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Updated: Jul 21, 2025

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High-throughput Screening for Protein-based Inheritance in S. cerevisiae
Published on: August 8, 2017
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How Big Is the Yeast Prion Universe?
Galina A Zhouravleva1,2, Stanislav A Bondarev1,2, Nina P Trubitsina1
1Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, St. Petersburg State University, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|July 29, 2023
Summary
Yeast prions and prion-like proteins have expanded from two to twenty since 1994. Yeast serves as a key model for studying these widespread prion-like phenomena, with new discovery prospects.
Area of Science:
- Molecular biology
- Biochemistry
- Genetics
Background:
- The study of prions has expanded beyond mammalian PrPSc to include yeast cytoplasmic elements.
- Yeast prions and prion-like proteins have seen a significant increase in discovery since 1994.
- Initial skepticism regarding yeast prions has evolved into recognition of their widespread nature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of identified yeast prions.
- To detail the methodologies employed in identifying yeast prions.
- To discuss future prospects for discovering novel yeast prions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of yeast prion discoveries.
- Analysis of identification approaches for yeast prions.
- Exploration of potential future research directions.
Main Results:
- The number of known yeast prions has grown from two to nearly twenty.
- Yeast has emerged as a valuable model system for studying prion-like phenomena.
- Various techniques have been successfully applied to identify these elements.
Conclusions:
- Prion-like phenomena are prevalent in yeast.
- Yeast provides a tractable system for prion research.
- Continued discovery of yeast prions is anticipated.
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