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Biomedical subjects

G R Fink

Publications and source records attributed to G R Fink.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

Unstable transpositions of his4 in yeast.

Unstable transpositions in yeast have been selected in which the his4C gene from chromosome III is inserted into chromosome XII. This event is associated with the generation of a recessive lethal mutation, resulting from the integration of his4C into an essential gene. Strains with these transpositions are viable as diploids or aneuploids for chromosome XII. The event that generates the transpositions does not lead reciprocally to a deletion on chromosome III, implying that synthesis of a new copy of his4C and subsequent transposition may have occurred. The his4C transpositions are unstable and give rise to C- segregants at a high frequency, as a result of either precise excision of the his4C gene (restoring function of the gene into which insertion had occurred) or chromosome loss.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Isolation and analysis of recombinant DNA molecules containing yeast DNA.

2500 recombinant plasmids containing insertions of yeast nuclear DNA have been cloned in Escherichia coli. It can be calculated that about 85% of the yeast genome is represented in this collection. The clones have been characterized by hybridization to purified RNA species. Of the 2000 clones examined, 75 contain insertions of yeast ribosomal DNA, 201 contain insertions of yeast tRNA genes, and 26 contain DNA sequences that are complementary to abundant mRNA species.

DNA↗

Transformation of yeast.

A stable leu2- yeast strain has been transformed to LEU2+ by using a chimeric ColE1 plasmid carrying the yeast leu2 gene. We have used recently developed hybridization and restriction endonuclease mapping techniques to demonstrate directly the presence of the transforming DNA in the yeast genome and also to determine the arrangement of the sequences that were introduced. These studies show that ColE1 DNA together with the yeast sequences can integrate into the yeast chromosomes. This integration may be additive or substitutive. The bacterial plasmid sequences, once integrated, behave as a simple Mendelian element. In addition, we have determined the genetic linkage relationships for each newly introduced LEU2+ allele with the original leu2- allele. These studies show that the transforming squences integrate not only in the leu2 region but also in several other chromosomal locations.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Electron microscopic heteroduplex analysis of "killer" double-stranded RNA species from yeast.

Wild-type and mutant double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) species from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae were studied by electron microscopic heteroduplex mapping to determine the sequence relationships among the different RNA molecules. Three mutant dsRNAs, 1.5, 1.4, and 0.73 kilobase, were found to be derived by the same internal deletion of the wild-type (I83 kilobases) molecule. This deletion includes a wild-type (1.83 kilobases) molecule. This deletion includes a segment of about 200 base pairs that was estimated to be nearly 100% A+U. In addition, the sequences of the two larger mutant RNA species are tandem, direct duplications. One of the duplicated molecules appears to have a second internal deletion that occurred after the duplication. The mutant dsRNAs are functionally similar to the defective interfering virus particles of animal viruses--all of the mutant species prevent the propagation of the wild-type dsRNA when both are present in the same cell. The four dsRNAs share the same sequences at their termini, a finding that may suggest that these sequences are important for the replication of the dsRNAs.

Base Sequence↗

Frameshifts and frameshift suppressors in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Using ICR-170 as a mutagen, we have induced a set of mutations in yeast which exhibit behavior similar to that shown for bacterial frameshift mutations. Our genetic study shows that these mutations are polar; the polarity can be relieved by internal suppressors; they revert with acridine half-mustards and are not suppressed by known nonsense suppressors. However, they are suppressed by other dominant external suppressors, which fall into two mutually exclusive groups. Five genetically distinct suppressors were obtained for one of these groups, using co-reversion of two frameshift markers. Three of these are lethal in combination with each other and show a reduction in the GLY3 tRNA peak on a Sepharose 4B column. A fourth suppressor shows an altered chromatographic profile for GLY1 tRNA. We suggest that this group of suppressors represent mutations in the structural genes for the isoaccepting glycyl-tRNA's. Two other suppressors (one linked to the centromere of chromosome III) were found to suppress a second group of frameshifts. Genetic and biochemical studies show that the nonMendelian factor (PSI+) increases the efficiency of some frameshift suppressors.

Genes↗

A mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae defective for nuclear fusion.

A mutant unable to fuse nuclei during mating has been isolated from standard wild-type Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Tetrad analysis of the mutation responsible for this defect (kar1-1) shows that it segregates as a single Mendelian factor. The defect kn kaf1-1 appears to be nuclear limited. Cytological and genetic evidence shows that in this mutant the events associated with zygote formation are normal until the point of nuclear fusion. The consequence of this defect is the formation of a multinucleate zygote which in subsequent divisions can segregate heterokaryons and haploid heterplasmons.

Cell Fusion↗

A study of the transmission and structure of double stranded RNAs associated with the killer phenomenon in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Killer strains contain two double stranded RNAs, L and M. The M dsRNA appears to be necessary for production of a toxin and for resistance to that toxin. Mutant strains have been found that are defective in their ability to kill and in their resistance to toxin. These sensitive, non-killer strains have altered dsRNA composition. One class has no M dsRNA. Another class of sensitive, non-killers called suppressives has no M dsRNA but instead has smaller dsRNAscalledS. Indiploidsresulting from a cross of a wild-type killer by a suppressive the transmission of the M dsRNA is suppressed by the S dsRNA. When a suppressive is crossed by a strain with no M dsRNA, the diploids and all four meiotic spores have the S dsRNA characteristic of the parental suppressive strain. Suppressive strains do not suppress each other. Intercrosses between two different suppressives yields diploids with both parental S dsRNAs. These two S dsRNAs are transmitted to all 4 meiotic progeny. Another class of mutants has been found which is defective for one of the traits but retains the other. One type, temperature-sensitive killers, has a normal dsRNA composition but is unable to kill at 30 degrees. The other type, immunity-minus, has a complex dsRNA pattern. The immunity-minus strain is extremely unstable during mitotic growth and segregates several different types of non-killers. Analysis of the dsRNAs from wild type and the mutants by electron microscopy shows that the L, M, and S dsRNAs are linear. All strains regardless of killer phenotype appear to have the same size L dsRNA.

Cell Division↗

Proteinase C (carboxypeptidase Y) mutant of yeast.

A mutant of yeast lacking proteinase C (carboxypeptidase Y) activity has been found by using a histochemical stain to screen mutagenized colonies. This defect segregates 2:2 in meiotic tetrads. Cell extracts lacked the esterolytic, amidase, and proteolytic activities associated with proteinase C. The absence of proteinase C does not affect mitotic growth and has no obvious effect on the formation of viable ascospores or meiotic segregation. The mutant grows on peptides known to be cleaved by proteinase C in vitro. This finding is consistent with the idea that other enzymes exist in vivo with overlapping substrate specificities.

Anilides↗

Gene conversion of deletions in the his4 region of yeast.

A selection procedure has been devised which allows the recovery of deletions of the his4 region of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Many deletions were obtained by this procedure and were characterized genetically and biochemically. These deletions permit the construction of a linear map of the his4A and his4B region. A deletion which was large on this genetic map reduced the size of the his4 gene product. Tetrad analyses revealed that deletions can affect the conversion frequency of other alleles at his4. Analysis of reciprocal recombination in conversion tetrads showed that the order of genes on chromosome III is: centromere-leu2-his4A-his4C. This means that in his4 transcription and translation proceed away from the centromere.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Yeast killer mutants with altered double-stranded ribonucleic acid.

Killer strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae contain two species of double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) with molecular weights estimated at 2.5 x 10(6) (L) and 1.4 x 10(6) (M). The M component appears to have a high adenine content. All mutants of killer which are defective for both the toxin and immunity functions lack the M dsRNA. One of these mutants has a novel dsRNA with a molecular weight of 5 x 10(5). Another class of killer mutants contains strains which are defective for either the toxin or the immunity function. They include temperature-sensitive killers, superkillers, and immunity-minus strains. The dsRNA profile of temperature-sensitive killers resembles that of the standard killer. The superkiller has 2.5 times more of the M dsRNA (1.4 x 10(6) daltons) than does the standard killer. Immunity-minus killers have, in addition to the two dsRNAs species of standard killer, a novel dsRNA with a molecular weight of 2.5 x 10(5). The data are consistent with the hypothesis that the M RNA controls toxin production. In addition, the two RNAs, L and M, seem to be regulated together. When the M RNA is missing, the amount of L is either greatly elevated or greatly reduced.

Adenine↗

A nucleic acid associated with a killer strain of yeast.

A crude membrane fraction was isolated from both killer M(k) and isogenic nonkiller M(o) strains of yeast labeled with [(3)H]adenine. Nucleic acids were extracted from this fraction and centrifuged to equilibrium in an ethidium bromide-Cs(2)SO(4) solution. A peak of radioactivity coincident with a single fluorescent band was present in the membrane fraction isolated from cells of the killer strain but was absent from that isolated from nonkiller cells. This material has been characterized as double-stranded RNA by treatment with various nucleases and by chromatography on a cellulose CF-11 column. Sedimentation in a sucrose gradient indicates an S value of 8-10.

Carbon Isotopes↗