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Growth-based Determination and Biochemical Confirmation of Genetic Requirements for Protein Degradation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
10:57

Growth-based Determination and Biochemical Confirmation of Genetic Requirements for Protein Degradation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: February 16, 2015

Death resulting from fatty acid starvation in yeast

S A Henry

    Journal of Bacteriology
    |December 1, 1973
    PubMed

    Insights

    Yeast mutants lacking fatty acid synthetase (fas1) or both fatty acid synthetase and desaturase (fas1, ole1) exhibit logarithmic death upon fatty acid deprivation. This cell death is linked to membrane biosynthesis and can be prevented by inhibiting protein synthesis.

    Area of Science:

    • * Molecular Biology
    • * Cell Biology
    • * Biochemistry

    Background:

    • * Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants with specific genetic deficiencies in fatty acid synthesis pathways were investigated.
    • * Understanding the role of fatty acid biosynthesis in yeast cell viability is crucial for cellular homeostasis.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • * To investigate the cell death mechanisms in yeast mutants lacking essential fatty acid synthesis enzymes.
    • * To determine the timeline and influencing factors of cell death during fatty acid starvation.

    Main Methods:

    • * Utilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants: fas1 (fatty acid synthetase minus) and fas1, ole1 (fatty acid synthetase and fatty acid desaturase minus).
    • * Subjected yeast strains to fatty acid starvation conditions.
    • * Monitored macromolecular synthesis, cell division, and cell viability over time; assessed effects of detergent and protein synthesis inhibitors (amino acid starvation, cycloheximide).

    Main Results:

    • * fas1 and fas1, ole1 mutants underwent logarithmic death upon fatty acid deprivation, while ole1 strains did not.
    • * Macromolecular synthesis continued for 2-3 hours, but cell division ceased within 1 hour of starvation.
    • * Cell death began around 2-3 hours, with 2-4 log orders of death within 24 hours; death rate increased with detergent but was reduced by inhibiting protein synthesis.

    Conclusions:

    • * Fatty acid synthesis is essential for maintaining viability in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, particularly when desaturase function is also impaired.
    • * The observed cell death is a programmed event linked to membrane biosynthesis and protein synthesis.
    • * Interruption of protein synthesis can largely prevent cell death, suggesting a critical role for newly synthesized proteins in the death pathway.

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