Genetic and physical localization of the acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase gene ACS1 on chromosome I of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The ACS1 gene, encoding acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase, was mapped genetically at the left arm of chromosome I between pURA3 and PYK1 at 19 and 28 cM respectively. Comparison with the physical map defined a recombinational ‘hot-spot’ in this region in addition to the one between CDC24 and PYK1.     

Molecular cloning of the gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The 4.4 kb SphI DNA fragment (GSH1) that complements the gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase-deficient mutation (gsh1) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae YH1 was cloned into vector plasmid YEp24. Gene disruption of the cloned fragment confirmed that this segment was the same gene as gsh1. Mutant strain YH1 with this plasmid not only restored gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GSH-I) activity but the glutathione content and the growth rate. DNA sequence analysis of the SphI fragment showed that the GSH1 structural gene contained 2034 bp and predicted a polypeptide of 678 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence had about a 45% homology to that of rat kidney GSH-I, but a very low homology (about 26%) to that of Escherichia coli GSH-I. Northern analysis showed that GSH1 had been transcribed into an approximately 2.7 kb mRNA fragment. Southern analysis showed that GSH1 mapped at chromosome X.     

Cloning and disruption of a gene required for growth on acetate but not on ethanol: the acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A DNA fragment of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with high homology to the acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) synthetase genes of Aspergillus nidulans and Neurospora crassa has been cloned, sequenced and mapped to chromosome I. It contains an open reading frame of 2139 nucleotides, encoding a predicted gene product of 79.2 kDa. In contrast to its ascomycete homologs, there are no introns in the coding sequence. The first ATG codon of the open reading frame is in an unusual context for a translational start site, while the next ATG, 24 codons downstream, is in a more conventional context. Possible implications of two alternative translational start sites for the cellular localization of the enzyme are discussed. A stable mutant of this gene, obtained by the gene disruption technique, had the same low basal activity of acetyl-CoA synthetase as wild-type cells when grown on glucose but completely lacked the strong increase in activity upon entering the stationary phase, providing direct proof that the gene encodes an inducible acetyl-CoA synthetase (ACS1) of yeast. As expected, the mutant was unable to grow on acetate as sole carbon source. Nevertheless, it showed normal induction of isocitrate lyase on acetate media, indicating that activity of acetyl-CoA synthetase is dispensable for induction of the glyoxylate cycle in S. cerevisiae. Surprisingly, disruption of the ACS1 gene did not affect growth on media containing ethanol as the sole carbon source, demonstrating that there are alternative pathways leading to acetyl-CoA under these conditions.     

VIII. Yeast mapping reports. Genetic mapping of STE20 to the left arm of chromosome VIII

STE20 is a newly-discovered element of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae pheromone response pathway. We have isolated a recessive ste20 mutation and have used it to map the gene to the left arm of chromosome VIII, establishing the gene order STE20-CEN8-GPA1-ARG4.     

Recovery of gene function by gene duplication in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A prototroph revertant (Rev9) selected from an ATCase^? mutant of the URA2 gene containing three nonsense mutations was shown to contain two ATCase coding sequences. We cloned both ATCase coding areas to show that the duplicated locus (dl9) was the only functional one. Its size corresponded roughly to the second half of the URA2 wild-type gene. Sequence analysis of the 5′ end of dl9 indicated that this duplicated sequence was inserted within the intergenic region close to the MRS3 gene and was transcribed from an unknown promoter divergently from the MRS3 gene. The event leading to the revertant strain Rev9 included a rearrangement that increased the size of chromosome X by about 60 kb. In agreement with such a rearrangement, recombination was undetectable in the vicinity of the locus dl9. Genetic mapping confirms that the MRS3 gene is 2 cM distal to the URA2 gene on the right arm of chromosome X.     

Sequence and analysis of 24 kb on chromosome II of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In the course of the European yeast genome sequencing project, we determined 23,920 bp of a continuous chromosome II right arm sequence. Analysis of data revealed 13 open reading frames (ORFs), three of which corresponded to previously identified genes; two tRNA genes and one repetitive element. One ORF showed considerable homology (46%) to a hypothetical chromosome III gene; another, putatively very hydrophobic gene product, was 30% identical to the heat-shock protein HSP30. Two ORFs were homologous to human genes. The complete sequence was submitted to the EMBL data bank under the Accession Number Z46260 Authorin submission ‘3’.     

Molecular cloning of chromosome I DNA from Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Isolation of the MAK16 gene and analysis of an adjacent gene essential for growth at low temperatures

MAK16 is an essential gene on chromosome I defined by the thermosensitive lethal mak16–1 mutation. MAK16 is also necessary for M double-stranded RNA replication at the permissive temperature for cell growth. As part of an effort to clone all the DNA from chromosome I, plasmids that complemented both the temperature-sensitive growth defect, and the M₁ replication defects of mak16–1 strains were isolated from a plasmid YCp50: Saccharomyces cerevisiae recombinant DNA library. The two plasmids analysed contained overlapping inserts that hybridized proportionally to strains carrying different dosages of chromosome I. Furthermore, integration of a fragment of one of these clones occurred at a site linked to ade1, confirming that this clone was derived from the appropriate region of chromosome I. An open reading frame adjacent to MAK16 potentially coding for a 468 amino acid protein was defined by sequence analysis. 185 amino acids of this open reading frame were replaced with a 1·2 kb fragment carrying the S. cerevisiae URA3 gene by a one-step gene disruption. The resulting strains grew at a rate indistinguishable from the wild type at 20°C, 30°C, or 37°C, but could not grow at 8°C. The deleted region is thus essential only at 8°C, and we name this gene LTE1 (low temperature essential).     

Saccharomyces cerevisiae QNS1 codes for NAD(+) synthetase that is functionally conserved in mammals

NAD(+), an essential molecule involved in a variety of cellular processes, is synthesized through de novo and salvage pathways. NAD(+) synthetase catalyses the final step in both pathways. Here we show that this enzyme is encoded by the QNS1 gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Expression of Escherichia coli or Bacillus subtilis NAD(+) synthetases was able to suppress the lethality of a qns1 deletion, while a B. subtilis NAD(+) synthetase mutant with lowered catalytic activity was not. Overexpression of QNS1 tagged with HA led to elevated levels of NAD(+) synthetase activity in yeast extracts, and this activity can be recovered by immunoprecipitation using anti-HA antibody. An allele of QNS1 was constructed that carries a point mutation predicted to reduce the catalytic activity. Overexpression of this allele, qns1(G521E), failed to elevate NAD(+) synthetase levels and qns1(G521E) could not rescue the lethality caused by the depletion of Qns1p. These results demonstrate that NAD(+) synthetase activity is essential for cell viability. A GFP-tagged version of Qns1p displayed a diffuse localization in both the nucleus and the cytosol. Finally, the rat homologue of QNS1 was cloned and shown to functionally replace yeast QNS1, indicating that NAD(+) synthetase is functionally conserved from bacteria to yeast and mammals.     

Sequence of the HMR region on chromosome III of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A 10,095 base pair DNA fragment from the right arm of chromosome III of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been sequenced and analysed. It encompasses the silent mating-type locus HMR. Both HMRa1 and HMRa2 genes, as well as their flanking regulatory regions, have been identified. Three new open reading frames longer than 80 amino acid residues were found in this fragment. One of them (YCR137) shows features compatible with a membranous localization and a transporter function. The other two do not show a similarity with any known gene. A new gene coding for tRNA(thr)al (ACU) has been identified. It is located in a region coding for several delta sequences.     

Sequence and analysis of a 26·9 kb fragment from chromosome XV of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of a fragment of chromosome XV of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cloned into cosmid pEOA048. The analysis of the 26 857 bp sequence reveals the presence of 19 open reading frames (ORFs), and of one RNA-coding gene (SNR17A). Six ORFs correspond to previously known genes (MKK1/SSP32, YGE1/GRPE/MGE1, KIN4/KIN31/KIN3, RPL37B, DFR1 and HES1, respectively), all others were discovered in this work. Only five of the new ORFs have significant homologs in public databases, the remaining eight correspond to orphans (two of them are questionable). O5248 is a probable folylpolyglutamate synthetase, having two structural homologs already sequenced in the yeast genome. O5273 shows homology with a yeast protein required for vanadate resistance. O5268 shows homology with putative oxidoreductases of different organisms. O5257 shows homology with the SAS2 protein and another hypothetical protein from yeast. The last one, O5245, shows homology with a putative protein of Caenorhabditis elegans of unknown function. The present sequence corresponds to coordinates 772 331 to 799 187 of the entire chromosome XV sequence which can be retrieved by anonymous ftp (ftp. mips. embnet. org).     

Mapping of gene controlling thiamine transport in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A recessive mutation leading to complete loss of thiamine uptake in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was mapped on the left arm of chromosome VII, approximately 56cM centromere-distal to trp5. As the analysed locus is relatively distant from its centromere and from the markers used, its attachment to chromosome VII was confirmed by chromosome loss methods.     

Sequence of a 4·8 kb fragment of Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome II including three essential open reading frames

The nucleotide sequence of a fragment of 4867 base pairs of Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome II has been determined. The sequence contains three complete open reading frames. In addition to the already known gene RPB5, coding for a subunit shared by all three DNA directed RNA polymerases, two new open reading frames could be identified. YBR12.03 codes for a protein of 183 amino acids with homology to one of the proteins of the Bacillus subtilis riboflavin biosynthesis operon (RibG). Deletion mutants of YBR12.03 can germinate but stop growing after five to seven cell divisions on YPD. Supplementation with high concentrations of riboflavin does promote growth. YBR12.05 codes for a protein of 386 amino acids with homology to STI1, a stress-inducible protein of S. cerevisiae. Deletion mutants of YBR12.05 are not viable.     

Identification of ACT4, a novel essential actin-related gene in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Actin molecules are major cytoskeleton components of all eukaryotic cells. All conventional actins that have been identified so far are 374–376 amino acids in size and exhibit at least 70% amino acid sequence identity when compared with one another. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, one conventional actin gene ACT1 and three so-called actin-related genes, ACT2, ACT3 and ACT5, have been identified. We report here the discovery of a new actin-related gene in this organism, which we have named ACT4. The deduced protein, Act4, of 449 amino acids, exhibits only 33·4%, 26·7%, 23·4% and 29·2% identity to Act1, Act2, Act3 and Act5, respectively. In contrast, it is 68·4% identical to the product of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe Act2 gene and has a similar level of identity to other Sch. pombe Act2 homologues. This places Act4 in the Arp3 family of actin-related proteins. ACT4 gene disruption and tetrad analysis demonstrate that this gene is essential for the vegetative growth of yeast cells. The act4 mutants exhibit heterogenous morphological phenotypes. We hypothesize that Act4 may have multiple roles in the cell cycle. The sequence has been deposited in the Genome Sequence Data Base under Accession Number L37111.     

III. Yeast sequencing reports. Corrected sequence for the right telomere of Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome III

A comparison of the sequences of telomere regions from several yeast chromosomes revealed an apparent cloning artifact for the right end of chromosome III. An integrating vector containing G_1–3T telomere sequences was used to clone the right end of chromosome III from a strain related to S288C. The sequence of this clone confirmed that the published sequence was incorrect and demonstrated that the right telomere region of chromosome III is similar to other telomeres.     

Disruption of six novel ORFs on the left arm of chromosome XII reveals one gene essential for vegetative growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Deletion via PCR‐mediated gene replacement, together with basic functional and bioinformatic analyses, have been performed on six novel open reading‐frames (ORFs) on the left arm of chromosome XII of Saccharomyces cerevisiae(YLL033w, YLL032c, YLL031c, YLL030c, YLL029w and YLL028w). ORF deletion was realized using either a short‐flanking homology (SFH) or a long‐flanking homology (LFH) replacement cassette in the diploid strain FY1679. Sporulation and tetrad analysis showed that YLL031c is the only essential gene of the six. Microscopic examination of the non‐growing spores carrying a disrupted copy of the essential gene showed that most of them were blocked after one or two cell divisions with heterogeneous bud size. The standard EUROFAN growth tests failed to reveal any obvious phenotype resulting from the deletion of each the five non‐essential ORFs. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that YLL029w is probably an aminopeptidase for mitochondrial or nuclear protein processing and YLL028w may be involved in drug resistance in S. cerevisiae. Replacement cassettes, comprising the promoter and terminator regions of each of the six ORFs, were cloned into pUG7 and demonstrated to efficiently mediate gene replacement in an alternative diploid strain, W303. All the cognate gene clones were constructed, using either PCR products amplified from genomic DNA, or gap‐repair. All clones and strains generated have been deposited in the EUROFAN genetic stock centre (EUROSCARF, Frankfurt). Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Disruption and phenotypic analysis of six open reading frames from chromosome VII of Saccharomyces cerevisiae reveals one essential gene.

Six open reading frames (ORFs) located on chromosome VII of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (YGR205w, YGR210c, YGR211w, YGR241c, YGR243w and YGR244c) were disrupted in two different genetic backgrounds using short-flanking homology (SFH) gene replacement. Sporulation and tetrad analysis showed that YGR211w, recently identified as the yeast ZPR1 gene, is an essential gene. The other five genes are non-essential, and no phenotypes could be associated to their inactivation. Two of these genes have recently been further characterized: YGR241c (YAP1802) encodes a yeast adaptor protein and YGR244c (LSC2) encodes the beta-subunit of the succinyl-CoA ligase. For each ORF, a replacement cassette with long flanking regions homologous to the target locus was cloned in pUG7, and the cognate wild-type gene was cloned in pRS416.     

Deletion of six open reading frames from the left arm of chromosome IV of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The construction of six deletion mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and their basic phenotypic characterization are described. Open reading frames YDL148c, YDL109c, YDL021w, YDL019c, YDL018c and YDL015c from the left arm of chromosome IV were deleted using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based disruption technique, introducing the kanMX4 resistance marker into the respective genes. Gene replacement cassettes (pYORCs) for use in other strain backgrounds were cloned by PCR using DNA templates from haploid or diploid deletion mutants, and inserted into episomal plasmids. Cognate clones of all six ORFs were obtained by gap repair. Deletions were carried out in diploid cells and, after sporulation, yielded four viable spores for clones disrupted in YDL109c, YDL021w, YDL019c and YDL018c. Spores harbouring disruptions in ORFs YDL148c and YDL015c germinated but underwent only a few divisions before ceasing growth, suggesting that the respective genes are essential for vegetative growth on YPD complete media. The other deletion mutants grew like wild‐type at different temperatures and on different carbon sources. A brief computational analysis of the six ORFs studied in this work is presented. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.