 and helps promoting START by preventing PP2ACdc55 to dephosphorylate Whi5. RIM15 overexpression lowers cell size while IGO1,2 deletion delays START in cells with low CDK activity. Deletion of WHI5, CDC55 and ectopic CLN2 expression suppress the START delay of igo1,2∆ cells. Rim15 activity increases after cells switch from fermentation to respiration, where Igo1,2 contribute to chromosome maintenance. Interestingly Cln3-Cdk1 also inhibits Rim15 activity, which enables homeostatic control of Whi5 phosphorylation and cell cycle entry. We propose that Rim15/Gwl regulation of PP2A plays a hitherto unappreciated role in cell size homeostasis during metabolic rewiring of the cell cycle

EdU Incorporation for FACS and Microscopy Analysis of DNA Replication in Budding Yeast

International audienceDNA replication is a key determinant of chromosome segregation and stability in eukaryotes. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been extensively used for cell cycle studies, yet simple but key parameters such as the fraction of cells in S phase in a population or the subnuclear localization of DNA synthesis have been difficult to gather for this organism. 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) is a thymidine analogue that can be incorporated in vivo and later detected using copper-catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition (Click reaction) without prior DNA denaturation. This chapter describes a budding yeast strain and conditions that allow rapid EdU incorporation at moderate extracellular concentrations, followed by its efficient detection for the analysis of DNA replication in single cells by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy

Comité Económico y Social Europeo INT/333 Normas de calidad ¿ Estudios de impacto social Bruselas, 31 de mayo de 2007 DICTAMEN del Comité Económico y Social Europeo

International audienceThe BAR proteins are a well-conserved family of proteins including Rvsp in yeast, amphiphysins and Bin proteins in mammals. In yeast, as in mammals, BAR proteins are known to be implicated in vesicular traffic. The Gyp5p (Ypl249p) and Ymr192p proteins interact in two-hybrid tests with both Rvs161p and Rvs167p. Gyp5p is a Ypt/Rab-specific GAP and Ymr192p is highly similar to Gyp5p. To specify the interaction between Rvsp and Gyp5p, we used two-hybrid tests to determine the domains necessary for these interactions. The specific SH3 domain of Rvs167p interacted with the N-terminal domain of Gyp5p. Moreover, Gyp5p could form a homodimer. Fus2 protein is a specific partner of Rvs161p in two-hybrid tests. To characterize the functional relationships between these five proteins, we have studied cellular phenotypes in single, double and triple mutant strains for which rvs mutants present defects, such as polarity, cell fusion and meiosis. Phenotypic analysis showed that Gyp5p, Ymr192p and Fus2p were involved in bipolar budding pattern and in meiosis. Specific epistasis or suppressive phenomena were found between the five mutations. Finally, The Gyp5p–GFP fusion protein was localized at the bud tip during apical growth and at the mother-bud neck during cytokinesis. Moreover, Rvs167p and Rvs161p were shown to be essential for the correct localization of Gyp5p. Altogether, these data support the hypothesis that both Rvsp proteins act in vesicular traffic through physical and functional interactions with Ypt/Rab regulators