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Updated: May 27, 2026

High-throughput Screening for Protein-based Inheritance in S. cerevisiae
08:12

High-throughput Screening for Protein-based Inheritance in S. cerevisiae

Published on: August 8, 2017

Are prions part of the dark matter of the cell?

Agnès Baudin-Baillieu1, Céline Fabret, Olivier Namy

  • 1Institut de Génétique et Microbiologie, University Paris-Sud, CNRS, Orsay, France.

Prion
|November 5, 2011
PubMed

Insights

The [PSI+] prion in yeast, a translation factor, influences cell behavior. Its effects vary greatly, impacting phenotypes and potentially offering survival advantages in nature.

Area of Science:

  • * Molecular biology
  • * Yeast genetics
  • * Prion biology

Background:

  • * The [PSI+] determinant in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a prion protein linked to the eRF3 translation termination factor.
  • * Fungal prions, unlike mammalian PrP, have debated roles, potentially being beneficial or deleterious.
  • * This review examines [PSI+]-induced phenotypes and their physiological consequences in yeast cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To elucidate cellular changes in [PSI+] yeast cells.
  • * To explore the potential natural role of the [PSI+] prion.
  • * To understand the complex regulation of [PSI+] phenotypes.

Main Methods:

  • * Review of published literature on [PSI+] phenotypes and genetic backgrounds.
  • * Analysis of identified genes regulated at the translational level by [PSI+].

Main Results:

  • * Phenotypic expression of [PSI+] is highly variable, depending on prion variants and genetic background.
  • * Only two genes have been directly identified as translationally regulated by [PSI+].
  • * [PSI+] may induce modifications at both translational and transcriptional levels.

Conclusions:

  • * The phenotypic heterogeneity of [PSI+] results from complex interactions between genetic expression and environmental factors.
  • * The precise role of [PSI+] in yeast physiology and its evolutionary significance require further investigation.

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