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[Psi(+)] prion generation in yeast: characterization of the 'strain' difference
N V Kochneva-Pervukhova1, M B Chechenova, I A Valouev
1Institute of Experimental Cardiology, Cardiology Research Center, 121552 Moscow, Russia.
Yeast (Chichester, England)
|April 3, 2001
Summary
The yeast prion [PSI(+)], a Sup35 protein aggregate, shows varied properties based on the specific SUP35 gene variant. These distinct prion characteristics are heritable and can even spontaneously change.
Area of Science:
- * Molecular biology
- * Yeast genetics
- * Prion biology
Background:
- * The yeast nonsense suppressor [PSI(+)] is linked to aggregated Sup35 protein.
- * Overexpressing Sup35 protein generates [PSI(+)] with diverse efficiencies and stabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To investigate how different SUP35 alleles influence the properties of de novo [PSI(+)] determinants.
- * To determine if these properties are heritable and linked to Sup35 protein variations.
Main Methods:
- * Yeast genetics: Overexpression of different SUP35 alleles.
- * Phenotypic analysis: Assessing [PSI(+)] suppressor efficiency and mitotic stability.
- * Strain transmission: Evaluating heritability of [PSI(+)] properties.
Main Results:
- * The frequency of [PSI(+)] variants with specific properties depends on the inducing SUP35 allele.
- * Differences in [PSI(+)] properties were maintained across yeast strains.
- * These variations correlated with distinct Sup35 protein characteristics.
- * A novel prion instability was observed: weak [PSI(+)] could spontaneously become strong suppressors.
Conclusions:
- * SUP35 alleles dictate the initial properties of induced [PSI(+)] prions.
- * [PSI(+)] prion characteristics are heritable and influenced by the underlying Sup35 protein.
- * Yeast prions exhibit dynamic instability, with potential for spontaneous conversion between states.