The fission yeast spore is coated by a proteinaceous surface layer comprising mainly Isp3 |
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Authors: | Kana Fukunishi Kana Miyakubi Mitsuko Hatanaka Natsumi Otsuru Aiko Hirata Chikashi Shimoda Taro Nakamura |
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Institution: | RIKEN;aDepartment of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan;bBioimaging Center, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8562, Japan |
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Abstract: | The spore is a dormant cell that is resistant to various environmental stresses. As compared with the vegetative cell wall, the spore wall has a more extensive structure that confers resistance on spores. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the polysaccharides glucan and chitosan are major components of the spore wall; however, the structure of the spore surface remains unknown. We identify the spore coat protein Isp3/Meu4. The isp3 disruptant is viable and executes meiotic nuclear divisions as efficiently as the wild type, but isp3∆ spores show decreased tolerance to heat, digestive enzymes, and ethanol. Electron microscopy shows that an electron-dense layer is formed at the outermost region of the wild-type spore wall. This layer is not observed in isp3∆ spores. Furthermore, Isp3 is abundantly detected in this layer by immunoelectron microscopy. Thus Isp3 constitutes the spore coat, thereby conferring resistance to various environmental stresses. |
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