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[Phenotypic manifestations of reverse transcriptase activity in yeast cells]
Molekuliarnaia Genetika, Mikrobiologiia I Virusologiia
|August 1, 1990
Summary
Introducing retrotransposons into yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe revealed significant reverse transcriptase activity. This activity impaired yeast growth and plasmid stability within 30 days.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Yeast Genetics
Background:
- Retrotransposons are mobile genetic elements capable of reverse transcription.
- Yeast models like Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe are crucial for studying gene expression and mobile element dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional expression of retrotransposons from yeast and Drosophila in yeast hosts.
- To assess the impact of retrotransposon-derived reverse transcriptase activity on yeast cell physiology and genetic stability.
Main Methods:
- Transformation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe with plasmids encoding retrotransposons under a strong promoter.
- Monitoring of yeast growth rates and plasmid mitotic stability.
- Phenotypic analysis of reverse transcriptase activity.
Main Results:
- Transformed yeast strains exhibited significant reverse transcriptase activity.
- This activity led to impaired yeast growth.
- A decrease in the mitotic stability of the plasmids was observed.
Conclusions:
- The expression of retrotransposon-derived reverse transcriptase in yeast is feasible and biologically active.
- Reverse transcriptase activity negatively affects yeast growth and plasmid maintenance.
- Phenotypic consequences of this activity manifest within a 30-day period.