Use of yeast nuclear DNA sequences to define the mitochondrial RNA polymerase promoter in vitro

The thumb subdomain of yeast mitochondrial RNA polymerase is involved in processivity, transcript fidelity and mitochondrial transcription factor binding

Single subunit RNA polymerases have evolved 2 mechanisms to synthesize long transcripts without falling off a DNA template: binding of nascent RNA and interactions with an RNA:DNA hybrid. Mitochondrial RNA polymerases share a common ancestor with T-odd bacteriophage single subunit RNA polymerases. Herein we characterized the role of the thumb subdomain of the yeast mtRNA polymerase gene (RPO41) in complex stability, processivity, and fidelity. We found that deletion and point mutants of the thumb subdomain of yeast mtRNA polymerase increase the synthesis of abortive transcripts and the probability that the polymerase will disengage from the template during the formation of the late initial transcription and elongation complexes. Mutations in the thumb subdomain increase the amount of slippage products from a homopolymeric template and, unexpectedly, thumb subdomain deletions decrease the binding affinity for mitochondrial transcription factor (Mtf1). The latter suggests that the thumb subdomain is part of an extended binding surface area involved in binding Mtf1.

Mitochondrial function in cell wall glycoprotein synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC 625 (Wild type) and [rho(0)] mutants

We studied phosphopeptidomannans (PPMs) of two Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC 625 strains (S. diastaticus): a wild type strain grown aerobically, anaerobically, and in the presence of antimycin and a [rho(0)] mutant grown aerobically and anaerobically. The aerobic wild-type cultures were highly flocculent, but all others were weakly flocculent. Ligands implicated in flocculation of mutants or antimycin-treated cells were not aggregated as much by concanavalin A as were those of the wild type. The [rho(0)] mutants and antimycin-treated cells differ from the wild type in PPM composition and invertase, acid phosphatase, and glucoamylase activities. PPMs extracted from different cells differ in the protein but not in the glycosidic moiety. The PPMs were less stable in mitochondrion-deficient cells than in wild-type cells grown aerobically, and this difference may be attributable to defective mitochondrial function during cell wall synthesis. The reduced flocculation of cells grown in the presence of antimycin, under anaerobiosis, or carrying a [rho(0)] mutation may be the consequence of alterations of PPM structures which are the ligands of lectins, both involved in this cell-cell recognition phenomenon. These respiratory chain alterations also affect peripheral, biologically active glycoproteins such as extracellular enzymes and peripheral PPMs.

A novel RNA polymerase I-dependent RNase activity that shortens nascent transcripts from the 3' end

A novel RNase activity was identified in a yeast RNA polymerase I (pol I) in vitro transcription system. Transcript cleavage occurred at the 3' end and was dependent on the presence of ternary pol I/DNA/RNA complexes and an additional protein factor not identical to transcription factor IIS (TFIIS). Transcript cleavage was observed both on arrested complexes at the linearized ends of the transcribed DNA and on intrinsic blocks of the DNA template. Shortened transcripts that remained associated within the ternary complexes were capable of resuming RNA chain elongation. Possible functions of the nuclease for transcript elongation or termination are discussed.

NADH dehydrogenase subunit genes in the mitochondrial DNA of yeasts

The genes encoding the NADH dehydrogenase subunits of respiratory complex I have not been identified so far in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of yeasts. In the linear mtDNA of Candida parapsilosis, we found six new open reading frames whose sequences were unambiguously homologous to those of the genes known to code for NADH dehydrogenase subunit proteins of different organisms, i.e., ND1, ND2, ND3, ND4L, ND5, and ND6. The gene for ND4 also appears to be present, as judged from hybridization experiments with a Podospora gene probe. Specific transcripts from these open reading frames (ND genes) could be detected in the mitochondria. Hybridization experiments using C. parapsilosis genes as probes suggested that ND genes are present in the mtDNAs of a wide range of yeast species including Candida catenulata, Pichia guilliermondii, Clavispora lusitaniae, Debaryomyces hansenii, Hansenula polymorpha, and others.

Glucose repression of yeast mitochondrial transcription: kinetics of derepression and role of nuclear genes

Yeast mitochondrial transcript and gene product abundance has been observed to increase upon release from glucose repression, but the mechanism of regulation of this process has not been determined. We report a kinetic analysis of this phenomenon, which demonstrates that the abundance of all classes of mitochondrial RNA changes slowly relative to changes observed for glucose-repressed nuclear genes. Several cell doublings are required to achieve the 2- to 20-fold-higher steady-state levels observed after a shift to a nonrepressing carbon source. Although we observed that in some yeast strains the mitochondrial DNA copy number also increases upon derepression, this does not seem to play the major role in increased RNA abundance. Instead we found that three- to sevenfold increases in RNA synthesis rates, measured by in vivo pulse-labelling experiments, do correlate with increased transcript abundance. We found that mutations in the SNF1 and REG1 genes, which are known to affect the expression of many nuclear genes subject to glucose repression, affect derepression of mitochondrial transcript abundance. These genes do not appear to regulate mitochondrial transcript levels via regulation of the nuclear genes RPO41 and MTF1, which encode the subunits of the mitochondrial RNA polymerase. We conclude that a nuclear gene-controlled factor(s) in addition to the two RNA polymerase subunits must be involved in glucose repression of mitochondrial transcript abundance.

Glucose repression of yeast mitochondrial transcription: kinetics of derepression and role of nuclear genes

Yeast mitochondrial transcript and gene product abundance has been observed to increase upon release from glucose repression, but the mechanism of regulation of this process has not been determined. We report a kinetic analysis of this phenomenon, which demonstrates that the abundance of all classes of mitochondrial RNA changes slowly relative to changes observed for glucose-repressed nuclear genes. Several cell doublings are required to achieve the 2- to 20-fold-higher steady-state levels observed after a shift to a nonrepressing carbon source. Although we observed that in some yeast strains the mitochondrial DNA copy number also increases upon derepression, this does not seem to play the major role in increased RNA abundance. Instead we found that three- to sevenfold increases in RNA synthesis rates, measured by in vivo pulse-labelling experiments, do correlate with increased transcript abundance. We found that mutations in the SNF1 and REG1 genes, which are known to affect the expression of many nuclear genes subject to glucose repression, affect derepression of mitochondrial transcript abundance. These genes do not appear to regulate mitochondrial transcript levels via regulation of the nuclear genes RPO41 and MTF1, which encode the subunits of the mitochondrial RNA polymerase. We conclude that a nuclear gene-controlled factor(s) in addition to the two RNA polymerase subunits must be involved in glucose repression of mitochondrial transcript abundance.

The EGD1 product, a yeast homolog of human BTF3, may be involved in GAL4 DNA binding

A variety of techniques, including filter binding, footprinting, and gel retardation, can be used to assay the transcriptional activator GAL4 (Gal4p) through the initial steps of its purification from yeast cells. Following DNA affinity chromatography, Gal4p still bound DNA selectively when assayed by filter binding or footprinting. However, the affinity-purified protein was no longer capable of forming a stable complex with DNA, as assayed by gel retardation. Mixing the purified Gal4p with the flowthrough fraction from the DNA affinity column restored gel retardation complex formation. Gel retardation assays were used to monitor the purification of a heat-stable Gal4p-DNA complex stabilization activity from the affinity column flowthrough. The activity coeluted from the final purification step with polypeptides of 21 and 27 kDa. The yeast gene encoding the 21-kDa protein was cloned on the basis of its N-terminal amino acid sequence. The gene, named EGD1 (enhancer of GAL4 DNA binding), encodes a highly basic protein (21% lysine and arginine) with a predicted molecular mass of 16.5 kDa. The amino acid sequence of the EGD1 product, Egd1p, is highly similar to that of the human protein BTF3 (X. M. Zheng, D. Black, P. Chambon, and J. M. Egly, Nature [London] 344:556-559, 1990). Although an egd1 null mutant was viable and Gal+, induction of the galactose-regulated genes in the egd1 mutant strain was significantly reduced when cells were shifted from glucose to galactose.

The EGD1 product, a yeast homolog of human BTF3, may be involved in GAL4 DNA binding

A variety of techniques, including filter binding, footprinting, and gel retardation, can be used to assay the transcriptional activator GAL4 (Gal4p) through the initial steps of its purification from yeast cells. Following DNA affinity chromatography, Gal4p still bound DNA selectively when assayed by filter binding or footprinting. However, the affinity-purified protein was no longer capable of forming a stable complex with DNA, as assayed by gel retardation. Mixing the purified Gal4p with the flowthrough fraction from the DNA affinity column restored gel retardation complex formation. Gel retardation assays were used to monitor the purification of a heat-stable Gal4p-DNA complex stabilization activity from the affinity column flowthrough. The activity coeluted from the final purification step with polypeptides of 21 and 27 kDa. The yeast gene encoding the 21-kDa protein was cloned on the basis of its N-terminal amino acid sequence. The gene, named EGD1 (enhancer of GAL4 DNA binding), encodes a highly basic protein (21% lysine and arginine) with a predicted molecular mass of 16.5 kDa. The amino acid sequence of the EGD1 product, Egd1p, is highly similar to that of the human protein BTF3 (X. M. Zheng, D. Black, P. Chambon, and J. M. Egly, Nature [London] 344:556-559, 1990). Although an egd1 null mutant was viable and Gal+, induction of the galactose-regulated genes in the egd1 mutant strain was significantly reduced when cells were shifted from glucose to galactose.

Genetic approaches to the study of mitochondrial biogenesis in yeast

In contrast to most other organisms, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae can survive without functional mitochondria. This ability has been exploited in genetic approaches to the study of mitochondrial biogenesis. In the last two decades, mitochondrial genetics have made major contributions to the identification of genes on the mitochondrial genome, the mapping of these genes and the establishment of structure-function relationships in the products they encode. In parallel, more than 200 complementation groups, corresponding to as many nuclear genes necessary for mitochondrial function or biogenesis have been described. Many of the latter are required for post-transcriptional events in mitochondrial gene expression, including the processing of mitochondrial pre-RNAs, the translation of mitochondrial mRNAs, or the assembly of mitochondrial translation products into the membrane. The aim of this review is to describe the genetic approaches used to unravel the intricacies of mitochondrial biogenesis and to summarize recent insights gained from their application.

Regulation of phosphatidylglycerolphosphate synthase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by factors affecting mitochondrial development

Phosphatidylglycerolphosphate synthase (PGPS; CDP-diacylglycerol glycerol 3-phosphate 3-phosphatidyltransferase; EC 2.7.8.5) catalyzes the first step in the synthesis of cardiolipin, an acidic phospholipid found in the mitochondrial inner membrane. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, PGPS expression is coordinately regulated with general phospholipid synthesis and is repressed when cells are grown in the presence of the phospholipid precursor inositol (M. L. Greenberg, S. Hubbell, and C. Lam, Mol. Cell. Biol. 8:4773-4779, 1988). In this study, we examined the regulation of PGPS in growth conditions affecting mitochondrial development (carbon source, growth stage, and oxygen availability) and in strains with genetic lesions affecting mitochondrial function. PGPS derepressed two- to threefold when cells were grown in a nonfermentable carbon source (glycerol-ethanol), and this derepression was independent of the presence of inositol. PGPS derepressed two- to fourfold as cells entered the stationary phase of growth. Stationary-phase derepression occurred in both glucose- and glycerol-ethanol-grown cells and was slightly greater in cells grown in the presence of inositol and choline. PGPS expression in mitochondria was not affected when cells were grown in the absence of oxygen. In mutants lacking mitochondrial DNA [( rho0] mutants), PGPS activity was 30 to 70% less than in isogenic [rho+] strains. PGPS activity in [rho0] strains was subject to inositol-mediated repression. PGPS activity in [rho0] cell extracts was derepressed twofold as the [rho0] cells entered the stationary phase of growth. No growth phase derepression was observed in mitochondrial extracts of the [rho0] cells. Relative cardiolipin content increased in glycerol-ethanol-grown cells but was not affected by growth stage or by growth in the presence of the phospholipid precursors inositol and choline. These results demonstrate that (i) PGPS expression is regulated by factors affecting mitochondrial development; (ii) regulation of PGPS by these factors is independent of cross-pathway control; and (iii) PGPS expression is never fully repressed, even during anaerobic growth.

A close relative of the nuclear, chromosomal high-mobility group protein HMG1 in yeast mitochondria

ABF2 (ARS-binding factor 2), a small, basic DNA-binding protein that binds specifically to the autonomously replicating sequence ARS1, is located primarily in the mitochondria of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The abundance of ABF2 and the phenotype of abf2- null mutants argue that this protein plays a key role in the structure, maintenance, and expression of the yeast mitochondrial genome. The predicted amino acid sequence of ABF2 is closely related to the high-mobility group proteins HMG1 and HMG2 from vertebrate cell nuclei and to several other DNA-binding proteins. Additionally, ABF2 and the other HMG-related proteins are related to a globular domain from the heat shock protein hsp70 family. ABF2 interacts with DNA both nonspecifically and in a specific manner within regulatory regions, suggesting a mechanism whereby it may aid in compacting the mitochondrial genome without interfering with expression.

Intramitochondrial functions regulate nonmitochondrial citrate synthase (CIT2) expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have examined the effects of perturbation of mitochondrial function on expression of two nuclear genes encoding the mitochondrial and peroxisomal forms of citrate synthase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, CIT1 and CIT2. CIT2 expression was as much as 30-fold higher in [rho0] petites, than in isochromosomal [rho+] cells, whereas CIT1 expression was slightly down regulated in [rho0] cells. CIT2 expression was also increased in [rho+] cells by inhibition of respiration with antimycin A or in [rho+] cells containing a disruption of the CIT1 gene. These effects were additive, and together they approached the level of CIT2 expression seen in [rho0] cells. Experiments using heterologous gene fusions showed that all of the effects leading to increased expression of CIT2 were transcriptionally controlled through 5'-flanking CIT2 DNA sequences. Analysis of [rho+] and [rho0] cells containing disruptions of CIT1 and CIT2, singly and in combination, showed that the peroxisomal citrate synthase could partially spare the mitochondrial isoform for growth yield in [rho+] but not in [rho0] cells. These studies suggest a physiological role for increased expression of CIT2 in cells with altered mitochondrial function. They also provide additional evidence for a retrograde path of communication from mitochondria to the nucleus in yeast cells.

Intramitochondrial functions regulate nonmitochondrial citrate synthase (CIT2) expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have examined the effects of perturbation of mitochondrial function on expression of two nuclear genes encoding the mitochondrial and peroxisomal forms of citrate synthase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, CIT1 and CIT2. CIT2 expression was as much as 30-fold higher in [rho0] petites, than in isochromosomal [rho+] cells, whereas CIT1 expression was slightly down regulated in [rho0] cells. CIT2 expression was also increased in [rho+] cells by inhibition of respiration with antimycin A or in [rho+] cells containing a disruption of the CIT1 gene. These effects were additive, and together they approached the level of CIT2 expression seen in [rho0] cells. Experiments using heterologous gene fusions showed that all of the effects leading to increased expression of CIT2 were transcriptionally controlled through 5'-flanking CIT2 DNA sequences. Analysis of [rho+] and [rho0] cells containing disruptions of CIT1 and CIT2, singly and in combination, showed that the peroxisomal citrate synthase could partially spare the mitochondrial isoform for growth yield in [rho+] but not in [rho0] cells. These studies suggest a physiological role for increased expression of CIT2 in cells with altered mitochondrial function. They also provide additional evidence for a retrograde path of communication from mitochondria to the nucleus in yeast cells.

The HXT2 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is required for high-affinity glucose transport

The HXT2 gene of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was identified on the basis of its ability to complement the defect in glucose transport of a snf3 mutant when present on the multicopy plasmid pSC2. Analysis of the DNA sequence of HXT2 revealed an open reading frame of 541 codons, capable of encoding a protein of Mr 59,840. The predicted protein displayed high sequence and structural homology to a large family of procaryotic and eucaryotic sugar transporters. These proteins have 12 highly hydrophobic regions that could form transmembrane domains; the spacing of these putative transmembrane domains is also highly conserved. Several amino acid motifs characteristic of this sugar transporter family are also present in the HXT2 protein. An hxt2 null mutant strain lacked a significant component of high-affinity glucose transport when under derepressing (low-glucose) conditions. However, the hxt2 null mutation did not incur a major growth defect on glucose-containing media. Genetic and biochemical analyses suggest that wild-type levels of high-affinity glucose transport require the products of both the HXT2 and SNF3 genes; these genes are not linked. Low-stringency Southern blot analysis revealed a number of other sequences that cross-hybridize with HXT2, suggesting that S. cerevisiae possesses a large family of sugar transporter genes.

The HXT2 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is required for high-affinity glucose transport

The HXT2 gene of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was identified on the basis of its ability to complement the defect in glucose transport of a snf3 mutant when present on the multicopy plasmid pSC2. Analysis of the DNA sequence of HXT2 revealed an open reading frame of 541 codons, capable of encoding a protein of Mr 59,840. The predicted protein displayed high sequence and structural homology to a large family of procaryotic and eucaryotic sugar transporters. These proteins have 12 highly hydrophobic regions that could form transmembrane domains; the spacing of these putative transmembrane domains is also highly conserved. Several amino acid motifs characteristic of this sugar transporter family are also present in the HXT2 protein. An hxt2 null mutant strain lacked a significant component of high-affinity glucose transport when under derepressing (low-glucose) conditions. However, the hxt2 null mutation did not incur a major growth defect on glucose-containing media. Genetic and biochemical analyses suggest that wild-type levels of high-affinity glucose transport require the products of both the HXT2 and SNF3 genes; these genes are not linked. Low-stringency Southern blot analysis revealed a number of other sequences that cross-hybridize with HXT2, suggesting that S. cerevisiae possesses a large family of sugar transporter genes.