Mutants of Schizosaccharomyces pombe which sporulate in the haploid state

Summary Suppressor mutants of mei1–102, a mutation in one of the mating type cassette genes (mat2-P) which blocks the progression into meiosis, were isolated and characterized in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. These suppressor mutations conferred either temperature-sensitivity or cold-sensitivity. The growth of these strains is halted and sporulation initiated at the restrictive temperatures, regardless of other conditions usually required for the initiation of meiosis i.e. they sporulate in the presence of a nitrogen source and mating type homozygosity. Their most striking feature is that they can sporulate from the haploid state. The haploidy of these mutants was confirmed by genetical analysis and by measurement of the DNA content of the cells. The mutants are all recessive and define a single gene pat1. The pat1 gene maps very close to the centromere of chromosome II. A meiosis defective mutation in mei5 can suppress the temperature-sensitivity caused by pat1, indicating some interaction between them. Spores produced from a haploid cell have poor viability and appear to contain only 1/2C DNA on average.     

Mcp7, a meiosis-specific coiled-coil protein of fission yeast, associates with Meu13 and is required for meiotic recombination

We previously showed that Meu13 of Schizosaccharomyces pombe functions in homologous pairing and recombination at meiosis I. Here we show that a meiosis-specific gene encodes a coiled-coil protein that complexes with Meu13 during meiosis in vivo. This gene denoted as mcp7⁺ (after meiotic coiled-coil protein) is an ortholog of Mnd1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mcp7 proteins are detected on meiotic chromatin. The phenotypes of mcp7Δ cells are similar to those of meu13Δ cells as they show reduced recombination rates and spore viability and produce spores with abnormal morphology. However, a delay in initiation of meiosis I chromosome segregation of mcp7Δ cells is not so conspicuous as meu13Δ cells, and no meiotic delay is observed in mcp7Δmeu13Δ cells. Mcp7 and Meu13 proteins depend on each other differently; Mcp7 becomes more stable in meu13Δ cells, whereas Meu13 becomes less stable in mcp7Δ cells. Genetic analysis shows that Mcp7 acts in the downstream of Dmc1, homologs of Escherichia coli RecA protein, for both recombination and subsequent sporulation. Taken together, we conclude that Mcp7 associates with Meu13 and together they play a key role in meiotic recombination.     

ATP analog-sensitive Pat1 protein kinase for synchronous fission yeast meiosis at physiological temperature

To study meiosis, synchronous cultures are often indispensable, especially for physical analyses of DNA and proteins. A temperature-sensitive allele of the Pat1 protein kinase (pat1-114) has been widely used to induce synchronous meiosis in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, but pat1-114-induced meiosis differs from wild-type meiosis, and some of these abnormalities might be due to higher temperature needed to inactivate the Pat1 kinase. Here, we report an ATP analog-sensitive allele of Pat1 [Pat1(L95A), designated pat1-as2] that can be used to generate synchronous meiotic cultures at physiological temperature. In pat1-as2 meiosis, chromosomes segregate with higher fidelity, and spore viability is higher than in pat1-114 meiosis, although recombination is lower by a factor of 2–3 in these mutants than in starvation-induced pat1⁺ meiosis. Addition of the mat-Pc gene improved chromosome segregation and spore viability to nearly the level of starvation-induced meiosis. We conclude that pat1-as2 mat-Pc cells offer synchronous meiosis with most tested properties similar to those of wild-type meiosis.     

Cell cycle-dependent and independent mating blocks ensure fungal zygote survival and ploidy maintenance

To ensure genome stability, sexually reproducing organisms require that mating brings together exactly 2 haploid gametes and that meiosis occurs only in diploid zygotes. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, fertilization triggers the Mei3-Pat1-Mei2 signaling cascade, which represses subsequent mating and initiates meiosis. Here, we establish a degron system to specifically degrade proteins postfusion and demonstrate that mating blocks not only safeguard zygote ploidy but also prevent lysis caused by aberrant fusion attempts. Using long-term imaging and flow-cytometry approaches, we identify previously unrecognized and independent roles for Mei3 and Mei2 in zygotes. We show that Mei3 promotes premeiotic S-phase independently of Mei2 and that cell cycle progression is both necessary and sufficient to reduce zygotic mating behaviors. Mei2 not only imposes the meiotic program and promotes the meiotic cycle, but also blocks mating behaviors independently of Mei3 and cell cycle progression. Thus, we find that fungi preserve zygote ploidy and survival by at least 2 mechanisms where the zygotic fate imposed by Mei2 and the cell cycle reentry triggered by Mei3 synergize to prevent zygotic mating.

During sexual reproduction, fertilization must happen between exactly two gametes to ensure genome stability. This study shows that two mechanisms – establishment of zygotic fate and re-entry to the cell cycle – combine to prevent fission yeast zygotes fusing with further gametes.     

Mating-Type Functions for Meiosis and Sporulation in Yeast Act through Cytoplasm

Given a nutritional regime marked by a low nitrogen level and the absence of fermentable carbon sources, conventional a/α diploid cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae exhibit a complex developmental sequence that includes a round of premeiotic DNA replication, commitment to meiosis and the elaboration of mature tetrads containing viable ascospores. Ordinarily, haploid cells and diploid cells of genotype a/a and α/α fail to display these reactions under comparable conditions. Here, we describe a simple technique for sporulation of α/α and a/a cells. Cells of genotype α/α are mated to haploid a cells carrying the kar1 (karyogamy defective) mutation to yield heterokaryons containing the corresponding diploid and haploid nuclei. The kar1 strains mate normally, but nuclei in the resultant zygotes do not fuse. When heterokaryotic cells are inoculated into sporulation media, they produce asci with six spores. Four spores carry genotypes derived from the diploid nucleus and the other two possess the markers originating from the haploid nucleus, i.e., the diploid nucleus divides meiotically while the haploid nucleus apparently divides mitotically. Similarly, the a/a genome is "helped" to sporulate as a consequence of mating with α kar1 strains. The results allow us to conclude that the mating-type functions essential for meiosis and sporulation are communicated and act through the cytoplasm and that sporulation can be dissociated from typical meiosis. This procedure will facilitate the genetic analysis of strains that are otherwise unable to sporulate.     

Identification of Novel α1,3-Galactosyltransferase and Elimination of α-Galactose-containing Glycans by Disruption of Multiple α-Galactosyltransferase Genes in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The oligosaccharides from fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe contain large amounts of d-galactose (Gal) in addition to d-mannose (Man), in contrast to the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Detailed structural analysis has revealed that the Gal residues are attached to the N- and O-linked oligosaccharides via α1,2- or α1,3-linkages. Previously we constructed and characterized a septuple α-galactosyltransferase disruptant (7GalTΔ) anticipating a complete lack of α-Gal residues. However, the 7GalTΔ strain still contained oligosaccharides consisting of α1,3-linked Gal residues, indicating the presence of at least one more additional unidentified α1,3-galactosyltransferase. In this study we searched for unidentified putative glycosyltransferases in the S. pombe genome sequence and identified three novel genes, named otg1⁺–otg3⁺ (α one, three-galactosyltransferase), that belong to glycosyltransferase gene family 8 in the Carbohydrate Active EnZymes (CAZY) database. Gal-recognizing lectin blotting and HPLC analyses of pyridylaminated oligosaccharides after deletion of these three additional genes from 7GalTΔ strain demonstrated that the resultant disruptant missing 10 α-galactosyltransferase genes, 10GalTΔ, exhibited a complete loss of galactosylation. In an in vitro galactosylation assay, the otg2⁺ gene product had Gal transfer activity toward a pyridylaminated Man₉GlcNAc₂ oligosaccharide and pyridylaminated Manα1,2-Manα1,2-Man oligosaccharide. In addition, the otg3⁺ gene product exhibited Gal transfer activity toward the pyridylaminated Man₉GlcNAc₂ oligosaccharide. Generation of an α1,3-linkage was confirmed by HPLC analysis, α-galactosidase digestion analysis, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and LC-MS/MS analysis. These results indicate that Otg2p and Otg3p are involved in α1,3-galactosylation of S. pombe oligosaccharides.     

Cloning of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe mei3 gene essential for the initiation of meiosis

Summary Cells of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe carrying the mei3 mutation are unable to initiate meiosis, being arrested before premeiotic DNA synthesis. A plasmid pDB(mei3)1 containing an 8.6 kilobases (kb) DNA insert which complemented mei3 mutations was isolated from an S. pombe genomic library constructed in the vector pDB248. A HindIII fragment of 2.6 kb subcloned in both orientations into pDB248 complemented the mei3 mutation. The plasmid was designated pDB(mei3)2. The 2.6 kb fragment ligated to the vector YIp32 was integrated into the S. pombe chromosome at the mei3 locus, indicating that the cloned DNA fragment contains the mei3 gene itself. Both pDB(mei3)1 and pDB(mei3)2 allowed partial recovery of meiotic and sporulation ability in mei1 mutants, suggesting a close relationship between the mei1 and mei3 genes. Northern blot analysis with pDB(mei3)2 as the probe indicated that the mei3 mRNA (1.3 kb in length) is more abundant in cells cultured in nitrogen-free sporulation medium than in nitrogen-rich growth medium.     

A description of the Mei2-like protein family; structure,phylogenetic distribution and biological context

The Schizosaccharomyces pombe Mei2 gene encodes an RNA recognition motif (RRM) protein that stimulates meiosis upon binding a specific non-coding RNA and subsequent accumulation in a "mei2-dot" in the nucleus. We present here the first systematic characterization of the family of proteins with characteristic Mei2-like amino acid sequences. Mei2-like proteins are an ancient eukaryotic protein family with three identifiable RRMs. The C-terminal RRM (RRM3) is unique to Mei2-like proteins and is the most highly conserved of the three RRMs. RRM3 also contains conserved sequence elements at its C-terminus not found in other RRM domains. Single copy Mei2-like genes are present in some fungi, in alveolates such as Paramecium and in the early branching eukaryote Entamoeba histolytica, while plants contain small families of Mei2-like genes. While the C-terminal RRM is highly conserved between plants and fungi, indicating conservation of molecular mechanisms, plant Mei2-like genes have changed biological context to regulate various aspects of developmental pattern formation.     

The anaphase promoting complex targeting subunit Ama1 links meiotic exit to cytokinesis during sporulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Ascospore formation in yeast is accomplished through a cell division in which daughter nuclei are engulfed by newly formed plasma membranes, termed prospore membranes. Closure of the prospore membrane must be coordinated with the end of meiosis II to ensure proper cell division. AMA1 encodes a meiosis-specific activator of the anaphase promoting complex (APC). The activity of APC^Ama1 is inhibited before meiosis II, but the substrates specifically targeted for degradation by Ama1 at the end of meiosis are unknown. We show here that ama1Δ mutants are defective in prospore membrane closure. Ssp1, a protein found at the leading edge of the prospore membrane, is stabilized in ama1Δ mutants. Inactivation of a conditional form of Ssp1 can partially rescue the sporulation defect of the ama1Δ mutant, indicating that an essential function of Ama1 is to lead to the removal of Ssp1. Depletion of Cdc15 causes a defect in meiotic exit. We find that prospore membrane closure is also defective in Cdc15 and that this defect can be overcome by expression of a form of Ama1 in which multiple consensus cyclin-dependent kinase phosphorylation sites have been mutated. These results demonstrate that APC^Ama1 functions to coordinate the exit from meiosis II with cytokinesis.     

Cell Lysis in S. pombe ura4 Mutants Is Suppressed by Loss of Functional Pub1, Which Regulates the Uracil Transporter Fur4

Schizosaccharomyces pombe Δura4 cells lyse when grown on YPD medium. A S. pombe non-essential gene deletion library was screened to determine suppressors of the lysis phenotype. Deletion of the pub1 gene, which encoded E3 ubiquitin ligase, strongly suppressed cell lysis in Δura4 cells. The Δpub1 cells displayed high sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil, a toxic analog of uracil, and this sensitivity was suppressed by deletion of fur4, which encoded a uracil transporter. Fur4 localized primarily to the Golgi apparatus and vacuoles in wild-type cells, but localization was predominantly at the plasma membrane in Δpub1 cells. Fur4 was necessary for the utilization of extracellular uracil, cytosine, or UMP. Uracil uptake activity increased in the Δpub1 strain in a Fur4-dependent manner. In addition, uracil starvation was critical for induction of cell lysis of Δura4 strains and uracil supplementation suppressed lysis. In summary, the increased uracil uptake ability of Δpub1 cells, where Fur4 was predominantly localized to the plasma membrane, resulted in suppression of cell lysis in the Δura4 background.     

Assembly,molecular organization,and membrane-binding properties of development-specific septins

Septin complexes display remarkable plasticity in subunit composition, yet how a new subunit assembled into higher-order structures confers different functions is not fully understood. Here, this question is addressed in budding yeast, where during meiosis Spr3 and Spr28 replace the mitotic septin subunits Cdc12 and Cdc11 (and Shs1), respectively. In vitro, the sole stable complex that contains both meiosis-specific septins is a linear Spr28–Spr3–Cdc3–Cdc10–Cdc10–Cdc3–Spr3–Spr28 hetero-octamer. Only coexpressed Spr3 and Spr28 colocalize with Cdc3 and Cdc10 in mitotic cells, indicating that incorporation requires a Spr28-Spr3 protomer. Unlike their mitotic counterparts, Spr28-Spr3–capped rods are unable to form higher-order structures in solution but assemble to form long paired filaments on lipid monolayers containing phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate, mimicking presence of this phosphoinositide in the prospore membrane. Spr28 and Spr3 fail to rescue the lethality of a cdc11Δ cdc12Δ mutant, and Cdc11 and Cdc12 fail to restore sporulation proficiency to spr3Δ/spr3Δ spr28Δ/spr28Δ diploids. Thus, specific meiotic and mitotic subunits endow septin complexes with functionally distinct properties.