Related Experiment Videos
Mcs4, a two-component system response regulator homologue, regulates the Schizosaccharomyces pombe cell cycle control
1Mitotix, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA. cottarel@mitotix.com
Abstract:
The Schizosaccharomyces pombe cdc2-3w wee1-50 double mutant displays a temperature-sensitive lethal phenotype termed mitotic catastrophe. Six mitotic catastrophe suppressor (mcs1-6) genes were identified in a genetic screen designed to identify regulators of cdc2. Mutations in mcs1-6 suppress the cdc2-3w wee1-50 temperature-sensitive growth defect. Here, the cloning of mcs4 is described. The mcs4 gene product displays significant sequence homology to members of the two-component system response regulator protein family. Strains carrying the mcs4 and cdc25 mutations display a synthetic osmotic lethal phenotype along with an inability to grow on minimal synthetic medium. These phenotypes are suppressed by a mutation in wee1. In addition, the wis1 gene, encoding a stress-activated mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase, was identified as a dosage suppressor in this screen. These findings link the two-component signal transduction system to stress response and cell cycle control in S. pombe.
Insights
Researchers identified new genes, mcs4 and wis1, that regulate cell cycle control and stress response in fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe). These findings link two-component systems to crucial cellular processes.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The Schizosaccharomyces pombe cdc2-3w wee1-50 double mutant exhibits temperature-sensitive lethality, a phenotype known as mitotic catastrophe.
- A genetic screen identified six mitotic catastrophe suppressor (mcs1-6) genes involved in regulating cdc2 activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clone and characterize the mcs4 gene, a novel regulator of cell cycle control.
- To investigate the functional relationship between mcs4, cdc25, wee1, and wis1 in S. pombe.
Main Methods:
- Genetic screening to identify mitotic catastrophe suppressors.
- Gene cloning and sequence homology analysis.
- Phenotypic analysis of mutant strains under various growth conditions.
Main Results:
- The mcs4 gene product shows homology to two-component system response regulators.
- mcs4 and cdc25 mutations result in synthetic osmotic lethality and impaired growth on minimal medium.
- A wee1 mutation suppresses these synthetic phenotypes, and wis1 (a stress-activated MAPKK) acts as a dosage suppressor.
Conclusions:
- The mcs4 gene product is a novel component of the two-component signal transduction system in S. pombe.
- This study establishes a link between the two-component system, stress response, and cell cycle control in fission yeast.