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F K Zimmermann

Publications and source records attributed to F K Zimmermann.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Glucose-induced regulatory defects in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae byp1 growth initiation mutant and identification of MIG1 as a partial suppressor.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae byp1-3 mutants displayed a long lag phase when shifted from a nonfermentable carbon source to a medium containing glucose. The byp1-3 mutation also caused several defects in regulatory phenomena which occur during the transition from the derepressed state to the repressed state. As opposed to wild-type cells, the addition of glucose to cells of the byp1-3 mutant grown on nonfermentable carbon sources did not induce a cyclic AMP signal. Fructose-2,6-bisphosphate formation and inactivation of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase were severely delayed, but trehalase activation was not affected. In addition, the induction of pyruvate decarboxylase both at the level of activity and that of transcription was very slow compared with that in wild-type cells. These pleotropic defects in glucose-induced regulatory phenomena might be responsible for the very long lag phase of byp1-3 cells and the inability of ascospores to initiate growth after germination on glucose media. Screening of a yeast gene library for clones complementing the byp1-3 phenotype resulted in the isolation of a truncated form of the previously described zinc finger transcription repressor MIG1. The entire MIG1 gene and the truncated form suppressed even on a single-copy vector the growth initiation defect but not the regulatory abnormalities of the byp1-3 mutant. MIG1 is not allelic to byp1-3.

Antimycin A↗

A yeast homologue of the bovine lens fibre MIP gene family complements the growth defect of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant on fermentable sugars but not its defect in glucose-induced RAS-mediated cAMP signalling.

Recently a new family of membrane proteins comprising the bovine lens fibre major intrinsic protein, soybean nodulin-26 protein and the Escherichia coli glycerol facilitator has been described [M.E. Baker and M.H. Saier, Jr (1990) Cell, 60, 185-186]. These proteins have six putative membrane spanning domains and one (probably intracellular) intermembrane fragment is particularly well conserved. We have identified a new member of this family in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It also possesses the six transmembrane domains and the highly conserved intermembrane sequence. In contrast to the other three proteins which are all approximately 280 amino acids long, the yeast protein has an N-terminal extension of approximately 250 amino acids, which contains a string of 17 asparagine residues and a C-terminal extension of approximately 150 amino acids. The gene, which we called FPS1 (for fdp1 suppressor), suppresses in single copy the growth defect on fermentable sugars of the yeast fdp1 mutant but it is not allelic to FDP1. The deficiency of the fdp1 mutant in glucose-induced RAS-mediated cAMP signalling and in rapid glucose-induced changes in the activity of certain enzymes was not restored. Deletion of FPS1 does not cause any of the phenotypic deficiencies of the fdp1 mutant.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Nuclear migration in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is controlled by the highly repetitive 313 kDa NUM1 protein.

We have isolated a novel gene (NUM1) with unusual internal periodicity. The NUM1 gene encodes a 313 kDa protein with a potential Ca2+ binding site and a central domain containing 12 almost identical tandem repeats of a 64 amino acid polypeptide. num1-disrupted strains grow normally, but contain many budded cells with two nuclei in the mother cell instead of a single nucleus at the bud neck, while all unbudded cells are uninucleate. This indicates that most G2 nuclei divide in the mother before migrating to the neck, followed by the migration of one of the two daughter nuclei into the bud. Furthermore, haploid num1 strains tend to diploidize during mitosis, and homozygous num1 diploid or tetraploid cells sporulate to form many budded asci with up to eight haploid or diploid spores, respectively, indicating that meiosis starts before nuclear redistribution and cytokinesis. Our data suggest that the NUM1 protein is involved in the interaction of the G2 nucleus with the bud neck.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The detection of chemically induced chromosomal malsegregation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae D61.M: a literature survey (1984-1990).

Our objective is to summarize the published data obtained with a recently developed tester strain suitable for the detection of chromosomal malsegregation in yeast. Results from 25 papers were reviewed in which numerical data for 111 chemicals tested in Saccharomyces cerevisiae D61.M are reported (a total of 316 independent tests; 279 acceptable, 37 not meeting our criteria). Of the 111 compounds analyzed 43 compounds are positive for chromosomal malsegregation, 56 compounds are negative and 12 compounds do not meet our criteria for acceptance (inconclusive). Of the 43 compounds judged positive 5 (acetone, acetonitrile, benzonitrile, ethylacetate and propionitrile) were only positive using a cold interruption protocol. Recommendations are made for standardization of methods and protocols for screening purposes. Finally, a comparison with in vitro tubulin assembly data using mammalian tubulin is presented.

Chromosomes, Fungal↗

Molecular analysis of the structural gene for yeast transaldolase.

We have cloned the structural gene for yeast transaldolase. Transformants carrying the TAL1 gene on a multicopy plasmid over-produced transaldolase. A deletion mutant which was constructed using the cloned gene did not show any detectable transaldolase activity in vitro. Furthermore, both transaldolase isoenzymes which were detected in wild-type crude extracts by immunoblotting were missing in the deletion mutants. Thus, TAL1 is the only transaldolase structural gene in yeast. TAL1 is not an essential gene. Deletion of the transaldolase gene did not affect growth on complete media with different carbon sources or on synthetic media. However, the transaldolase-deficient strains accumulated sedoheptulose 7-phosphate, an intermediate of the pentose-phosphate pathway. Mutants lacking both transaldolase and phosphoglucose isomerase grew more slowly than the single mutants. They accumulated more sedoheptulose 7-phosphate on medium containing fructose than on glucose medium. This shows that fructose 6-phosphate and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, metabolites of glycolysis, can enter the nonoxidative part of the pentose-phosphate pathway.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Detection of induced mitotic chromosome loss in Saccharomyces cerevisiae--an interlaboratory assessment of 12 chemicals.

Induced mitotic chromosome loss was assayed using diploid yeast strain S. cerevisiae D61.M. The test relies upon the uncovering and expression of multiple recessive markers reflecting the presumptive loss of the chromosome VII homologue carrying the corresponding wild-type alleles. An interlaboratory study was performed in which 12 chemicals were tested under code in 2 laboratories. The results generated by the Berkeley and the Darmstadt laboratories were in close agreement. The solvents benzonitrile and methyl ethyl ketone induced significantly elevated chromosome loss levels. However, a treatment regime that included overnight storage at 0 degree C was required to optimize chromosome loss induction. Hence, these agents are postulated to induce chromosome loss via perturbation of microtubular assembly. Fumaronitrile yielded inconsistent results: induction of chromosome loss and respiratory deficiency was observed in both laboratories, but the response was much more pronounced in the Darmstadt trial than that observed in Berkeley. The mammalian carcinogens, benzene, acrylonitrile, trichloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane and 1,1,1,2-tetrachloroethane failed to induce chromosome loss but elicited high levels of respiratory deficiency, reflecting anti-mitochondrial activity. Trifluralin, cyclophosphamide monohydrate, diazepam and diethylstilbestrol dipropionate failed to induce any detectable genetic effects. These data suggest that the D61.M system is a reproducible method for detecting induced chromosome loss in yeast.

Alleles↗

The phosphofructokinase genes of yeast evolved from two duplication events.

Yeast phosphofructokinase (PFK) is an octameric enzyme composed of four alpha-subunits and four beta-subunits, encoded by the genes PFK1 and PFK2, respectively. PFK1 was mapped 23 cM distal to ADE3 on chromosome VII, and PFK2 30 cM proximal to RNA1 on chromosome XIII. The entire nucleotide sequences for the two genes were obtained by sequencing both DNA strands. Only one major open reading frame was found for each gene. They encode 987 aa for PFK1 (Mr 107,984) and 959 aa for PFK2 (Mr 104,589). Both genes show a biased codon usage. The deduced amino acid sequences showed: (i) 20% homology between the N- and the C-terminal halves of each subunit, (ii) 55% homology between the two subunits, and (iii) significant homologies to the PFK sequences from human and rabbit muscle (42%), Escherichia coli (34%), and Bacillus (36%). These data support the view that two gene duplication events occurred in the evolution of the yeast PFK genes. The first duplication event took place soon after the separation of prokaryotic and eukaryotic lineage and the second in Saccharomyces later in the phylogeny. Functional domains in the yeast subunits were deduced by comparison to the rabbit muscle enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Quantitative approaches for assessing chromosome loss in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: general methods for analyzing downturns in dose response.

Statistical methods are considered for analysis of data arising from a mitotic chromosome loss assay in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain D61.M. The methods make use of reproducibility trial data from the assay (presented herein) and previous data, which suggest a unimodal, 'umbrella-patterned' dose response. Computer simulations are employed to illustrate the operating characteristics of the umbrella response methods. These methods are generally applicable to any toxicity assay that exhibits a downturn in dose response. Experimental design considerations are also discussed. These include applications of 2-stage sampling rules to first gauge the dose window of peak response, then test if the response deviates significantly from untreated levels.

Alleles↗

Detection of induced mitotic chromosome loss in Saccharomyces cerevisiae--an interlaboratory study.

The diploid yeast strain D61.M was used to study induction of mitotic chromosome loss. The test relies upon the uncovering and expression of multiple recessive markers reflecting the presumptive loss of the chromosome VII homologue carrying the corresponding wild-type alleles. The underlying 'loss event' is probably complex since the predicted centromere-linked lethal tetrad segregations for chromosome VII are not recovered. Instead, the homologue bearing the multiple recessive markers is patently homozygous. An interlaboratory study was performed in which 16 chemicals were tested under code in 2 laboratories. The results generated by the Berkeley and Darmstadt laboratories were in close agreement. Acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, 4-acetylpyridine, propionitrile and nocodazole were identified as potent inducers of mitotic chromosome loss. Acetone, dimethyl sulfoxide and 2-methoxyethyl acetate either elicited weak responses or yielded ambiguous results. Water, carbon tetrachloride, 4-fluoro-D,L-phenylalanine, amphotericin B, griseofulvin, cadmium chloride, ethyl methanesulfonate and methylmercury(II) chloride failed to induce chromosome loss. These data suggest that the system described herein represents a reliable assay for chemically induced chromosome loss in yeast.

Alleles↗

Induction of chromosome loss by mixtures of organic solvents including neurotoxins.

Twenty-three aprotic polar solvents - 3 nitriles, 8 organic esters, 10 ketones and 2 lactones - and LiCl were tested in combination with propionitrile alone or a mixture of ethyl acetate and propionitrile for the induction of mitotic chromosome loss in the D61.M strain of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Propionitrile and ethyl acetate are very potent inducers of chromosome loss. Mixtures of propionitrile and ethyl acetate induced chromosome loss at much higher frequencies than was observed with the pure chemicals. To test the potentiating effects of propionitrile or mixtures of propionitrile with ethyl acetate on other chemicals, they were used in concentrations that were at or below the level for induction of chromosome loss. Twenty chemicals when tested in pure form were negative or only marginally active in the test for chromosome loss. Except for amyl propionate and benzyl acetate, the same chemicals showed strong induction in combination treatments with the potentiating chemicals. All the ketones including the neurotoxic methyl ethyl ketone, 2-hexanone and 2.5-hexanedione induced high frequencies of chromosome loss. Only methyl ethyl ketone is capable of inducing high levels of chromosome loss when tested in the pure form at much higher concentrations. 1-Methyl-2-pyrrolidinone and gamma-valerolactone had previously been shown to induce chromosome loss only when the treatment at a growth-supporting temperature was interrupted by a cold shock within a narrow range of low temperatures which prevented growth. Both gave very strong induction in combination treatment performed at a continuous growth-supporting temperature. LiCl is a weak inducer of chromosome loss: strong induction can be achieved in combination treatments.

Chromosome Aberrations↗

Aprotic polar solvents that affect porcine brain tubulin aggregation in vitro induce aneuploidy in yeast cells growing at low temperatures.

Seven aprotic polar solvents which had previously been shown to interfere with the aggregation in vitro of porcine brain tubulin have been examined for their ability to induce mitotic aneuploidy in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in relation to temperature during exposure. Induction of aneuploidy was in general considerably enhanced when incubation at 28 degrees C was interrupted by overnight storage at low temperature (cold shock). The optimum cold-shock temperatures for individual chemicals varied over a range of 0-16 degrees C. While storage at reduced temperature enhanced the effect of treatment at 28 degrees C, it was also shown that continuous incubation at reduced temperature could greatly enhance the induction of aneuploidy. Only 2 chemicals, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone and gamma-valerolactone, required cold shock to yield a positive response. The other chemicals did not require cold shock for enhanced induction. The observation that the agents examined also interfere with in vitro tubulin aggregation suggests that there is a temperature component to the interaction of these agents with tubulin in vivo. This temperature component is unusual in that the most effective temperature range for aneuploidy induction can be well below the optimal growth temperature for the test organism.

Aneuploidy↗

Novel genetic components controlling invertase production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Low levels of invertase (EC 3.2.1.26) activity were observed in most diploid strains of S. cerevisiae used in this work. There was no effect of mating type on invertase levels, and cell surface was not a limiting factor, because an increase in ploidy did not cause further decrease in specific invertase activity. Finally, some diploids showed the activity expected from the additive effects of different SUC genes, and haploid strains possessing two SUC genes expressed very variable invertase activities depending on the strain. This suggested the existence of one or more additional genes which control the levels of invertase. Genetic analysis of SUC5 strains provided evidence of the existence of a new gene, RPS5, which drastically reduced the specific invertase activity in strains possessing active SUC alleles. The recessive allele of this gene (rps5) allows expression of higher levels of invertase. We suggest that genes similar RPS5 are responsible for the low levels of invertase activity observed in diploid strains of S. cerevisiae.

Diploidy↗

Isolation and molecular analysis of the phosphoglucose isomerase structural gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The PGI1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae coding for the glycolytic enzyme phosphoglucose isomerase has been cloned by complementation of a mutant strain (pgi1) with a strongly reduced phosphoglucose isomerase activity. A genomic library constructed in the yeast multicopy vector YEp13 (Nasmyth and Tatchell 1980) was used. Four plasmids containing an overlapping region of 4.1 kb were isolated and characterized by restriction endonuclease mapping. Southern analysis of genomic digests prepared with different restriction enzymes confirmed the same pattern for the chromosomal sequences. Transformants with the isolated plasmids had a phosphoglucose isomerase activity increased by a factor of 7. The cloned sequence hybridized to a constitutively synthesized 2.2 kb RNA in Northern analysis. The coding region includes a 2.05 kb EcoRI fragment common to all four inserts. A fragment including part of the PGI1 region was subcloned into vector YRp7 and used to induce integration at the PGI1 locus. Genetical and Southern analysis of stable transformants showed that single as well as tandem integration took place at this locus. This showed that the PGI1 gene had been isolated. Finally, and in contrast to the results of Kempe et al. (1974a, b) who reported three isoenzymes in yeasts, only one copy of the PGI1 gene per genome was found in several laboratory strains tested by Southern analysis.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Cloning and expression on a multicopy vector of five invertase genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Six unlinked loci for invertase structural genes are known in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae: SUC1-SUC5 and SUC7. These genes are similar in structure and expression but not identical. Different yeast strains possess none, one or several of these genes. We have isolated the genes SUC1-SUC5, subcloned them into the multicopy vector YEp24 and compared the expression of the five SUC genes in one recipient strain. SUC2 was isolated by transformation of a suc0 strain with a gene pool and complementation to sucrose fermentation. SUC4 was cloned from a minipool of chromosomal fragments which were shown to contain SUC4 by Southern hybridization. SUC1, SUC3 and SUC5 were isolated using the method of plasmid eviction. A plasmid containing regions flanking SUC4 was integrated next to these SUC genes. The plasmid together with the SUC genes were then cut out of the chromosome using an appropriate restriction endonuclease. The length of chromosomal DNA fragments containing the different SUC genes were 4.8 kb for SUC1, 5.2 kb for SUC2, 4.8 kb for SUC3, 12.8 kb for SUC4 and 17.2 kb for SUC5. Fragments containing the complete SUC genes and the sequences controlling their expression were subcloned into YEp24 and transformed into a strain without any active invertase gene. Invertase activity of transformants was measured after growth repressing (8% glucose) and derepressing (2% raffinose) conditions. As expected from results with strains carrying the individual SUC genes in a chromosomal location, the SUC genes were expressed to a different extent.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Genetic and anti-tubulin effects induced by pyridine derivatives.

A series of pyridine derivatives, 2-methyl-, 2-chloro-, 2-acetyl-, 3-acetyl-, 4-acetyl, 2-phenyl-, 2,4-dimethyl-, 2,6-dimethyl- and 2-methyl-5-ethyl-pyridine, were shown to induce mitotic aneuploidy in strain D61.M of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Induction of mitotic recombination was also observed with 3- and 4-acetylpyridine and 2-phenylpyridine in strain D61.M. 4-Acetylpyridine and 2-phenylpyridine were found to induce mitotic gene conversion and 2-phenyl-pyridine also induced reverse mutation in strain D7 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These two agents also inhibited the GTP-mediated assembly of porcine brain tubulin in vitro.

Aneuploidy↗

Aneuploidy and other genetic effects induced by hydroxyurea in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Hydroxyurea induces mitotic gene conversion, mitotic crossing-over, reverse mutation, respiration-deficient petite mutants and aneuploidy in growing cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Evidence is presented indicating that induction rather than selection is responsible for the increase in frequency of the genetic end points measured. Complications concerning the detection of aneuploidy in the presence of other genetic effects are described, and the need for following the complete protocol for confirmation of the aneuploids in any chemical screening program is emphasized.

Aneuploidy↗

Aprotic polar solvents inducing chromosomal malsegregation in yeast interfere with the assembly of porcine brain tubulin in vitro.

A number of aprotic solvents which had previously been found to induce mitotic aneuploidy in yeast were tested for their effects on re-assembly of twice recycled tubulin from pig brain. Some of the solvents which were strong aneuploidy-inducing mutagens in yeast slowed down tubulin assembly in vitro at concentrations lower than those required for aneuploidy induction. Ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, diethyl ketone and acetonitrile fell into this category. Other strong aneuploidy-inducing agents like acetone and 2-methoxyethyl acetate accelerated tubulin assembly. Non-genetically active methyl isopropyl ketone and isopropyl acetate both accelerated assembly, whereas methyl n-propyl ketone and n-propyl acetate were weak inducers of aneuploidy and slowed down the rate and extent of assembly. Those chemicals which slowed down the assembly rate also reduced the extent of assembly. Most chemicals which accelerated assembly also led to an increased extent of assembly, with the exception of isopropyl acetate. At the higher concentrations, however, a maximum assembly rate was reached which was followed by a slow decline. Although a perfect correlation between effects on the induction of chromosomal malsegregation and the interference with tubulin assembly in vitro was not seen, the experiments with tubulin were carried out using this class of chemicals because some of them strongly induced mitotic aneuploidy under conditions which suggested tubulin to be the prime target. The lack of a perfect coincidence might be due to species differences between the porcine brain and the yeast spindle tubulin, or the test for aneuploidy induction may have been negative because the concentrations required for an effect on yeast tubulin may be greater than the general lethal toxicity limit. Bearing this reservation in mind, the results suggest that the yeast aneuploidy test has a considerable predictive value for mammalian mutagenicity.

Acetates↗