Epigenetic inheritance of transcriptional states in S. cerevisiae

SIR1, one of several genes required for repression of yeast silent mating type loci, has a unique role in repression of the HML alpha locus. Single-cell assays revealed that cells with mutant alleles of SIR1, including presumptive null alleles, existed as populations of genetically identical cells whose members were in one of two different regulatory states. A minority of cells had a repressed HML alpha locus whereas the majority had a derepressed HML alpha locus. The two states were mitotically stable, although rare changes in state were observed during mitotic growth, possibly reflecting heritable changes to the HML alpha locus at or before replication. Analysis of changes in state suggests that SIR1 protein has a role in the establishment but not the maintenance of repression of silent mating type genes, whereas SIR2, SIR3, and SIR4 are required for maintenance.     

SIR–nucleosome interactions: Structure–function relationships in yeast silent chromatin

Discrete regions of the eukaryotic genome assume a heritable chromatin structure that is refractory to gene expression, referred to as heterochromatin or “silent” chromatin. Constitutively silent chromatin is found in subtelomeric domains in a number of species, ranging from yeast to man. In addition, chromatin-dependent repression of mating type loci occurs in both budding and fission yeasts, to enable sexual reproduction. The silencing of chromatin in budding yeast is characterized by an assembly of Silent Information Regulatory (SIR) proteins—Sir2, Sir3 and Sir4—with unmodified nucleosomes. Silencing requires the lysine deacetylase activity of Sir2, extensive contacts between Sir3 and the nucleosome, as well as interactions among the SIR proteins, to generate the Sir2–3–4 or SIR complex. Results from recent structural and reconstitution studies suggest an updated model for the ordered assembly and organization of SIR-dependent silent chromatin in yeast. Moreover, studies of subtelomeric gene expression reveal the importance of subtelomeric silent chromatin in the regulation of genes other than the silent mating type loci. This review covers recent advances in this field.     

Functional domains of SIR4, a gene required for position effect regulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The product of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae SIR4 gene, in conjunction with at least three other gene products, prevents expression of mating-type genes resident at loci at either end of chromosome III, but not of the same genes resident at the MAT locus in the middle of the chromosome. To address the mechanism of this novel position effect regulation, we have conducted a structural and genetic analysis of the SIR4 gene. We have determined the nucleotide sequence of the gene and found that it encodes a lysine-rich, serine-rich protein of 152 kilodaltons. Expression of the carboxy half of the protein complements a chromosomal nonsense mutation of sir4 but not a complete deletion of the gene. These results suggest that SIR4 protein activity resides in two portions of the molecule, but that these domains need not be covalently linked to execute their biological function. We also found that high-level expression of the carboxy domain of the protein yields dominant derepression of the silent loci. This anti-Sir activity can be reversed by increased expression of the SIR3 gene, whose product is normally also required for maintaining repression of the silent loci. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that SIR3 and SIR4 proteins physically associate to form a multicomponent complex required for repression of the silent mating-type loci.     

SIR Functions Are Required for the Toleration of an Unrepaired Double-Strand Break in a Dispensable Yeast Chromosome

Unrepaired DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) typically result in G(2) arrest. Cell cycle progression can resume following repair of the DSBs or through adaptation to the checkpoint, even if the damage remains unrepaired. We developed a screen for factors in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that affect checkpoint control and/or viability in response to a single, unrepairable DSB that is induced by HO endonuclease in a dispensable yeast artificial chromosome containing human DNA. SIR2, -3, or -4 mutants exhibit a prolonged, RAD9-dependent G(2) arrest in response to the unrepairable DSB followed by a slow adaptation to the persistent break, leading to division and rearrest in the next G(2). There are a small number of additional cycles before permanent arrest as microcolonies. Thus, SIR genes, which repress silent mating type gene expression, are required for the adaptation and the prevention of indirect lethality resulting from an unrepairable DSB in nonessential DNA. Rapid adaptation to the G(2) checkpoint and high viability were restored in sir(-) strains containing additional deletions of the silent mating type loci HML and HMR, suggesting that genes under mating type control can reduce the toleration of a single DSB. However, coexpression of MATa1 and MATalpha2 in Sir(+) haploid cells did not lead to lethality from the HO-induced DSB, suggesting that toleration of an unrepaired DSB requires more than one Sir(+) function.     

The absence of SIR2alpha protein has no effect on global gene silencing in mouse embryonic stem cells

The yeast sir2 gene plays a central role in mediating gene silencing and DNA repair in this organism. The mouse sir2alpha gene is closely related to its yeast homologue and encodes a nuclear protein expressed at particularly high levels in embryonic stem (ES) cells. We used homologous recombination to create ES cells null for sir2alpha and found that these cells did not have elevated levels of acetylated histones and did not ectopically express silent genes. Unlike yeast sir2 mutants, our sir2alpha null ES cells had normal sensitivity to insults such as ionizing radiation and heat shock, and they were able to silence invading retroviruses normally. These sir2alpha null cells were able to differentiate in culture normally. Our results failed to provide evidence that the mammalian SIR2alpha protein plays a role in gene silencing and suggest that the physiological substrate(s) for the SIR2alpha deacetylase may be nuclear proteins other than histones.     

Four Genes Responsible for a Position Effect on Expression from HML and HMR in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mating type interconversion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae occurs by transposition of copies of the a or alpha mating type cassettes from inactive loci, HML and HMR, to an active locus, MAT. The lack of expression of the a and alpha genes at the silent loci results from repression by trans-acting regulators encoded by SIR (Silent Information Regulator) genes. In this paper we present evidence for the existence of four SIR genes. Inactivation of any of these genes leads to expression of cassettes at both HML and HMR. Unusual complementation properties are observed for a number of sir mutations. Specifically, some recessive mutations in different genes fail to complement. The correspondence between SIR1, SIR2, SIR3, SIR4 and other genes with similar roles (MAR, CMT, STE8 and STE9) is presented.     

Isolation of suppressor mutants of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate 5-kinase deficient cells in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The ste12+ gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe codes for a phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-phosphate 5'-kinase, which is required for efficient mating. Suppressor mutants for sterility of ste12Delta cells were screened for. Most of the mutant genes turned out to be recessive. Six genes were cloned and the open reading frames responsible for the suppressor activity were identified. They included genes coding for proteins with domains homologous to calcium transporters, casein kinase II, UBC13, AMSH, Vps23p, and Vps27p of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Disruption of these genes resulted in suppression of the defects of the ste12Delta cells, including low mating efficiency and formation of large vacuoles. Since many of these gene products are homologous to the proteins involved in vesicle transport, sterility caused by inactivation of ste12 may be due to a disordered vesicle transport system.     

Identification of Genes Required for Normal Pheromone-Induced Cell Polarization in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

In response to mating pheromones, cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae adopt a polarized ``shmoo'''' morphology, in which the cytoskeleton and proteins involved in mating are localized to a cell-surface projection. This polarization is presumed to reflect the oriented morphogenesis that occurs between mating partners to facilitate cell and nuclear fusion. To identify genes involved in pheromone-induced cell polarization, we have isolated mutants defective in mating to an enfeebled partner and studied a subset of these mutants. The 34 mutants of interest are proficient for pheromone production, arrest in response to pheromone, mate to wild-type strains, and exhibit normal cell polarity during vegetative growth. The mutants were divided into classes based on their morphological responses to mating pheromone. One class is unable to localize cell-surface growth in response to mating factor and instead enlarges in a uniform manner. These mutants harbor special alleles of genes required for cell polarization during vegetative growth, BEM1 and CDC24. Another class of mutants forms bilobed, peanut-like shapes when treated with pheromone and defines two genes, PEA1 and PEA2. PEA1 is identical to SPA2. A third class forms normally shaped but tiny shmoos and defines the gene TNY1. A final group of mutants exhibits apparently normal shmoo morphology. The nature of their mating defect is yet to be determined. We discuss the possible roles of these gene products in establishing cell polarity during mating.