Molecular Characterization of Propolis-Induced Cell Death in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Propolis, a natural product of plant resins, is used by the bees to seal holes in their honeycombs and protect the hive entrance. However, propolis has also been used in folk medicine for centuries. Here, we apply the power of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism for studies of genetics, cell biology, and genomics to determine how propolis affects fungi at the cellular level. Propolis is able to induce an apoptosis cell death response. However, increased exposure to propolis provides a corresponding increase in the necrosis response. We showed that cytochrome c but not endonuclease G (Nuc1p) is involved in propolis-mediated cell death in S. cerevisiae. We also observed that the metacaspase YCA1 gene is important for propolis-mediated cell death. To elucidate the gene functions that may be required for propolis sensitivity in eukaryotes, the full collection of about 4,800 haploid S. cerevisiae deletion strains was screened for propolis sensitivity. We were able to identify 138 deletion strains that have different degrees of propolis sensitivity compared to the corresponding wild-type strains. Systems biology revealed enrichment for genes involved in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, vacuolar acidification, negative regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter, regulation of macroautophagy associated with protein targeting to vacuoles, and cellular response to starvation. Validation studies indicated that propolis sensitivity is dependent on the mitochondrial function and that vacuolar acidification and autophagy are important for yeast cell death caused by propolis.

Over-expression of COQ10 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae inhibits mitochondrial respiration

COQ10 deletion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae elicits a defect in mitochondrial respiration correctable by addition of coenzyme Q(2). Rescue of respiration by Q(2) is a characteristic of mutants blocked in coenzyme Q(6) synthesis. Unlike Q(6) deficient mutants, mitochondria of the coq10 null mutant have wild-type concentrations Of Q(6). The physiological significance of earlier observations that purified Coq10p contains bound Q(6) was examined in the present study by testing the in vivo effect of over-expression of Coq10p on respiration. Mitochondria with elevated levels of Coq10p display reduced respiration in the bc1 span of the electron transport chain, which can be restored with exogenous Q(2). This suggests that in vivo binding of Q(6) by excess Coq10p reduces the pool of this redox carrier available for its normal function in providing electrons to the bc1 complex. This is confirmed by observing that extra Coq8p relieves the inhibitory effect of excess Coq10p. Coq8p is a putative kinase, and a high-copy suppressor of the coq10 null mutant. As shown here, when over-produced in coq mutants, Coq8p counteracts turnover of Coq3p and Coq4p subunits of the Q-biosynthetic complex. This can account for the observed rescue by COQ8 of the respiratory defect in strains over-producing Coq10p. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae coq10 null mutants are responsive to antimycin A

Deletion of COQ10 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae elicits a respiratory defect characterized by the absence of cytochrome c reduction, which is correctable by the addition of exogenous diffusible coenzyme Q(2). Unlike other coq mutants with hampered coenzyme Q(6) (Q(6)) synthesis, coq10 mutants have near wild-type concentrations of Q(6). In the present study, we used Q-cycle inhibitors of the coenzyme QH(2)-cytochrome c reductase complex to assess the electron transfer properties of coq10 cells. Our results show that coq10 mutants respond to antimycin A, indicating an active Q-cycle in these mutants, even though they are unable to transport electrons through cytochrome c and are not responsive to myxothiazol. EPR spectroscopic analysis also suggests that wild-type and coq10 mitochondria accumulate similar amounts of Q(6) semiquinone, despite a lower steady-state level of coenzyme QH(2)-cytochrome c reductase complex in the coq10 cells. Confirming the reduced respiratory chain state in coq10 cells, we found that the expression of the Aspergillus fumigatus alternative oxidase in these cells leads to a decrease in antimycin-dependent H(2)O(2) release and improves their respiratory growth.

Conditions affecting production of functional muscle recombinant alpha-tropomyosin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Yeasts are attractive hosts for heterologous protein production as they follow the general eukaryotic post-translational modification pattern. The well-known Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been used to produce a large variety of foreign proteins. The proper function of muscle tropomyosin depends on a specific modification at its N-terminus. Although tropomyosin has been produced in different expression systems, only the recombinant protein produced in the yeast Pichia pastoris has native-like functional properties. In this paper we describe the production of functional skeletal muscle tropomyosin in the yeast S. cerevisiae. The recombinant protein was produced in high amounts and production was strongly affected by genetic and environmental factors, including plasmid copy number, promoter strength, and growth media composition. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. (USA). All rights reserved.

Dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase as a source of reactive oxygen species inhibited by caloric restriction and involved in Saccharomyces cerevisiae aging

Replicative life span in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is increased by glucose (G1c) limitation [ calorie restriction (CR)] and by augmented NAD(+). Increased survival promoted by CR was attributed previously to the NAD(+)-dependent histone deacetylase activity of sirtuin family protein Sir2p but not to changes in redox state. Here we show that strains defective in NAD(+) synthesis and salvage pathways (pnc1 Delta, npt1 Delta, and bna6 Delta) exhibit decreased oxygen consumption and increased mitochondrial H2O2 release, reversed over time by CR. These null mutant strains also present decreased chronological longevity in a manner rescued by CR. Furthermore, we observed that changes in mitochondrial H2O2 release alter cellular redox state, as attested by measurements of total, oxidized, and reduced glutathione. Surprisingly, our results indicate that matrix-soluble dihydrolipoyl-dehydrogenases are an important source of CR-preventable mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). Indeed, deletion of the LPD1 gene prevented oxidative stress in npt1 Delta and bna6 Delta mutants. Furthermore, pyruvate and alpha-ketoglutarate, substrates for dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase-containing enzymes, promoted pronounced reactive oxygen release in permeabilized wild-type mitochondria. Altogether, these results substantiate the concept that mitochondrial ROS can be limited by caloric restriction and play an important role in S. cerevisiae senescence. Furthermore, these findings uncover dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase as an important and novel source of ROS leading to life span limitation.

TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE FLOCCULATION DURING GROWTH OF SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Use of a synthetic lethal screen to identify genes related to TIF51A in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The putative eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) is an essential protein for cell viability and the only cellular protein known to contain the unusual amino acid residue hypusine. eIF5A has been implicated in translation initiation, cell proliferation, nucleocytoplasmic transport, mRNA decay, and actin polarization, but the precise biological function of this protein is not clear. However, eIF5A was recently shown to be directly involved with the translational machinery. A screen for synthetic lethal mutations was carried out with one of the temperature-sensitive alleles of TIF51A (tif51A-3) to identify factors that functionally interact with eIF5A and revealed the essential gene YPT1. This gene encodes a small GTPase, a member of the rab family involved with secretion, acting in the vesicular trafficking between endoplasmatic reticulum and the Golgi. Thus, the synthetic lethality between TIF51A and YPT1 may reveal the connection between translation and the polarized distribution of membrane components, suggesting that these proteins work together in the cell to guarantee proper protein synthesis and secretion necessary for correct bud formation during G1/ S transition. Future studies will investigate the functional interaction between eIF5A and Ypt1 in order to clarify this involvement of eIF5A with vesicular trafficking. ©FUNPEC-RP.

Caracterização de mutantes condicionais do gene da desoxi-hipusina sintase em Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Comportamento fermentativo de linhagens industriais de Saccharomyces cerevisiae em mosto com diferentes concentrações de sacarose e fontes estruturalmente complexas de nitrogênio

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Expressão da proteína S1 recombinante do vírus da bronquite infecciosa em Saccharomyces cerevisiae para aplicação no imunodiagnóstico

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Técnicas de reciclo de protease visando a desfloculação celular de Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Ação imunomodulatória da β-glucana e Saccharomyces cerevisiae em ratos (Rattus rattus) da linhagem Wistar imunossuprimidos pela administração experimental de dexametasona

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FCAV

Levedura (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) na alimentação de vacas da raça Holandesa

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Extrato de levedura (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) e prebiótico na dieta pré-inicial para frangos de corte criados em diferentes temperaturas

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Caracterização funcional de eIF5A: análise genética e molecular utilizando o modelo de Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)