Cleavage and polyadenylation factor, Rna14 is an essential protein required for the maintenance of genomic integrity in fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

TORC1 mediated regulation of mitochondrial integrity and calcium ion homeostasis by Wat1/mLst8 in S. pombe

The mTOR complexes play a fundamental role in mitochondrial biogenesis and cellular homeostasis. Wat1, an ortholog of mammalian Lst8 is an important component of TOR complex and is essential for the regulation of downstream signaling. Earlier we reported the role of Wat1 in oxidative stress response. Here, we have shown that the abrogation of wat1 causes respiratory defects and mitochondrial depolarization that leads to a decrease in ATP production. The confocal and electron microscopy in wat1Δ cells revealed the fragmented mitochondrial morphology implying its role in mitochondrial fission. Furthermore, we also showed its role in autophagy and the maintenance of calcium ion homeostasis. Additionally, tor2-287 mutant cells also exhibit defects in mitochondrial integrity indicating the TORC1-dependent involvement of Wat1 in the maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis. The interaction studies of Wat1 and Tor2 with Por1 and Mmm1 proteins revealed a plausible cross-talk between mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum through the Mitochondria-associated membranes (MAM) and endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria encounter structure (ERMES) complex, involving TORC1. Taken together, this study demonstrates the involvement of Wat1/mLst8 in harmonizing various mitochondrial functions, redox status, and Ca2+ homeostasis.

The Green Valley of Drosophila melanogaster Constitutive Heterochromatin: Protein-Coding Genes Involved in Cell Division Control

Constitutive heterochromatin represents a significant fraction of eukaryotic genomes (10% in Arabidopsis, 20% in humans, 30% in D. melanogaster, and up to 85% in certain nematodes) and shares similar genetic and molecular properties in animal and plant species. Studies conducted over the last few years on D. melanogaster and other organisms led to the discovery of several functions associated with constitutive heterochromatin. This made it possible to revise the concept that this ubiquitous genomic territory is incompatible with gene expression. The aim of this review is to focus the attention on a group of protein-coding genes resident in D. melanogaster constitutive of heterochromatin, which are implicated in different steps of cell division.

Multiple nutritional phenotypes of fission yeast mutants defective in genes encoding essential mitochondrial proteins

Mitochondria are essential for regulation of cellular respiration, energy production, small molecule metabolism, anti-oxidation and cell ageing, among other things. While the mitochondrial genome contains a small number of protein-coding genes, the great majority of mitochondrial proteins are encoded by chromosomal genes. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, 770 proteins encoded by chromosomal genes are located in mitochondria. Of these, 195 proteins, many of which are implicated in translation and transport, are absolutely essential for viability. We isolated and characterized eight temperature-sensitive (ts) strains with mutations in essential mitochondrial proteins. Interestingly, they are also sensitive to limited nutrition (glucose and/or nitrogen), producing low-glucose-sensitive and ‘super-housekeeping' phenotypes. They fail to produce colonies under low-glucose conditions at the permissive temperature or lose cell viability under nitrogen starvation at the restrictive temperature. The majority of these ts mitochondrial mutations may cause defects of gene expression in the mitochondrial genome. mrp4 and mrp17 are defective in mitochondrial ribosomal proteins. ppr3 is defective in rRNA expression, and trz2 and vrs2 are defective in tRNA maturation. This study promises potentially large dividends because mitochondrial quiescent functions are vital for human brain and muscle, and also for longevity.

Reciprocal Links between Pre-messenger RNA 3'-End Processing and Genome Stability

The 3'-end processing of most pre-messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs) involves RNA cleavage and polyadenylation and is coupled to transcription termination. In both yeast and human cells, pre-mRNA 3'-end cleavage is globally inhibited by DNA damage. Recently, further links between pre-mRNA 3'-end processing and the control of genome stability have been uncovered, as reviewed here. Upon DNA damage, various genes related to the DNA damage response (DDR) escape 3'-end processing inhibition or are regulated through alternative polyadenylation (APA). Conversely, various pre-mRNA 3'-end processing factors prevent genome instability and are found at sites of DNA damage. Finally, the reciprocal link between pre-mRNA 3'-end processing and genome stability control seems important because it is conserved in evolution and involved in disease development.

Condensin locates at transcriptional termination sites in mitosis, possibly releasing mitotic transcripts

Condensin is an essential component of chromosome dynamics, including mitotic chromosome condensation and segregation, DNA repair, and development. Genome-wide localization of condensin is known to correlate with transcriptional activity. The functional relationship between condensin accumulation and transcription sites remains unclear, however. By constructing the auxin-inducible degron strain of condensin, herein we demonstrate that condensin does not affect transcription itself. Instead, RNA processing at transcriptional termination appears to define condensin accumulation sites during mitosis, in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Combining the auxin-degron strain with the nda3 β-tubulin cold-sensitive (cs) mutant enabled us to inactivate condensin in mitotically arrested cells, without releasing the cells into anaphase. Transcriptional activation and termination were not affected by condensin's degron-mediated depletion, at heat-shock inducible genes or mitotically activated genes. On the other hand, condensin accumulation sites shifted approximately 500 bp downstream in the auxin-degron of 5′-3′ exoribonuclease Dhp1, in which transcripts became aberrantly elongated, suggesting that condensin accumulates at transcriptionally terminated DNA regions. Growth defects in mutant strains of 3′-processing ribonuclease and polyA cleavage factors were additive in condensin temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants. Considering condensin's in vitro activity to form double-stranded DNAs from unwound, single-stranded DNAs or DNA-RNA hybrids, condensin-mediated processing of mitotic transcripts at the 3′-end may be a prerequisite for faithful chromosome segregation.

Point mutation A394E in the central intrinsic disordered region of Rna14 leads to chromosomal instability in fission yeast

Accurate chromosomal segregation is crucial for the maintenance of genomic integrity. Rna14 is a major component of the yeast pre-mRNA 3'-end processing factor, the cleavage factor IA complex, and is involved in cleavage and polyadenylation of mRNA in the nucleus. Rna14 is also essential for the maintenance of genomic integrity in fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. In the present study, we report that a non-homologous mutation, A394E that is present in the central intrinsic disordered region of Rna14 leads to chromosomal instability in fission yeast. This mutation was shown to disrupt chromosome segregation and 3'-end maturation, and also affects the pre-mRNA splicing in vivo at non-permissive temperatures. We observed that a significant part of Rna14 is intrinsically disordered, that includes the N- and C-terminal of Rna14, as well as the central region containing the HAT repeats and the mutation within amino acid residues 372-435. These regions are crucial for the function of Rna14 as they are involved in the interaction of Rna14 with other proteins.

A Defective mRNA Cleavage and Polyadenylation Complex Facilitates Expansions of Transcribed (GAA)n Repeats Associated with Friedreich's Ataxia

Expansions of microsatellite repeats are responsible for numerous hereditary diseases in humans, including myotonic dystrophy and Friedreich's ataxia. Whereas the length of an expandable repeat is the main factor determining disease inheritance, recent data point to genomic trans modifiers that can impact the likelihood of expansions and disease progression. Detection of these modifiers may lead to understanding and treating repeat expansion diseases. Here, we describe a method for the rapid, genome-wide identification of trans modifiers for repeat expansion in a yeast experimental system. Using this method, we found that missense mutations in the endoribonuclease subunit (Ysh1) of the mRNA cleavage and polyadenylation complex dramatically increase the rate of (GAA)_n repeat expansions but only when they are actively transcribed. These expansions correlate with slower transcription elongation caused by the ysh1 mutation. These results reveal an interplay between RNA processing and repeat-mediated genome instability, confirming the validity of our approach.

Fission yeast Ctf1, a cleavage and polyadenylation factor subunit is required for the maintenance of genomic integrity

Accurate segregation of chromosome during mitosis requires the coordinated action of several cell cycle checkpoints that monitor replication of the genome and the attachment of sister chromatids to the mitotic spindle apparatus. Here we have characterized the fission yeast Ctf1, an ortholog of S. cerevisiae Rna15 in the maintenance of genomic integrity. The ctf1 is nonessential for the cell survival and its deletion strain exhibit cold sensitivity. The ctf1 deleted cells exhibit genetic interaction with spindle checkpoint protein Mad2 and Bub1. The deletion of ctf1 gene affects the chromosomal attachment to the mitotic spindle leading to the accumulation of Bub1-GFP foci. Ctf1 localizes to the nucleus and physically interacts with Rna14, a cleavage and polyadenylation factor.

C-terminal region of Mad2 plays an important role during mitotic spindle checkpoint in fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The mitotic arrest deficiency 2 (Mad2) protein is an essential component of the spindle assembly checkpoint that interacts with Cdc20/Slp1 and inhibit its ability to activate anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C). In bladder cancer cell line the C-terminal residue of the mad2 gene has been found to be deleted. In this study we tried to understand the role of the C-terminal region of mad2 on the spindle checkpoint function. To envisage the role of C-terminal region of Mad2, we truncated 25 residues of Mad2 C-terminal region in fission yeast S.pombe and characterized its effect on spindle assembly checkpoint function. The cells containing C-terminal truncation of Mad2 exhibit sensitivity towards microtubule destabilizing agent suggesting perturbation of spindle assembly checkpoint. Further, the C-terminal truncation of Mad2 exhibit reduced viability in the nda3-KM311 mutant background at non-permissive temperature. Truncation in mad2 gene also affects its foci forming ability at unattached kinetochore suggesting that the mad2-∆CT mutant is unable to maintain spindle checkpoint activation. However, in response to the defective microtubule, only brief delay of mitotic progression was observed in Mad2 C-terminal truncation mutant. In addition we have shown that the deletion of two β strands of Mad2 protein abolishes its ability to interact with APC activator protein Slp1/Cdc20. We purpose that the truncation of two β strands (β7 and β8) of Mad2 destabilize the safety belt and affect the Cdc20-Mad2 interaction leading to defects in the spindle checkpoint activation.