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Specific phase arrest of cell cycle restores cell viability against tRNA cleavage by killer toxin

Megumi Shigematsu1, Tetsuhiro Ogawa, Hiroko K Kitamoto

  • 1Department of Biotechnology, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|March 28, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Killer toxins Zymocin and PaT arrest yeast cell cycles by cleaving transfer RNAs (tRNAs). This study investigated if colicin D (D-CRD) also causes phase-specific arrest, finding it does not commonly occur, suggesting protein synthesis levels dictate arrest specificity.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Zymocin and PaT are yeast killer toxins that induce cell cycle arrest.
  • These toxins and colicin D (D-CRD) cleave specific transfer RNAs (tRNAs).
  • Previous work showed D-CRD expression impairs yeast growth, but its effect on cell cycle phase specificity was unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether D-CRD expression induces phase-specific cell cycle arrest in yeast.
  • To determine if tRNA cleavage by toxins commonly leads to phase-specific cell cycle arrest.
  • To explore the relationship between protein synthesis impairment and cell cycle arrest specificity.

Main Methods:

  • Expression of D-CRD and tRNA-cleaving subunits of Zymocin and PaT in yeast.
  • Analysis of yeast cell cycle status using flow cytometry.
  • Assessment of protein synthesis impairment and cell viability.

Main Results:

  • D-CRD expression did not induce a common phase-specific cell cycle arrest.
  • Zymocin and PaT subunits also did not consistently cause phase-specific arrest.
  • Cell viability was preserved despite tRNA cleavage.
  • The degree of protein synthesis inhibition appeared to correlate with arrest specificity.

Conclusions:

  • Phase-specific cell cycle arrest is not a common outcome of tRNA cleavage by these toxins.
  • The extent of protein synthesis impairment is a key factor in determining cell cycle arrest specificity.
  • Understanding tRNA cleavage mechanisms provides insights into cell growth regulation and viability.

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