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Identification of 24-methylene-24,25-dihydrolanosterol as a precursor of ergosterol in the yeasts Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Schizosaccharomyces octosporus.

Study of the plasma membrane sterol composition in the yeasts Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Schizosaccharomyces octosporus revealed the presence of ergosterol, lanosterol, dehydroergosterol, fecosterol, episterol and 24-methylene-24,25-dihydrolanosterol (eburicol), a C-31 derivative. The growth of both yeasts in the presence of ketoconazole led to a decrease by 85% of the ergosterol content while the levels of lanosterol and eburicol increased. This suggests that in the biosynthetic pathway of ergosterol in Schizosaccharomyces species, the transmethylation process on the C-24 may occur directly on lanosterol and not only on zymosterol. On the other hand, it cannot be excluded that in the genus Schizosaccharomyces two routes exist from lanosterol to ergosterol: the classical one via a direct C-14, C-4 demethylation of lanosterol and the second one via the formation of a C-31 derivative followed by demethylations.

Binding Sites↗

Glucanases in Schizosaccharomyces. Isolation and properties of an exo-beta-glucanase from the cell extracts and culture fluid of Schizosaccharomyces japonicus var. versatilis.

(11 Cell extracts and extracellular culture fluids of species of the yeast genus Schizosaccharomyces exhibited exo-beta-(1 leads to 3)- and exo-beta-(1 leads to 6)-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.-) activities. (2) Using a combination of Sephadex G-100 and DEAE-cellulose chromatography, the exo-beta-(1 leads to 3)-glucanases from the cell extracts and culture fluid of Schizosaccharomyces japonicus var. versatilis were purified extensively. The enzymes from either location exhibited similar purification and other properties. (3) The purified enzymes hydrolysed the beta-(1 leads to 6)-glucosidic linkage in addition to the beta-(1 leads to 3) linkage. Heat denaturation, inhibition and electrophoretic studies indicated that both hydrolytic activities were properties of a single protein. Laminarin and pustulan hydrolysis followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The Km and V for laminarin hydrolysis were 6.25 mg/ml and 350 mumol of glucose released/min/mg protein, and for pustulan they were 166 mg/ml and 52 mumol of glucose released/min/mg protein. (4) The exo-beta-glucanase was assigned a molecular weight of 43 000. (5) the purified enzyme failed to hydrolyse isolated cell walls from either baker's yeast or Schizosaccharomyces pombe or to induce protoplast formation from intact cells of S. japonicus var. versatilis or Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Ascomycota↗

The mitochondrial genome of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe: highly homologous introns are inserted at the same position of the otherwise less conserved cox1 genes in Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Aspergillus nidulans.

The DNA sequence of the second intron in the mitochondrial gene for subunit 1 of cytochrome oxidase (cox1), and the 3' part of the structural gene have been determined in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Comparing the presumptive amino acid sequence of the 3' regions of the cox1 genes in fungi reveals similarly large evolutionary distances between Aspergillus nidulans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and S. pombe. The comparison of exon sequences also reveals a stretch of only low homology and of general size variation among the fungal and mammalian genes, close to the 3' ends of the cox1 genes. The second intron in the cox1 gene of S. pombe contains an open reading frame, which is contiguous with the upstream exon and displays all characteristics common to class I introns. Three findings suggest a recent horizontal gene transfer of this intron from an Aspergillus type fungus to S. pombe. (i) The intron is inserted at exactly the same position of the cox1 gene, where an intron is also found in A. nidulans. (ii) Both introns contain the highest amino acid homology between the intronic unassigned reading frames of all fungi identified so far (70% identity over a stretch of 253 amino acids). However, in the most homologous region, a GC-rich sequence is inserted in the A. nidulans intron, flanked by two direct repeats of 5 bp. The 37-bp insert plus 5 bp of direct repeat amounts to an extra 42 bp in the A. nidulans intron. (iii) TGA codons are the preferred tryptophan codons compared with TGG in all mitochondrial protein coding sequences of fungi and mammalia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Microtubule-driven nuclear movements and linear elements as meiosis-specific characteristics of the fission yeasts Schizosaccharomyces versatilis and Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Meiotic prophase in Schizosaccharomyces pombe is characterized by striking nuclear movements and the formation of linear elements along chromosomes instead of tripartite synaptonemal complexes. We analysed the organization of nuclei and microtubules in cells of fission yeasts undergoing sexual differentiation. S. japonicus var. versatilis and S. pombe cells were studied in parallel, taking advantage of the better cytology in S. versatilis. During conjugation, microtubules were directed towards the mating projection. These microtubules seem to lead the haploid nuclei together in the zygote by interaction with the spindle pole bodies at the nuclear periphery. After karyogamy, arrays of microtubules emanating from the spindle pole body of the diploid nucleus extended to both cell poles. The same differentiated microtubule configuration was elaborated upon induction of azygotic meiosis in S. pombe. The cyclic movements of the elongated nuclei between the cell poles is reflected by a dynamic and coordinated shortening and lengthening of the two microtubule arrays. When the nucleus was at a cell end, one array was short while the other bridged the whole cell length. Experiments with inhibitors showed that microtubules are required for karyogamy and for the elongated shape and movement of nuclei during meiotic prophase. In both fission yeasts the SPBs and nucleoli are at the leading ends of the moving nuclei. Astral and cytoplasmic microtubules were also prominent during meiotic divisions and sporulation. We further show that in S. versatilis the linear elements formed during meiotic prophase are similar to those in S. pombe. Tripartite synaptonemal complexes were never detected. Taken together, these findings suggest that S. pombe and S. versatilis share basic characteristics in the organization of microtubules and the structure and behaviour of nuclei during their meiotic cell cycle. The prominent differentiations of microtubules and nuclei may be involved in the pairing, recombination, and segregation of meiotic chromosomes.

Benomyl↗

The 2.1-kb inverted repeat DNA sequences flank the mat2,3 silent region in two species of Schizosaccharomyces and are involved in epigenetic silencing in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

The mat2,3 region of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe exhibits a phenomenon of transcriptional silencing. This region is flanked by two identical DNA sequence elements, 2.1 kb in length, present in inverted orientation: IRL on the left and IRR on the right of the silent region. The repeats do not encode any ORF. The inverted repeat DNA region is also present in a newly identified related species, which we named S. kambucha. Interestingly, the left and right repeats share perfect identity within a species, but show approximately 2% bases interspecies variation. Deletion of IRL results in variegated expression of markers inserted in the silent region, while deletion of the IRR causes their derepression. When deletions of these repeats were genetically combined with mutations in different trans-acting genes previously shown to cause a partial defect in silencing, only mutations in clr1 and clr3 showed additive defects in silencing with the deletion of IRL. The rate of mat1 switching is also affected by deletion of repeats. The IRL or IRR deletion did not cause significant derepression of the mat2 or mat3 loci. These results implicate repeats for maintaining full repression of the mat2,3 region, for efficient mat1 switching, and further support the notion that multiple pathways cooperate to silence the mat2,3 domain.

Gene Silencing↗

Distribution of tubulin and actin through the cell division cycle of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces japonicus var. versatilis: a comparison with Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Changes in the distribution of microtubules and F-actin through the cell division cycle of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces japonicus var. versatilis were investigated by fluorescence microscopy. The fluorescence images obtained with S. japonicus were markedly superior to those previously reported for S. pombe and revealed new details of cytoskeletal organization in this important genus. As in S. pombe, F-actin in S. japonicus was present as a concentration of 'dots' at the growing poles of interphase cells and as a filamentous equatorial ring directing the deposition of the cytokinetic septum. The transition between these two states occurred at late anaphase, in contrast to the situation in S. pombe where the appearance of the equatorial actin ring is tightly coupled to the early events of mitosis. During the course of cytokinesis in S. japonicus the actin ring constricted and broadened, suggesting that it is contractile. Microtubule organization in S. japonicus also revealed interesting differences from S. pombe. Whereas in S. pombe cytoplasmic microtubules are reinitiated from a pair of microtubule organizing centres (MTOCs) at the cell equator, in S. japonicus they arise by extensive microtubule growth from the spindle poles. Western blots of cell extracts enriched for tubulin by DEAE-Sephadex chromatography showed that, like S. pombe, S. japonicus contains two alpha-tubulins and a single beta-tubulin. Whilst the alpha 1- and beta-tubulins from the two species comigrated on one-dimensional polyacrylamide gels, the alpha 2 species were electrophoretically distinct. Although fundamental differences clearly exist between the two species, S. japonicus could prove to be a useful tool in basic studies of fission yeast cell biology.

Actins↗

Nucleotide sequence of the Schizosaccharomyces japonicus var. versatilis ribosomal RNA gene cluster and its phylogenetic implications.

Fission yeasts form a small but heterogeneous group of ascomycetes and it is still unclear whether they should be subdivided into three genera (Schizosaccharomyces, Octosporomyces, Hasegawaea) or remain a single genus (Schizosaccharomyces). In order to decide whether a new genus Hasegawaea should be established for the species Schizosaccharomyces japonicus and Schizosaccharomyces versatilis, we have characterized the entire rDNA cluster in Schizosaccharomyces japonicus var. versatilis and compared it with the homologous region from Schizosaccharomyces pombe and with complete rRNA gene sequences from other yeast genera. From a phage genomic library a recombinant lambda phage containing the entire rDNA repeat unit was isolated. In this paper we report the primary sequence of the 18s, 5.8s and 25s rRNA coding regions. The S. japonicus var. versatilis rRNA genes are 1823 (18s), 158 (5.8s) and 3422 (25s) nucleotides long. The two sequences of the larger rRNA genes exhibit 95.7% (18s) and 93% (25s) similarity with the homologous genes from S. pombe. The differences between the rRNA genes of S. japonicus and S. pombe, however, are much smaller than the intrageneric differences within the rDNA sequences of other yeast genera. Therefore, subdivision of fission yeasts into the genera Schizosaccharomyces and Hasegawaea does not to seem to be justified.

Base Sequence↗

The mitochondrial genome of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. 2. Localization of genes by interspecific hybridization in strain ade7-50h- and cloning of the genome in small fragments.

A series of 18 small overlapping restriction fragments has been cloned, covering the complete mitochondrial genome of Schizosaccharomyces pombe. By hybridizing mitochondrial gene probes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Neurospora crassa with restriction fragments of Schizosaccharomyces pombe mitochondrial DNA, the following homologous genes were localized on the mitochondrial genome of S. pombe: cob, cox1, cox2 and cox3, ATPase subunit 6 and 9 genes, the large rRNA gene and both types of open reading frames occurring in mitochondrial introns of various ascomycetes. The region of the genome, hybridizing with cob exon probes is separated by an intervening sequence of about 2500 bp, which is homologous with the first two introns of the cox1 gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (class II introns according to Michel et al. 1982). Similarly, in the cox1 homologous region, which covers about 4000 bp, two regions were detected hybridizing with class I intron probes, suggesting the existence of two cox1 introns in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Hybridization with several specific exon probes with a determined order has revealed that cob, cox1, cox3 and the large rRNA gene are all transcribed from the same DNA strand. The low intensities of hybridization signals suggest a large evolutionary distance between Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Neurospora crassa mitochondrial genes. Considering the length of the mitochondrial DNA of Schizosaccharomyces pombe (about 19.4 kbp) and the expected length of the localized genes and intron sequences there is enough space left for encoding the expected set of tRNAs and the small rRNA gene. The existence of leader-, trailer-, ori- and spacer sequences or further unassigned reading frames is then restricted to a total length of about 3000 bp only.

Ascomycota↗

Schizosaccharomyces U6 genes have a sequence within their introns that matches the B box consensus of tRNA internal promoters.

The gene for the U6 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is interrupted by an intron whose structure is similar to those found in messenger RNA precursors (pre-mRNAs) (1). This is the only known example of a split snRNA gene from any organism--animal, plant, or yeast. To address the uniqueness of the S. pombe U6 gene, we have investigated the structures of the U6 genes from five Schizosaccharomyces strains and three other fungi. A fragment of the U6 coding sequence was amplified from the genomic DNA of each strain by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The sizes of the PCR products indicated that all of the fission yeast strains possess intron-containing U6 genes; whereas, the U6 genes from the other fungi appeared to be uninterrupted. The sequences of the Schizosaccharomyces U6 gene fragments revealed that each had an intron of approximately 50 base pairs in precisely the same position. In addition to the splice sites and putative branch point regions, a sequence immediately upstream of the branch point consensus was found to be conserved in all of the Schizosaccharomyces U6 genes. This sequence matches the consensus for the B box of eukaryotic tRNA promoters. These results raise the interesting possibility that synthesis of U6 RNA in fission yeast might involve the use of internal promoter elements similar to those found in other genes transcribed by RNA polymerase III.

Base Composition↗

Use of the Tn903 neomycin-resistance gene for promoter analysis in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

The bacterial neo gene from transposon Tn903 (Tn601) was used for dominant transformation of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. It was found that high transformation efficiency was dependent on a high level of promoter activity, mediated by the strong promoter of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe alcohol dehydrogenase gene (adh1), as shown by comparing the efficiency of transformation to G418-resistance, the resistance levels of transformed cells, and the in vitro amino-glycoside phosphotransferase activity. On the other hand, the heterologous promoter of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae alcohol dehydrogenase I gene (adc1) is shown to be a weak promoter in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, though its activity is significantly enhanced in cells grown on glycerol as a carbon source. This system for selection and detection of promoter-active sequences may provide a useful basis for the analysis of promoter elements in fission yeast.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗

The RNA component of RNase P in Schizosaccharomyces species.

In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the enzyme RNAse P copurifies with two RNAs, K1- and K2-RNA, which are identical except for their termini [1] and which are encoded by a single gene [2]. We have undertaken the cloning of the K-RNA genes in related organisms in order to gain comparative structural information. Because the K-RNA sequence is poorly conserved across species, we have cloned the K-RNA genes in the Schizosaccharomyces species S. malidevorans, S. japonicus, S. versatilis, and S. octosporus. Of the 4 species, only S. octosporus contains a K-RNA gene different from that in S. pombe; the gene diverges by 20%. Based on the two sequences, nuclease protection data and computer analysis, we have proposed a secondary structure model for the K-RNA. Northern analysis shows the K-RNA genes in all four Schizosaccharomyces species to be expressed as two RNAs, as in S. pombe.

Base Sequence↗

Purification and kinetic characterization of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

6-Phosphogluconate dehydrogenase is the pivotal enzyme that links the gluconate route and the oxidative phase of the pentose phosphate pathway in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The enzyme differs from the known 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenases of other sources in that the Schizosaccharomyces enzyme is tetrameric having a subunit mass of 38 kDa, that it requires NADP+ obligatorily for activity, and that it can be activated by divalent metal ions such as Co2+ and Mn2+. Steady-state kinetic studies were undertaken. Initial rate and product inhibition results suggest that 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from Schizosaccharomyces pombe catalyzes NADP(+)-linked oxidative decarboxylation of 6-phosphogluconate by an equilibrium random mechanism with two independent binding sites, namely one site for the nicotinamide coenzyme, NADP+/NADPH, and another site for 6-phosphogluconate-D-ribulose-5-phosphate and for CO2. Studies of pH dependence implicated a basic residue with a pK value of 7.4 in the binding of 6-phosphogluconate and an acidic residue with a pK value of 6.7 in the cation-mediated interaction of NADP+ with the enzyme.

Decarboxylation↗

Cloning of a Schizosaccharomyces pombe homologue of elongation factor 1 alpha by two-hybrid selection of calmodulin-binding proteins.

This study reports the cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1alpha) from the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The cDNA was cloned from an Schizosaccharomyces pombe expression library by a two-hybrid selection for clones encoding calmodulin (CaM)-binding proteins. The predicted protein is highly homologous to mammalian EF1alpha, indicating a strong tendency towards conservation of the primary amino acid sequence. The protein was expressed as a glutathione S-transferase fusion in both bacteria and in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The bacterial protein was shown by solution assay to compete with CaM kinase II for CaM. The CaM binding domain was localized to the C-terminus of the protein by this method. Expression of full-length EF1alpha in vivo caused an increase in cell cycle length and a decreased rate of growth as evidenced by a lack of elongated cells in slowly dividing cultures. This effect appears to involve CaM binding because a truncation mutant version of EF1alpha lacking the CaM binding domain did not cause cell cycle delay.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Golgi_traff phylogeny reveals ancient eukaryotic genes with recent surprises: replication and diversification of HID1 domain-containing protein unique to Schizosaccharomyces.

Golgi_traff is a Pfam clan containing two members, Dymeclin (DYM) and HID1 domain-containing protein (HID). Interrogation of over 900 eukaryotic genomes with sequence models showed that both are ancient eukaryotic genes, which have exhibited different paths of gene loss, including from major taxonomic groups. For example, the Metazoa have both genes, whereas the Viridiplantae and Dikarya have lost HID and DYM, respectively. A unique replication event occurred within the genus Schizosaccharomyces in that all sequenced species possess three HID-encoding paralogs, whereas its nearest fungal relatives and other eukaryotes are almost exclusively monogenic. A phylogenetic analysis of yeasts revealed that the Golgi-resident paralog Human ortholog 3 (SPAC17A5.16) is more similar to the HID of other yeasts than to its paralogs. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the SPAC17A5.16 mutant lacks a stacked Golgi apparatus (GA) form, suggesting a role in maintaining GA structure. Altered proliferation of the SPAC17A5.16 mutant in response to GA disrupting chemical agents indicated a perturbation of GA-related functions. Structural models suggest SPAC17A5.16 has a long, disordered N-terminal region that may facilitate anchoring to GA membranes. A modification to Schizosaccharomyces HID nomenclature is proposed to reflect their evolutionary and functional characteristics. The potential of the Golgi_traff clan to serve as a model for the diversification of protein function according to the concepts of sub/neofunctionalization is discussed.

Schizosaccharomyces↗

Characterization of two protein kinases from Schizosaccharomyces pombe involved in the regulation of DNA repair.

We have identified two novel genes designated hhp1+ and hhp2+ in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The hhp1+ and hhp2+ genes encode two closely related protein kinases that share significant sequence identities with Hrr25p from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Characterization of strains harboring single and double mutations in the hhp+ genes reveals DNA repair defects in these cells. Schizosaccharomyces pombe strains lacking either or both Hhp activities reveal differences in their ability to withstand DNA lesions caused by either methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) or gamma-rays which correlate with their ability to repair DNA strand breaks caused by these agents. We suggest that Hhp1 and Hhp2 are involved in the regulation of distinct and overlapping DNA repair pathways in S. pombe.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Ksg1, a homologue of the phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1, controls cell wall integrity in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

It has previously been shown that the Schizosaccharomyces pombe mutant ksg1-358 has a mating and sporulation defect at 30 degrees C and that it is temperature sensitive for growth at 35 degrees C. However the molecular basis for these phenotypes remained largely unknown. In this study we show that ksg1-358 mutant cells lysed at the non-permissive temperature, which could be prevented by sorbitol. Overexpression of ksg1 using the nmt1-promoter showed slow growth and cells became swollen when incubated at 35 degrees C under low inositol conditions. Interestingly, in a two-hybrid assay we found that the ksg1-protein interacted with Pck1p, a protein implicated in regulating cell wall integrity in S. pombe. Genetic complementation assays showed that an overexpression of pck2, the homologue of pck1 involved in the regulation of cell wall synthesis, could partially rescue ksg1-358 phenotypes. We digested the ksg1-358 cell wall using beta-glucanase. We found that the ksg1-358 mutant was more resistant to cell lysis at 30 degrees C than the wildtype strain h972, which was similar to a pck1-deletion strain. A ksg1-overexpressing strain was hypersensitive towards beta-glucanase treatment similar to a pck2-deletion strain. The pck1-deletion partially rescued beta-glucanase hypersensitivity of the ksg1-overexpressing strain but the pck2-deletion increased it. The ksg1-358 mutation increased beta-glucanase resistance of a pck1-overexpressing strain but it had no effect on a pck2-overexpressing strain. Our results provide evidence that ksg1 is a novel regulator of cell wall integrity in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. They further suggest that Ksg1p acts in a pathway with Pck1p, possibly upstream and through direct interaction.

Cell Wall↗

Marker construction and cloning of a cut1-like sequence with ARS activity in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces japonicus.

The dimorphic fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces japonicus has proved to be an excellent experimental model for the investigation of the eukaryotic cell. Here we show that it has a haplontic life cycle, in which the diploid phase is confined to the zygote. To make it amenable to genetic and molecular analysis, we generated genetic markers and cloned a genomic sequence which acts as ars when integrated into a plasmid. Diploids suitable for testing complementation and recombination between markers can be formed by protoplast fusion. The complementation tests and the recombination frequencies determined in octads of spores identified 28 non-allelic groups (genes) of mutations of the auxotrophic and mycelium-negative mutants. Two groups of linked markers were also identified. The cloned fragment, which expresses ars activity, encodes a putative amino acid sequence highly similar to a conserved domain of proteins Cut1 (Schizosaccharomyces pombe), BimB (Aspergillus nidulans) and Esp1 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).

Amino Acid Sequence↗