Citations Hub

Ottosson L-G, Logg K, Ibstedt S, Sunnerhagen P, Käll M, Blomberg A, Warringer J Eukaryotic Cell. 2010 Oct;9(10):1635–47 Yeast/Chemical Genetics Despite a century of research and increasing environmental and human health concerns, the mechanistic basis of the toxicity of derivatives of the metalloid tellurium, Te, in particular the oxyanion tellurite, Te(IV), remains unsolved. Here, we provide an unbiased view of the mechanisms of tellurium metabolism in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by measuring deviations in Te-related traits of a complete collection of gene knockout mutants. Reduction of Te(IV) and intracellular accumulation as metallic tellurium strongly correlated with loss of cellular fitness, suggesting that Te(IV) reduction and toxicity are causally linked. The sulfate assimilation pathway upstream of Met17, in particular, the sulfite reductase and its cofactor siroheme, was shown to be central to tellurite toxicity and its reduction to elemental tellurium. Gene knockout mutants with altered Te(IV) tolerance also showed a similar deviation in tolerance to both selenite and, interestingly, selenomethionine, suggesting that the toxicity of these agents stems from a common mechanism. We also show that Te(IV) reduction and toxicity in yeast is partially mediated via a mitochondrial respiratory mechanism that does not encompass the generation of substantial oxidative stress. The results reported here represent a robust base from which to attack the mechanistic details of Te(IV) toxicity and reduction in a eukaryotic organism.

Landstetter N, Glaser W, Gregori C, Seipelt J, Kuchler K OMICS. 2010 Dec;14(6):651–63 Yeast/Chemical Genetics Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), a known inhibitor of NFκB activation, has antioxidative as well as antiviral activities. PDTC is effective against several virus families, indicating that its antiviral mechanism targets host rather than viral functions. To investigate its mode of action, we used baker's yeast as a simple eukaryotic model system and two types of genome-wide analysis. First, expression profiling using whole-genome DNA microarrays identifies more than 200 genes differentially regulated upon PDTC exposure. Interestingly, the Aft1-dependent iron regulon is a main target of PDTC, indicating a lack of iron availability. Moreover, the PDTC-caused zinc influx triggers a strong regulatory effect on zinc transporters due to the cytoplasmic zinc excess. Second, phenotypic screening the EUROSCARF collection for PDTC hypersensitivity identifies numerous mutants implicated in vacuolar maintenance, acidification as well as in transport, mitochondrial organization, and translation. Notably, the screening data indicate significant overlaps of PDTC-sensitive genes and those mediating zinc tolerance. Hence, we show that PDTC induces cytoplasmiczinc excess, eliciting vacuolar detoxification, which in turn, disturbs iron homeostasis and activates the iron-dependent regulator Aft1. Our work reveals a complex crosstalk in yeast ion homeostasis and the underlying regulatory networks.  

Bandyopadhyay S, Mehta M, Kuo D, Sung M-K, Chuang R, Jaehnig EJ, Bodenmiller B, Licon K, Copeland W, Shales M, Fiedler D, Dutkowski J, Guénolé A, van Attikum H, Shokat KM, Kolodner RD, Huh WK, Aebersold R, Keogh MC, Krogan NJ, Ideker T Science. 2010 Dec 3;330(6009):1385-9 Yeast/Chemical Genetics Although cellular behaviors are dynamic, the networks that govern these behaviors have been mapped primarily as static snapshots. Using an approach called differential epistasis mapping, we have discovered widespread changes in genetic interaction among yeast kinases, phosphatases, and transcription factors as the cell responds to DNA damage. Differential interactions uncover many gene functions that go undetected in static conditions. They are very effective at identifying DNA repair pathways, highlighting new damage-dependent roles for the Slt2 kinase, Pph3 phosphatase, and histone variant Htz1. The data also reveal that protein complexes are generally stable in response to perturbation, but the functional relations between these complexes are substantially reorganized. Differential networks chart a new type of genetic landscape that is invaluable for mapping cellular responses to stimuli.

Lanthaler K, Bilsland E, Dobson PD, Moss HJ, Pir P, Kell DB, Oliver SG BMC Biol. 2011;9:70 Yeast/Chemical Genetics BACKGROUND: The uptake of drugs into cells has traditionally been considered to be predominantly via passive diffusion through the bilayer portion of the cell membrane. The recent recognition that drug uptake is mostly carrier-mediated raises the question of which drugs use which carriers. RESULTS: To answer this, we have constructed a chemical genomics platform built upon the yeast gene deletion collection, using competition experiments in batch fermenters and robotic automation of cytotoxicity screens, including protection by 'natural' substrates. Using these, we tested 26 different drugs and identified the carriers required for 18 of the drugs to gain entry into yeast cells. CONCLUSIONS: As well as providing a useful platform technology, these results further substantiate the notion that the cellular uptake of pharmaceutical drugs normally occurs via carrier-mediated transport and indicates that establishing the identity and tissue distribution of such carriers should be a major consideration in the design of safe and effective drugs.

Hoon S, Gebbia M, Costanzo M, Davis RW, Giaever G, Nislow C G3 (Bethesda). 2011 Aug;1(3):219–31 Yeast/Chemical Genetics The accumulation of protein adducts caused by carbonyl stress (CS) is a hallmark of cellular aging and other diseases, yet the detailed cellular effects of this universal phenomena are poorly understood. An understanding of the global effects of CS will provide insight into disease mechanisms and can guide the development of therapeutics and lifestyle changes to ameliorate their effects. To identify cellular functions important for the response to carbonyl stress, multiple genome-wide genetic screens were performed using two known inducers of CS. We found that different cellular functions were required for resistance to stress induced by methylglyoxal (MG) and glyoxal (GLY). Specifically, we demonstrate the importance of macromolecule catabolism processes for resistance to MG, confirming and extending known mechanisms of MG toxicity, including modification of DNA, RNA, and proteins. Combining our results with related studies that examined the effects of ROS allowed a comprehensive view of the diverse range of cellular functions affected by both oxidative and carbonyl stress. To understand how these diverse cellular functions interact, we performed a quantitative epistasis analysis by creating multimutant strains from those individual genes required for glyoxal resistance. This analysis allowed us to define novel glyoxal-dependent genetic interactions. In summary, using multiple genome-wide approaches provides an effective approach to dissect the poorly understood effects of glyoxal in vivo. These data, observations, and comprehensive dataset provide 1) a comprehensive view ofcarbonyl stress, 2) a resource for future studies in other cell types, and 3) a demonstration of how inexpensive cell-based assays can identify complex gene-environment toxicities.

Usher J, Balderas-Hernandez V, Quon P, Gold ND, Martin VJJ, Mahadevan R, Baetz K G3 (Bethesda). 2011 Sep;1(4):247–58 Yeast/Chemical Genetics Though highly efficient at fermenting hexose sugars, Saccharomyces cerevisiae has limited ability to ferment five-carbon sugars. As a significant portion of sugars found in cellulosic biomass is the five-carbon sugar xylose, S. cerevisiae must be engineered to metabolize pentose sugars, commonly by the addition of exogenous genes from xylose fermenting fungi. However, these recombinant strains grow poorly on xylose and require further improvement through rational engineering or evolutionary adaptation. To identify unknown genes that contribute to improved xylosefermentation in these recombinant S. cerevisiae, we performed genome-wide synthetic interaction screens to identify deletion mutants that impactxylose utilization of strains expressing the xylose isomerase gene XYLA from Piromyces sp. E2 alone or with an additional copy of the endogenous xylulokinase gene XKS1. We also screened the deletion mutant array to identify mutants whose growth is affected by xylose. Our genetic network reveals that more than 80 nonessential genes from a diverse range of cellular processes impact xylose utilization. Surprisingly, we identified fourgenes, ALP1, ISC1, RPL20B, and BUD21, that when individually deleted improved xylose utilization of both S. cerevisiae S288C and CEN.PK strains. We further characterized BUD21 deletion mutant cells in batch fermentations and found that they produce ethanol even the absence of exogenous XYLA. We have demonstrated that the ability of laboratory strains of S. cerevisiae to utilize xylose as a sole carbon source is suppressed, which implies that S. cerevisiae may not require the addition of exogenous genes for efficient xylose fermentation.

Kell DB, Dobson PD, Bilsland E, Oliver SG Drug Discov Today. 2013 Mar;18(5-6):218-39 Yeast/Chemical Genetics A recent paper in this journal sought to counter evidence for the role of transport proteins in effecting drug uptake into cells, and questions that transporters can recognize drug molecules in addition to their endogenous substrates. However, there is abundant evidence that both drugs and proteins are highly promiscuous. Most proteins bind to many drugs and most drugs bind to multiple proteins (on average more than six), including transporters (mutations in these can determine resistance); most drugs are known to recognise at least one transporter. In this response, we alert readers to the relevant evidence that exists or is required. This needs to be acquired in cells that contain the relevant proteins, and we highlight an experimental system for simultaneous genome-wide assessment of carrier-mediated uptake in a eukaryotic cell (yeast).

Yibmantasiri P, Bircham PW, Maass DR, Bellows DS, Atkinson PH Mol BioSyst. The Royal Society of Chemistry; 2013 Nov 28;10(1):128–37 Yeast/Chemical Genetics The pleiotropic drug response (PDR) or multidrug resistance (MDR) are cellular defence mechanisms present in all species to deal with potential toxicity from environmental small molecule toxins or bioactives. The rapid induction of MDR by xenobiotics in mammalian cells and PDR in budding yeast (S. cerevisiae) has been well studied but how pathway specificity is achieved across different structural classes of xenobiotics is not well understood. As a novel approach to this problem we investigated the genome-wide network of genes modulating the yeast PDR. Fluorescently-tagged ABC pumps Pdr5p-GFP and Yor1p-GFP were used as real-time reporters for the Pdr1p/Pdr3p controlled response. Using the yeast non-essential gene deletion set fifty-four gene deletions that suppressed up-regulation of reporter fluorescence to the cell surface in the presence of atorvastatin were identified by high content confocal automated microscopy. Secondary validation using spot dilution assays to known PDR substrates and Western blot assays of Pdr5p expression confirmed 26 genes able to modulate the PDR phenotype. By analysis of network connectivity, an additional 10 genes that fell below the primary screen cut-off were predicted to be involved in PDR and confirmed as above. The PDR modulating genes taken together were enriched in signalling (Rho-GTPase, MAPK), Mediator complexes, and chromatin modification (subunits of ADA and SAGA complexes). Many of the gene deletions cause extra sensitivity in Δpdr1Δpdr3 strains strongly suggesting that there are alternative pathways to upregulate PDR, independently of Pdr1p/Pdr3p. We present here the first high-content microscopy screening for PDR modulators, and identify genes that are previously unsuspected regulators of PDR apparently contributing via network interactions.

Wiley DJ, Juan I, Le H, Cai X, Baumbach L, Beattie C, D'Urso G F1000Res. 2014 Jun 2;3:121 Yeast/Chemical Genetics Genetic interaction networks that underlie most human diseases are highly complex and poorly defined. Better-defined networks will allow identification of a greater number of therapeutic targets. Here we introduce our Yeast Augmented Network Analysis (YANA) approach and test it with the X-linked spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) disease gene UBA1. First, we express UBA1 and a mutant variant in fission yeast and use high-throughput methods to identify fission yeast genetic modifiers of UBA1. Second, we analyze available protein-protein interaction network databases in both fission yeast and human to construct UBA1 genetic networks. Third, from these networks we identified potential therapeutic targets for SMA. Finally, we validate one of these targets in a vertebrate (zebrafish) SMA model. This study demonstrates the power of combining synthetic and chemical genetics with a simple model system to identify human disease gene networks that can be exploited for treating human diseases.

Kasavi C, Finore I, Lama L, Nicolaus B, Oliver SG, Toksoy Oner E, Kirdar B Biomass and Bioenergy. 2012 Oct;45:230–8 Yeast/Beer&Wine Five industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains were evaluated for their suitability for strain improvement for future use in ethanol production processes. Principal components analysis of growth-related and production-related fermentation parameters of the 5 strains grown on glucose demonstrated the superiority of the Y9 strain in terms of its rapid growth and highest ethanol yields on both biomass and glucose. The growth and ethanol production performances of these strains on various agro-industrial wastes (including sugar beet pulp, starch and sugar beet molasses) and biological residues (including carrot, tomato and potato peel) were also determined. Ethanol tolerance studies, using both solid and liquid cultures, revealed the remarkable abilities of the BC187 and Y9 strains to survive and grow at high ethanol concentrations. Suspension cultures were found to be highly tolerant to 78.80 g L−1 ethanol however their growth ability showed a distinct decrease with increasing ethanol concentration such that only (1–2)% of the control growth was observed in media containing 118.20 g L−1 ethanol. The importance of choosing the appropriate S. cerevisiae strain to be used in ethanol production was clearly established with this study. Fermentation performances of the cultures under different cultivation conditions pointed to the fact that the choice of strain will not only depend on the ethanol tolerance but also on the preferential utilization of the carbon resources of biological residues.