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Protoplast fusion as a means of producing new industrial yeast strains.

The ability of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to produce ethanol and carbon dioxide from carbohydrates has been exploited by man for thousands of years. During its brief existence protoplast fusion has already become an invaluable tool for investigating the molecular genetics of yeast, as well as an important part of the arsenal of genetic manipulations available to develop new strains. In the case of industrial strains, a mating reaction is usually lacking. Protoplast fusion overcomes this barrier and allows for the genetic analysis of commercially valuable traits. A major block toward broader applicability of fusion is that hybrids becomes more unstable as the genetic backgrounds of the parents diverge. As greater progress in overcoming this problem is made, fusion, by itself and in conjunction with classical hybridization, will become increasingly important in the development of new strains. The incorporation of cytoplasmic elements into yeast protoplasts has the potential to vastly expand the array of biochemical reactions performed by yeasts, thereby increasing the importance of this microbe to mankind.

Journal Article↗

[Historic development of yeast genetics from the beginning to the first gene transformation in brewing yeast strains].

A more intensive use of the potential of brewing yeasts in the biotechnological process of brewing is based on the knowledge of the genetic background of these microorganisms. It is given a review on the stages of genetic manipulation of brewing yeasts including recombinant DNA technology which has proved to be the most successful method for a further improvement of strains.

DNA, Fungal↗

[Development of an immunoenzyme test system for detecting antibodies to commercial strains of feed yeasts].

ELISA as a specific and highly sensitive test system was used for the examination of large groups of workers employed in the production of fodder protein to detect antibodies to the production strains of fodder yeast. The results yielded by ELISA correlated well with those obtained by the serological luminescent techniques, but antibody titers determined by means of ELISA are 10-20 times higher.

Animal Feed↗

A laboratory yeast strain suitable for spirit production.

Yeast strains of the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae currently in use for the production of consumable alcohols such as beer, wine and spirits are genetically largely undefined. This prevents the use of standard genetic manipulations, such as crossings and tetrad analysis, for strain improvement. Furthermore, it complicates the application of the majority of modern methods developed in yeast molecular biology. Here we used two haploid laboratory strains with suitable auxotrophic markers for the construction of a genetically well defined, prototrophic diploid production strain. This strain was tested for its fermentative and sensory performances in comparison to commercially available yeasts. Three different fruit mashes (cherries, plums and pears) were fermented in a 90 kg scale. These were then subjected to distillation and used for the production of spirits with a final ethanol content of 40% (v/v). Fermentation parameters assayed included growth, sugar utilization, ethanol production and generation of volatile compounds, higher alcohols and glycerol. The spirits were also tested for their sensory performances and the data obtained statistically consolidated. Our results clearly demonstrate that this laboratory strain does not display any disadvantage compared with commercial yeasts in spirit production for any of the parameters tested, yet it offers the potential to apply both classical breeding and modern molecular genetic techniques for adjusting yeast physiology to special production schemes.

Alcoholic Beverages↗

Roles of Wee1 and Nim1 protein kinases in regulating the switch from mitotic division to sexual development in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

In self-fertile strains of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, nitrogen starvation initiates a program of sexual development in which cells express mating pheromones and receptors, arrest cell cycle progression in G1, and conjugate. This process is dependent on Rum1, an inhibitor of the Cdc2-Cdc13 and Cdc2-Cig2 cyclin B kinases. The M-phase induction activity of Cdc2-Cdc13 is inhibited by Wee1 tyrosine kinase, which phosphorylates Cdc2 on tyrosine-15. We report here that Wee1 activity is also important for mating. This discovery arose from studies of Nim1, a kinase which promotes mitosis by inhibiting Wee1. Nim1 was previously thought to have an important role in promoting mitosis during nitrogen starvation, but our studies revealed that Nim1 protein drops to an undetectable level within 15 min of nitrogen depletion. In contrast, Wee1 remains abundant, and tyrosine-phosphorylated Cdc2 is detected for at least 4 h after resuspension of cells in nitrogen-free medium. This suggested that maintenance of Wee1 activity may be important during the early stages of nitrogen starvation, a proposal confirmed by the observation that mating efficiency is reduced ca. fivefold in wee1- cells. Transcriptional induction of genes encoding mating factors and receptors is also delayed in wee1- cells. The wee1- mating defect is suppressed by deletion of cig2+, which encodes a B-type cyclin that promotes the onset of S and inhibits conjugation. These findings indicate that Wee1 and Rum1 act jointly to inhibit Cdc2 and promote sexual development in nitrogen-starved cells.

Ammonium Chloride↗

Development of a strain of Hansenula polymorpha for the efficient expression of guar alpha-galactosidase.

A strain of the methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha, A16, has been developed that expresses the guar alpha-galactosidase gene to 22.4 mg/g dry cell weight in chemostat cultures at a dilution rate of 0.1 h(-1). This corresponds to more than 13.1% of soluble cell protein, of which 56-62% is secreted into the medium. The alpha-galactosidase gene was flanked by the promoter and terminator sequences of the H.polymorpha mox gene, which can direct expression of the mox gene itself more than 30% of total cell protein under methanol growth. The expression cassette (pUR3510) based on the Saccharomyces cerevisiae plasmid, YEp13, was integrated into the genome. Such transformants were stable in chemostat cultures and exhibited 100% stability for both alpha-galactosidase+ and leu+ phenotypes. Chemostat cultures produced higher levels of alpha-galactosidase with higher specific productivities expressed as mg alpha-galactosidase g(-1) h(-1) compared to batch cultures.

Base Sequence↗

Ura- host strains for genetic manipulation and heterologous expression of Torulaspora delbrueckii.

Recently, the industrial and academic interest in the yeast Torulaspora delbrueckii has increased notably due to its high resistance to several stresses. This characteristic has made of this organism a very attractive model to study the molecular basis of the stress response in yeast. However, very little is known about the physiology and genetics of this yeast, and the tools for its manipulation have not been developed. Here, we have generated Ura(-) strains of the baker's yeast T. delbrueckii IGC5323 by either 5-FOA-aided selection or transformation with a PCR-based disruption cassette, natMX4, which confers nourseothricin resistance. Furthermore, the mutant and disruptant strains were used as recipient of a plasmid containing the xlnB cDNA from Aspergillus nidulans. Our results indicate that Torulaspora transformants produce active recombinant protein at a similar level to that found for Saccharomyces.

Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal↗

IL-12 is both required and prognostic in vivo for T helper type 1 differentiation in murine candidiasis.

In murine models of systemic candidiasis, healing and nonhealing patterns of disease are associated with preferential expansion of Th1 and Th2 cells, respectively. As previous studies have shown IL-12 to be expressed transcriptionally in healer mice and to be required for Th1 development in vitro, this cytokine might play a role in Candida-driven Th1 cell differentiation in vivo. In the present study, IL-12-neutralizing Abs or recombinant IL-12 were administered to mice with healing or progressive candidiasis, respectively, and the animals were monitored for mortality, resistance to reinfection, serum levels of specific Abs, and IFN-gamma, IL-4, and IL-10 message/protein expression by CD4+ cells. In self-limiting infection by a yeast vaccine strain, neutralization of IL-12 ablated development of acquired anticandidal resistance and led to appearance of Candida-specific IgE and IL-4-producing cells. In mice with progressive systemic disease as well as in a mucosal infection model, administration of IL-12 did not result in therapeutic activity under conditions of yeast infection that would instead be resolved by serologic ablation of IL-4 or IL-10. Yet, in systemically infected mice cured by anti-IL-4 or anti-IL-10 therapy, the emergence of a Th1 response correlated with the detection of high levels of circulating IL-12 and splenic IL-12 transcripts. Although exogenous IL-12 may not be sufficient for Th conversion in the presence of an overwhelming IL-4/IL-10 response, endogenous production of IL-12 may be both required and prognostic for Th1 differentiation in vivo.

Animals↗

Unveiling the genetic basis of the low pH response in the acidophilic yeast Maudiozyma bulderi as a potential host for biorefinery.

Nonconventional yeasts represent a great genetic and phenotypic diversity with potential for industrial strain development in the bio-production of green chemicals. In recent years, mass genome sequencing of nonconventional yeasts has opened avenues to improved understanding of transcriptional networks and phenotypic plasticity and gene function, including the discovery of novel genes. Here, we investigated the expressional and morphological changes at low-pH in three strains of the acidophilic yeast Maudiozyma bulderi (previously Kazachstania bulderi and Saccharomyces bulderi): CBS 8638, CBS 8639, and NRRL Y-27205. The comparison of the transcriptome of cells growing in a bioreactor at pH = 5.5 vs pH = 2.5, primarily showed dysregulation of genes involved in cell wall integrity, with NRRL Y-27205 the least acidophilic strain, showing the largest transcriptional response when compared to the other strains. We identified four uncharacterized genes, unique to M. bulderi, and predicted function as transporters, upregulated at low pH. Microscopy studies showed that M. bulderi cell wall is not damaged in acidic environment, and the membrane lipid composition remains stable at low pH, unlike Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Overall, our data on transcriptional variability in M. bulderi highlights genes and cellular pathways involved in the acidophilic adaptation of this species and can aid further strain development.

Hydrogen-Ion Concentration↗

Transfer of genes for utilization of starch (sta2) and melibiose (mel) to industrial strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by single-chromosome transfer, using a kar1 mutant as vector.

A method has been developed for the transfer of genes from other yeast strains and species to industrial yeast strains, using a haploid, kar1-1 mutant strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a vector. The sta2 gene, conferring the ability to metabolize starch was transferred from an auxotrophic haploid strain of S. cerevisiae (S. diastaticus) and the melibiose-metabolism (mel) gene(s), from S. kluyveri, to the kar1-1 mutant [K5-5A; (alpha ade2 his4 can1 gal) by normal mating and protoplast fusion. From this strain, the genes were transferred to baker's yeast and brewing yeast strains, which did not utilize starch, and to baker's yeast strains, which did not utilize melibiose, by protoplast fusion, spore-cell pairing, or rare-mating. Strains that utilized starch or melibiose were obtained by all three methods. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis preparations showed little change in the mobility of the chromosomes of the hybrids. The most probable explanation for the results obtained is that single chromosomes were transferred, first, from the donor strains to the kar1-1 haploid mutant strain, and then from the kar1-1 vector to the recipient industrial strain of S. cerevisiae. The transfer of the genes is probably accomplished through formation of disomic strains and then, in the case of the hybrids that metabolize starch, by integration of the sta2 gene into the genome of the industrial yeast strains.

Chromosomes, Fungal↗

Improvement of sporulation in the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica.

Strains of Yarrowia lipolytica forming exclusively spherical ascospores were developed through inbreeding. These strains are more suitable for micromanipulation than other inbred strains forming helm-shaped ascospores. External factors affecting sporulation frequency and tetrad formation in this yeast were investigated. Optimal formation of complete tetrads occurred at a narrow range of pH values around 6.0. Citrate was found to stimulate sporulation strongly. A synthetic medium containing citrate was developed to obtain standard conditions for maximum sporulation.

Ascomycota↗

Correlation between acetaldehyde and ethanol resistance and expression of HSP genes in yeast strains isolated during the biological aging of sherry wines.

In the production of sherry wines, the process of biological aging is essential for the development of their organoleptic properties. This process involves velum formation by "flor" yeasts. Several of these yeast strains have been isolated and characterized with regard to their genetic, physiological and metabolic properties. In this work, we studied their resistance to cold-, osmotic-, oxidative-, ethanol- and acetaldehyde-stress, and found, in most cases, a correlation between resistance to acetaldehyde stress and ethanol stress and isolation from "soleras." Moreover, gene expression analysis revealed induction of the heat shock protein (HSP) genes HSP12, HSP82, and especially HSP26 and HSP104, under acetaldehyde stress in most of the strains. In strain C, there was a clear correlation between resistance to ethanol and acetaldehyde, the high induction of HSP genes by these compounds and its presence as the predominant strain in most levels of several soleras.

Acetaldehyde↗

Mutants of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis strain IVIC Pb9 affected in dimorphism.

Morphological mutants were isolated after nitrosoguanidine treatment of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis strain IVIC Pb9. Two of these mutants, Pb257 and Pb258, developed a typical mycelia at 23 degrees C, however, the yeast cells which developed at 37 degrees C were indistinguishable from those of the parental strain. A third mutant, strain Pb267, was thermosensitive, grew as yeast-like cells at 23 degrees C, but was unable to survive at 37 degrees C. Morphological observations as well as serological and segregation tests confirmed that the mutant strains originated from P. brasiliensis. Cell wall chemical analyses of the mutant strains grown at 23 degrees C indicated the presence of alkali-soluble, acid-insoluble polysaccharides absent in the parental wild-type strain Pb9 grown under the same conditions. The phenotypes shown by the mutant strains may be related to deficiencies in the proper synthesis of cell wall components of the mycelial phase of this fungus.

Amino Acids↗

CRISPR-Cas9 Genome Editing in Auxotrophic and Non-auxotrophic Fission Yeast Strains.

The CRISPR/Cas system is a very powerful genome-editing tool that has been developed over the past decade to optimize genome editing for many organisms. Here, we describe a rapid genome-editing method for fission yeast using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. It allows rapid generation of desired auxotrophic and non-auxotrophic strains without perturbing the local genome content by avoiding the insertion of selection markers at target loci.

CRISPR-Cas Systems↗

Purification and characterisation of the pyruvate decarboxylase from a haploid strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A novel purification procedure was developed for pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC, E.C. 1.1.1.4) from the haploid yeast strain YSH 4.127-1A expressing only one (PDC1) of the three structural genes for PDC. The purified enzyme is homotetrameric with a molecular mass of about 240,000 whereas PDC from brewer's yeast is a dimer of dimers composed of subunits of different size (alpha 2 beta 2) with the same molecular mass as the tetramer. Despite these structural variations there are no significant differences in the kinetic behaviour of the two enzyme species. PDC purified from the haploid yeast mutants shows a sigmoid dependence of the reaction rate from the substrate concentration due to the substrate activation. In the presence of the substrate surrogate pyruvamide the shape of the v/S plot is transformed into a hyperbolic one. As expected, polyclonal antibodies react with both the enzyme from haploid yeast strain mutants and that from brewer's yeast.

Ammonium Sulfate↗

Curing Saccharomyces cerevisiae of the 2 micron plasmid by targeted DNA damage.

Powerful mutagenic screens of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have recently been developed which require strains that lack the endogenous 2 micron plasmid (Burns et al., 1994). Here, we describe a simple and reliable method for curing yeast of the highly stable genetic element. The approach employs heterologous expression of a 'step-arrest' mutant of the Flp recombinase. The mutant, Flp H305L (Parsons et al., 1988), forms long-lived covalent protein-DNA complexes exclusively at 2 micron-borne recombinase target sites. In vivo, the complexes serve as sites of targeted DNA damage. Using Southern hybridization and a colony color assay for plasmid loss, we show that expression of the mutant enzyme results in the effective elimination of the 2 micron from cells.

Blotting, Southern↗

Over expression of anti-MUC1 single-domain antibody fragments in the yeast Pichia pastoris.

The methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris has become a highly popular expression host system for the recombinant production of a wide variety of proteins, such as antibody fragments. Camelids produce functional antibodies devoid of light chains and constant heavy-chain domain (CH1). The antigen binding fragments of such heavy chain antibodies are therefore comprised in one single domain, the so-called VH of the camelid heavy chain antibody (VHH). To test the feasibility of expressing VHHs in the yeast, which on account of their small size and antigen recognition properties would have a major impact on antibody engineering strategies, we constructed two VHH genes encoding the single-domain antibody fragments with specificity for a cancer associated mucin, MUC1. The recombinant strains of the yeast P. pastoris were developed which secrete single-domain antibody fragment to the culture supernatant as a biologically active protein. Supplementation of medium with sorbitol (in pre-induction phase) and casamino acid or EDTA (in induction phase) provided ideal condition of increasing the yield of VHH production compared to culture condition devoid of above recipe. The secreted protein was purified following a 80% ammonium sulfate precipitation step, followed by a affinity chromatography column. The specific activity in enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) of the purified yeast VHH was higher than that of a bacterial periplasmic counterpart. These results reaffirm that the yeast P. pastoris is a suitable host for high level and correctly folded production of VHH antibody fragments with potential in vivo diagnostic and therapeutic applications. This is the first report of expression of VHH in P. pastoris.

Animals↗

Yeast DEL assay detects clastogens.

Chromosomal rearrangements, including DNA deletions are involved in carcinogenesis. The deletion (DEL) assay scoring for DNA deletions in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is able to detect a wide range of carcinogens. Among approximately 60 compounds of known carcinogenic activity, the DEL assay detected 86% correctly whereas the Ames Salmonella assay detected only 30% correctly [R.J. Brennan, R.H. Schiestl, Detecting carcinogens with the yeast DEL assay, Methods Mol. Biol. 262 (2004) 111-124]. Since the DEL assay is highly inducible by DNA double strand breaks, this study examined the utility of the DEL assay for detecting clastogens. Ten model compounds, with varied mechanisms of genotoxicity, were examined for their effect on the frequency of DNA deletions with the DEL assay. The compounds tested were: actinomycin D, camptothecin, methotrexate and 5-fluorodeoxyuridine, which are anticancer agents, noscapine and furosemide are therapeutics, acridine, methyl acrylate and resorcinol are industrial chemicals and diazinon is an insecticide. The in vitro micronucleus assay (IVMN) in CHO cells, a commonly used tool for detection of clastogens, was performed on the same compounds and the results of the two assays were compared. The results of our study show that there is 70% concordance in the presence of metabolic activation (rat liver S9) and 80% concordance in the absence of metabolic activation between the DEL assay and the standard in vitro micronucleus assay. The lack of cytotoxicity observed for four of the ten compounds examined indicates limited diffusion of lipophilic compounds across the yeast cell wall. Thus, the development of a more permeable yeast tester strain is expected to greatly improve concordance of the DEL assay with the IVMN assay. The yeast DEL assay is inexpensive, amenable to automation and requires less expertise to perform than the IVMN. Thus, it has a strong potential as a robust, fast and economical screen for detecting clastogens in vitro.

Animals↗