A collection of yeast mutants selectively resistant to ionophores acting on mitochondrial inner membrane

Valinomycin and nigericin are potassium ionophores acting selectively on the mitochondrial inner membrane of Saccharomyces cerevisiae [Kovac, L., Bohmerova, E., Butko, P., 1982a. Ionophores and intact cells. I. Valinomycin and nigericin act preferentially on mitochondria and not on the plasma membrane of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 721, 341-348]. However, the molecular mechanism of their action is not understood. Here we show that their selective effect on mitochondrial membranes is not caused by the pleiotropic drug resistance system. To identify the molecular components mediating the action of ionophores we isolated several mutants specifically resistant to valinomycin and/or nigericin. In contrast to the parental strain, these mutants do not form respiratory-deficient cells in the presence of ionophores. Moreover, all mutants harbor extensively fragmented mitochondria and these morphological defects can be alleviated by the ionophores. Interestingly, we observed that these mitochondrial defects may be accompanied by changes in vacuolar dynamics. Our results demonstrate that the classical genetic approach can provide a starting point for the analysis of components involved in the action of ionophores on mitochondria-related processes in eukaryotic cell.     

Measurements of mitochondrial deficiencies in living cells by microspectrofluorometry.

Microspectrofluorometric methods were developed for detection of mitochondrial metabolites and marker molecules in living cells. After excitation in the near UV and blue spectral ranges, respiratory-deficient strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed higher levels of intrinsic fluorescence than corresponding wild types. This may be attributed to an increased emission by NADH and flavin molecules of the mutants. After incubation with the mitochondrial marker rhodamine 123, there was a strong indication that an energy transfer from flavin to rhodamine molecules occurred, which was more pronounced for the respiratory-deficient yeast strains. Skin fibroblasts obtained from patients with mitochondrial diseases showed approximately the same levels of autofluorescence and energy transfer but higher variances than a control cell line. These higher variances may result from a coexistence of intact and defective mitochondria.     

Cytoplasmic “Petite” Induction in Recombination-Deficient Mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

As compared to the original wild type, the induction of the cytoplasmic "petite" mutation by ultraviolet light and by the intercalating dye, ethidium bromide, is reduced in two mutants (rec4 and rec5) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These mutants are blocked in X rays or ultraviolet light-induced intragenic recombination. It then appears that the products of nuclear genes necessary for the completion of nuclear intragenic recombination events are also involved in steps of the metabolic chain which leads to the mitochondrial mutation, rho(-).     

A respiratory-deficient mutation associated with high salt sensitivity in Kluyveromyces lactis

A salt-sensitive mutant of Kluyveromyces lactis was isolated that was unable to grow in high-salt media. This mutant was also respiratory-deficient and temperature-sensitive for growth. The mutation mapped in a single nuclear gene that is the ortholog of BCS1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The BCS1 product is a mitochondrial protein required for the assembly of respiratory complex III. The bcs1 mutation of S. cerevisiae leads to a loss of respiration, but, unlike in K. lactis, it is not accompanied by salt sensitivity. All the respiratory-deficient K. lactis mutants tested were found to be salt-sensitive compared to their isogenic wild-type strains. In the presence of the respiratory inhibitor antimycin A, the wild-type strain also became salt-sensitive. By contrast, none of the S. cerevisiae respiratory-deficient mutants tested showed increased salt sensitivity. The salt sensitivity of the Klbcs1 mutant, but not its respiratory deficiency, was suppressed by the multicopy KlVMA13 gene, a homolog of the S. cerevisiae VMA13 gene encoding a subunit of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase. These results suggest that cellular salt homeostasis in K. lactis is strongly dependent on mitochondrial respiratory activity, and/or that the ion homeostasis of mitochondria themselves could be a primary target of salt stress.     

Nuclear mutations conferring oligomycin resistance in Neurospora crassa.

Mutants of Neurospora crassa have been isolated that are highly resistant to inhibition by oligomycin, an inhibitor of mitochondrial ATPase activity. Dixon plots (Dixon, M., and Webb, E.C. (1964) Enzymes, 2nd Ed, pp. 328-330, Academic Press, New York) of oligomycin inhibition curves of the parent strain and the resistant mutants are linear, indicating that oligomycin interacts at a single site within the ATPase complex. The Ki values obtained from the mutants vary from 150 to 900 times greater than the Ki obtained for the parent strain. The parent strain and the oligomycin-resistant mutants are also inhibited by bathophenanthroline, a lipophilic chelating agent that inhibits F1 ATPase activity. Dixon plots of bathophenanthroline inhibition curves are also linear and Ki values obtained are all approximately equal. Crosses of the oligomycin-resistant mutants to the oligomycin-sensitive parent strain show a mendelian segregation of the resistance characteristic. These data show that mutations leading to oligomycin resistance in Neurospora are due to alterations in nuclear genes.     

Distinct intracellular localization of Gpd1p and Gpd2p, the two yeast isoforms of NAD+-dependent glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, explains their different contributions to redox-driven glycerol production

During anaerobiosis Saccharomyces cerevisiae strongly increases glycerol production to provide for non-respiratory oxidation of NADH to NAD(+). We here report that respiratory-deficient cells become strictly dependent on the Gpd2p isoform of the NAD(+)-linked glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (Gpd). The growth inhibition of respiratory incompetent cox18Delta cells lacking GPD2 is reversed by the addition of acetoin, an alternative sink for NADH oxidation. Growth is also restored by addition of lysine or glutamic acid/glutamine, the synthesis of which involves production of mitochondrial NADH. Lysine produced a stronger growth stimulating effect than glutamic acid consistent with an upregulated expression of the IDP3 gene for peroxisomal synthesis of the glutamate precursor alpha-ketoglutarate. Gpd2p is known to be a cytosolic protein but possesses a classical mitochondrial presequence, which we show is sufficient for mitochondrial targeting. A partial mitochondrial localization of Gpd2p will provide for establishment of intramitochondrial redox balance under non-respiratory conditions. Gpd1p, the other Gpd isoform, is partly cytosolic and partly peroxisomal and becomes more strictly peroxisomal in respiratory-deficient mutants. The different cellular distribution of Gpd1p and Gpd2p thus appears to be the main reason Gpd1p cannot substitute for Gpd2p in cox18Deltagpd2Delta cells, despite similar kinetic characteristics of the two iso-enzymes.     

A possible relationship between the fatty acid composition of yeasts and the ‘petite’ mutation

A number of Crabtree-positive and Crabtree-negative yeasts were tested for their ability to yield respiratory-deficient (petite) mutants on treatment with acriflavine. Crabtree-positive species produced petite mutants but did not contain the polyunsaturated linoleic (C 18.2) and linolenic (C 18.3) fatty acids. Crabtree-negative species contained these fatty acids and were resistant to acriflavine. This work was supported in part by grant B/SR/5780 from the Science Research Council. We are grateful to the Brewer's Society for a Research Scholarship to Mr. B. Johnson. We thank Mr. A. Bradley for competent technical assistance.     

Mutations in MTO2 related to tRNA modification impair mitochondrial gene expression and protein synthesis in the presence of a paromomycin resistance mutation in mitochondrial 15 S rRNA

Nuclear gene(s) have been shown to modulate the phenotypic expression of mitochondrial DNA mutations. We report here the identification and characterization of the yeast nuclear gene MTO2 encoding an evolutionarily conserved protein involved in mitochondrial tRNA modification. Interestingly, mto2 null mutants expressed a respiratory-deficient phenotype when coexisting with the C1409G mutation of mitochondrial 15 S rRNA at the very conservative site for human deafness-associated 12 S rRNA A1491G and C1409T mutations. Furthermore, the overall rate of mitochondrial translation was markedly reduced in a yeast mto2 strain in the wild type mitochondrial background, whereas mitochondrial protein synthesis was almost abolished in a yeast mto2 strain carrying the C1409G allele. The other interesting feature of mto2 mutants is the defective expression of mitochondrial genes, especially CYTB and COX1, but only when coexisting with the C1409G allele. These data strongly indicate that a product of MTO2 functionally interacts with the decoding region of 15 S rRNA, particularly at the site of the C1409G or A1491G mutation. In addition, we showed that yeast and human Mto2p localize in mitochondria. The isolated human MTO2 cDNA can partially restore the respiratory-deficient phenotype of yeast mto2 cells carrying the C1409G mutation. These functional conservations imply that human MTO2 may act as a modifier gene, modulating the phenotypic expression of the deafness-associated A1491G or C1409T mutation in mitochondrial 12 S rRNA.     

Bromodeoxyuridine 5'-monophosphate incorporation into yeast nuclear and mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid.

Standard laboratory yeast strains can be enriched for thymidine 5'-monophosphate (TMP) uptake derivatives that generate only a low percentage of respiratory-deficient colonies (petites) under inhibition of TMP biosynthesis. Such mutants incorporated bromodeoxyuridine 5'-monophosphate (BrdUMP) into both nuclear and mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (mtDNA); however, they showed a selectivity for TMP over BrdUMP incorporation. The preferential incorporation of [3H]TMP or BrdUMP into mtDNA was strain dependent. The density increments after growth in the presence of BrdUMP reached 50 mg/ml for nuclear DNA and 22 mg/ml for mtDNA in CsCl gradients. Density shifts corresponding to 4% bromouracil substitution were easily detected. Preliminary density transfer experiments confirm that mtDNA does not replicate in synchrony with nuclear DNA.     

Genetic studies on mitochondrially inherited mikamycin-resistance in Paramecium aurelia

Summary Mutants of Paramecium aurelia resistant to mikamycin were shown by microinjection experiments to be due to changes in the extranuclear, mitochondrial genetic system. These mutants were also resistant to a low concentration of erythromycin.Double mutants, resistant to a high level of erythromycin and to mikamycin, were obtained by a two-stage mutation-like process. Injection of mitochondria from these resulted in transformation to the double mutant type, irrespective of the selective medium used to obtain the transformants.     

Oligomycin-resistant mitochondrial ATPase from mouse fibroblasts.

Fourteen oligomycin-resistant LM(TK-) clones were isolated following the mutagenesis of minicells. In the absence of oligomycin, the mutants grew with population doubling times similar to that of the wild type (1 day). In 3 or 5 microgram oligomycin/ml the doubling times of the mutants were 1.2-2.5 days. Both stable and unstable classes were represented among the oligomycin-resistant mutants. Mitochondrial ATPase activities of the mutants were 1.3-1130 times more resistant to oligomycin than the wild type. The mitochondrial ATPase of OLI 14 was found to be bound firmly to the mitochondrial membrane, showed no alteration in the pH optimum compared to wild-type, and exhibited increased resistance to DCCD and venturicidin. These results are consistent with the conclusion that oligomycin resistance in these mutants results from altered mitochondrial ATPase.     

Biochemical,genetic and molecular characterization of new respiratory-deficient mutants inChlamydomonas reinhardtii

Eight respiratory-deficient mutants ofChlamydomonas reinhardtii have been isolated after mutagenic treatment with acriflavine or ethidium bromide. They are characterized by their inability to grow or their very reduced growth under heterotrophic conditions. One mutation (Class III) is of nuclear origin whereas the seven remaining mutants (Classes I and II) display a predominantly paternalmt ^- inheritance, typical of mutations residing in the mitochondrial DNA. Biochemical analysis has shown that all mutants are deficient in the cyanide-sensitive cytochrome pathway of the respiration whereas the alternative pathway is still functional. Measurements of complexes II + III (antimycin-sensitive succinate-cytochromec oxido-reductase) and complex IV (cytochromec oxidase) activities allowed to conclude that six mutations have to be localized in the mitochondrial apocytochromeb (COB) gene, one in the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and one in a nuclear gene encoding a component of the cytochrome oxidase complex. By using specific probes, we have moreover demonstrated that five mutants (Class II mutants) contain mitochondrial DNA molecules deleted in the terminal end containing the COB gene and the telomeric region; they also possess dimeric molecules resulting from end-to-end junctions of deleted monomers. The two other mitochondrial mutants (Class I) have no detectable gross alteration. Class I and Class II mutants can also be distinguished by the pattern of transmission of the mutation in crosses.Anin vivo staining test has been developed to identify rapidly the mutants impaired in cyanide-sensitive respiration.     

Production of reactive oxygen species and loss of viability in yeast mitochondrial mutants: protective effect of Bcl-xL

The capacity of yeast cells to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), both as a response to manipulation of mitochondrial functions and to growth conditions, was estimated and compared with the viability of the cells. The chronological ageing of yeast cells (growth to late-stationary phase) was accompanied by increased ROS accumulation and a significantly higher loss of viability in the mutants with impaired mitochondrial functions than in the parental strain. Under these conditions, the ectopic expression of mammalian Bcl-x(L), which is an anti-apoptotic protein, allowed cells to survive longer in stationary phase. The protective effect of Bcl-x(L) was more prominent in respiratory-competent cells that contained defects in mitochondrial ADP/ATP translocation, suggesting a model for Bcl-x(L) regulation of chronological ageing at the mitochondria. Yeast can also be triggered into apoptosis-like cell death, at conditions leading to the depletion of the intramitochondrial ATP pool, as a consequence of the parallel inhibition of mitochondrial respiration and ADP/ATP translocation. If respiratory-deficient (rho(0)) cells were used, no correlation between the numbers of ROS-producing cells and the viability loss in the population was observed, indicating that ROS production may be an accompanying event. The protective effect of Bcl-x(L) against death of these cells suggests a mitochondrial mechanism which is different from the antioxidant activity of Bcl-x(L).     

Urban air pollution: use of different mutagenicity assays to evaluate environmental genetic hazard.

The genotoxic activities associated with airborne particulate matter collected in Parma (northern Italy) have been determined. The airborne particle extracts were tested for mutagenicity using Salmonella frameshift (TA98) and base-substitution (TA100) tester strains with and without S9 microsomal activation and Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain D7 in order to determine the frequency of mitotic gene conversion and ilv1-92 mutant reversion in cells harvested at stationary and logarithmic growth phase. The relationship between mitochondrial DNA mutations and ageing, degenerative diseases and cancer prompted us to take into account the mitochondrial informational target, i.e., the respiratory-deficient (RD) mutants. The results obtained show a variability in the response for the different test systems during different months. The Salmonella mutagenicity trend was directly correlated with carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and Pb concentration in airborne particulates and inversely correlated with temperature, whereas the mitochondrial genotoxic effect was higher during spring and late summer. These data suggest that the genotoxic risk assessment is a time-dependent value strictly correlated with the evaluation system being tested.     

Storage of brewing yeasts by liquid nitrogen refrigeration

Many yeast strains are difficult to maintain in culture in a stable state, and long-term preservation by lyophilization, which has proved useful for other fungi, has given poor results with brewing yeasts. As an alternative to continuous subculture, which maximizes strain variability, various methods of cryogenic storage were investigated. Yeast strains were frozen with or without cryoprotectants (such as glycerol or inositol) and stored at -196 C. Recovery after warming was estimated from plate counts, and survivors were screened to detect changes in the frequency of morphological types, respiratory-deficient mutants, and glycerol-sensitive mutants. Strains varied in their sensitivity to freezing, and survival was modified by the growth medium, the freezing munstrua, and the freezing conditions. Suspension of cells in 10% (vol/vol) glycerol, cooled at 1 C/min, warmed rapidly and plated on malt-yeast extract-glucose-peptone agar produced the highest percentage of viable colonies with a minimal change in metabolic characteristics. In two of the strains tested, no significant increase in mutation rate was detected under any of the treatments; the strains were maintained in a stable state and were metabolically comparable to unfrozen strains. In one strain of Saccharomyces uvarum after some freezing treatments, the percentage of respiratory-deficient mutants increased markedly, the fermentation rate declined, and a loss of flocculation occurred. The freezing parameters which increased the level of respiratory-deficient cells should be avoided in maintaining this strain. Maintenance of cultures of brewing yeasts by cryogenic storage has several advantages over other preservation techniques: the method is simple and reproducible, the cultures have remained stable over a 3-year test period, and the viability is high.     

Disruption of mitochondrial function in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Candida albicans</Emphasis> leads to reduced cellular ergosterol levels and elevated growth in the presence of amphotericin B

A respiratory-deficient mutant of Candida albicans MEN was generated by culturing cells in medium supplemented with ethidium bromide at 37 degrees C for 5 days. The respiratory-deficient mutant (C. albicans MMU11) was incapable of growth on glycerol, had a reduced oxygen uptake rate and demonstrated an altered mitochondrial cytochrome profile. Respiratory-competent cybrids were formed by mitochondrial transfer following fusion of protoplasts with those of C. albicans ATCC 44990. Mutant MMU11 possessed lower levels of ergosterol than the parental isolates and the cybrids, and demonstrated a small but statistically significant increase in tolerance to amphotericin B. The results demonstrated that disruption of mitochondrial function in C. albicans increases the tolerance to amphotericin B, possibly mediated by a reduction in cellular ergosterol content.     

Maintenance of mitochondrial morphology is linked to maintenance of the mitochondrial genome in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, certain mutant alleles of YME4, YME6, and MDM10 cause an increased rate of mitochondrial DNA migration to the nucleus, carbon-source-dependent alterations in mitochondrial morphology, and increased rates of mitochondrial DNA loss. While single mutants grow on media requiring mitochondrial respiration, any pairwise combination of these mutations causes a respiratory-deficient phenotype. This double-mutant phenotype allowed cloning of YME6, which is identical to MMM1 and encodes an outer mitochondrial membrane protein essential for maintaining normal mitochondrial morphology. Yeast strains bearing null mutations of MMM1 have altered mitochondrial morphology and a slow growth rate on all carbon sources and quantitatively lack mitochondrial DNA. Extragenic suppressors of MMM1 deletion mutants partially restore mitochondrial morphology to the wild-type state and have a corresponding increase in growth rate and mitochondrial DNA stability. A dominant suppressor also suppresses the phenotypes caused by a point mutation in MMM1, as well as by specific mutations in YME4 and MDM10.