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Dual functions of Mdt1 in genome maintenance and cell integrity pathways in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Ana Traven1, Tricia L Lo, Brietta L Pike

  • 1St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research and Department of Medicine SVH, University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia.

Yeast (Chichester, England)
|November 7, 2009
PubMed

Insights

The protein Mdt1 plays a dual role in budding yeast, contributing to both DNA repair and cell wall integrity. Its RNA recognition motif is crucial for DNA repair but not cell wall functions.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Genome maintenance and cell integrity pathways exhibit significant cross-talk.
  • Mdt1 is a protein containing RNA recognition motif (RRM) and SQ/TQ cluster domain (SCD) domains.
  • Mdt1 is essential for repairing DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and maintaining telomeres via recombination.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of Mdt1 in cell integrity pathways.
  • To elucidate the role of Mdt1's RRM domain in its cellular functions.
  • To understand the interplay between Mdt1 and the Bck1-Slt2 MAP kinase pathway.

Main Methods:

  • Gene deletion and allelic replacement in budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).
  • Phenotypic analysis including sensitivity to DNA damaging agents (bleomycin) and cell wall toxins (calcofluor white).
  • Assessment of telomere length maintenance and recombinational assays.
  • Analysis of synthetic genetic interactions with components of the cell integrity pathway.

Main Results:

  • Deletion of MDT1 causes synthetic sickness with mutations in cell integrity MAP kinases Bck1 and Slt2.
  • mdt1Δ cells are hypersensitive to cell wall toxins and caffeine, indicating a role in cell integrity.
  • An RRM-deficient mutant (mdt1-RRM0) shows defects in DNA repair and telomere maintenance but not cell wall integrity.
  • Mutating the RNA-binding site of the RRM domain (mdt1-RRM(3A)) does not impair Mdt1 function, suggesting a role in protein-protein interactions.
  • Distinct phenotypes between bck1Δmdt1Δ and slt2Δmdt1Δ mutants suggest flexible signaling in the Bck1-Slt2 pathway.

Conclusions:

  • Mdt1 possesses partially separable functions in both genome integrity and cell wall integrity pathways.
  • The RRM domain of Mdt1 primarily functions in protein-protein interactions rather than RNA binding for its role in DNA repair.
  • Mdt1's involvement in cell integrity highlights the complex crosstalk between DNA maintenance and cellular homeostasis.

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