Isolation of cloned DNA sequences containing ribosomal protein genes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Yeast mRNA enriched for ribosomal protein mRNA was obtained by isolating poly(A)+ small mRNA from small polysomes. A comparison of cell-free translation of this small mRNA and total mRNA, and electrophoresis of the products on two-dimensional gels which resolve most yeast ribosomal proteins, demonstrated that a 5-10 fold enrichment for ribosomal protein mRNA was obtained. One hundred different recombinant DNA molecules possibly containing ribosomal protein genes were selected by differential colony hybridization of this enriched mRNA and unfractionated mRNA to a bank of yeast pMB9 hybrid plasmids. After screening twenty-five of these candidates, five different clones were found which contain yeast ribosomal protein gene sequences. The yeast mRNAs complementary to these five plasmids code for 35S-methionine-labeled polypeptides which co-migrate on two-dimensional gels with yeast ribosomal proteins. Consistent with previous studies on ribosomal protein mRNAs, the amounts of mRNA complementary to three of these cloned genes are controlled by the RNA2 locus. Although two of the five clones contain more than one yeast gene, none contain more than one identifiable ribosomal protein gene. Thus there is no evidence for "tight" linkage of yeast ribosomal protein genes. Two of the cloned ribosomal protein genes are single-copy genes, whereas two other cloned sequences contain two different copies of the same ribosomal protein gene. The fifth plasmid contains sequences which are repeated in the yeast genome, but it is not known whether any or all of the ribosomal protein gene on this clone contains repetitive DNA.     

Functional analysis of a duplicated linked pair of ribosomal protein genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Ribosomal protein genes RP28 and S16A (RP55) are closely linked. Another set of this pair of genes exists in the genome (copy 2), genetically unlinked to copy 1. By using gene replacement techniques, we have shown that RP28 from copy 1 is required for vegetative growth and that the cells need S16A from copy 2 to achieve maximum growth rate.     

Disruption of single-copy genes encoding acidic ribosomal proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Using the cloned genes coding for the ribosomal acidic proteins L44 and L45, constructions were made which deleted part of the coding sequence and inserted a DNA fragment at that site carrying either the URA3 or HIS3 gene. By gene disruption techniques with linearized DNA from these constructions, strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were obtained which lacked a functional gene for either protein L44 or protein L45. The disrupted genes in the transformants were characterized by Southern blots. The absence of the proteins was verified by electrofocusing and immunological techniques, but a compensating increase of the other acidic ribosomal proteins was not detected. The mutant lacking L44 grew at a rate identical to the parental strain in complex as well as in minimal medium. The L45-disrupted strain also grew well in both media but at a slower rate than the parental culture. A diploid strain was obtained by crossing both transformants, and by tetrad analysis it was shown that the double transformant lacking both genes is not viable. These results indicated that proteins L44 and L45 are independently dispensable for cell growth and that the ribosome is functional in the absence of either of them.     

An altered ribosomal protein in an edeine-resistant mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Summary The r-proteins of an edeine-resistant mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were compared to those of the wild-type strain by using two different two-dimensional electrophoretic techniques: (1) the Kaltschmidt-Wittmann method and, (2) the Kaltschmidt-Wittmann system, in the first dimension and the Na Dodecyl-SO₄ system in the second.With the first technique, the results indicate that the patterns of basic ribosomal proteins are similar in the two strains. However, the pattern of acidic ribosomal proteins of the mutant revealed an additional protein band with respect to the normal one. Using the other technique, the patterns of basic and acidic ribosomal proteins of the mutant demonstrated a similarity to the corresponding pattern of the wild-type strain.The data disclose that an acidic ribosomal protein of the mutant may have two forms with different electrophoretic mobilities and similar molecular weights.     

Two genes for ribosomal protein 51 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae complement and contribute to the ribosomes.

We cloned and sequenced the second gene coding for yeast ribosomal protein 51 (RP51B). When the DNA sequence of this gene was compared with the DNA sequence of RP51A (J.L. Teem and M. Rosbash, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80:4403--4407, 1983), the following conclusions emerged: both genes code for a protein of 135 amino acids; both open reading frames are interrupted by a single intron which occurs directly after the initiating methionine; the open reading frames are 96% homologous and code for the same protein with the exception of the carboxy-terminal amino acid; DNA sequence homology outside of the coding region is extremely limited. The cloned genes, in combination with the one-step gene disruption techniques of Rothstein (R. J. Rothstein, Methods Enzymol. 101:202-211, 1983), were used to generate haploid strains containing mutations in the RP51A or RP51B genes or in both. Strains missing a normal RP51A gene grew poorly (180-min generation time versus 130 min for the wild type), whereas strains carrying a mutant RP51B were relatively normal. Strains carrying mutations in the two genes grew extremely poorly (6 to 9 h), which led us to conclude that RP51A and RP51B were both expressed. The results of Northern blot and primer extension experiments indicate that strains with a wild-type copy of the RP51B gene and a mutant (or deleted) RP51A gene grow slowly because of an insufficient amount of RP51 mRNA. The growth defect was completely rescued with additional copies of RP51B. The data suggest that RP51A contributes more RP51 mRNA (and more RP51 protein) than does RP51B and that intergenic dosage compensation, sufficient to rescue the growth defect of strains missing a wild-type RP51A gene, does not take place.     

Characterisation ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae genes encoding ribosomal protein YL6

We have characterised aSaccharomyces cerevisiae cDNA (cDNA13), originally isolated on the basis of the short half-life of the corresponding mRNA. We show here that its sequence is closely related to that of the genes encoding ribosomal proteins K37, KD4 and K5 ofSchizosaccharomyces pombe. ‘mRNA13’ also behaves like other mRNAs encoding ribosomal proteins, in that its abundance increases sharply when glucose is added to cells grown on ethanol (nutrient-up shift), and declines when cells are subjected to a mild heat-shock. Unspliced mRNA13 accumulates when cells bearing a temperature-sensitive splicing mutation are grown at the restrictive temperature. The gene(s) corresponding to cDNA13, like other ribosomal protein genes ofS. cerevisiae, thus contain an intron. Southern blot analysis indicates the presence of two separate loci related to cDNA13 in theS. cerevisiae genome. From the sequence of one of these, a complete polypeptide sequence was deduced. The first 40 amino acids are identical to those of YL6, aS. cerevisiae ribosomal protein characterised only by N-terminal protein sequence analysis. There is clear evidence within the genomic sequence for the predicted intron, and for elements similar to those that regulate expression of otherS. cerevisiae ribosomal protein genes.     

Genomic screen for vacuolar protein sorting genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The biosynthetic sorting of hydrolases to the yeast vacuole involves transport along two distinct routes referred to as the carboxypeptidase Y and alkaline phosphatase pathways. To identify genes involved in sorting to the vacuole, we conducted a genome-wide screen of 4653 homozygous diploid gene deletion strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for missorting of carboxypeptidase Y. We identified 146 mutant strains that secreted strong-to-moderate levels of carboxypeptidase Y. Of these, only 53 of the corresponding genes had been previously implicated in vacuolar protein sorting, whereas the remaining 93 had either been identified in screens for other cellular processes or were only known as hypothetical open reading frames. Among these 93 were genes encoding: 1) the Ras-like GTP-binding proteins Arl1p and Arl3p, 2) actin-related proteins such as Arp5p and Arp6p, 3) the monensin and brefeldin A hypersensitivity proteins Mon1p and Mon2p, and 4) 15 novel proteins designated Vps61p-Vps75p. Most of the novel gene products were involved only in the carboxypeptidase Y pathway, whereas a few, including Mon1p, Mon2p, Vps61p, and Vps67p, appeared to be involved in both the carboxypeptidase Y and alkaline phosphatase pathways. Mutants lacking some of the novel gene products, including Arp5p, Arp6p, Vps64p, and Vps67p, were severely defective in secretion of mature alpha-factor. Others, such as Vps61p, Vps64p, and Vps67p, displayed defects in the actin cytoskeleton at 30 degrees C. The identification and phenotypic characterization of these novel mutants provide new insights into the mechanisms of vacuolar protein sorting, most notably the probable involvement of the actin cytoskeleton in this process.     

Functional analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae ribosomal protein Rpl3p in ribosome synthesis

Ribosome synthesis in eukaryotes requires a multitude of trans-acting factors. These factors act at many steps as the pre-ribosomal particles travel from the nucleolus to the cytoplasm. In contrast to the well-studied trans-acting factors, little is known about the contribution of the ribosomal proteins to ribosome biogenesis. Herein, we have analysed the role of ribosomal protein Rpl3p in 60S ribosomal subunit biogenesis. In vivo depletion of Rpl3p results in a deficit in 60S ribosomal subunits and the appearance of half-mer polysomes. This phenotype is likely due to the instability of early and intermediate pre-ribosomal particles, as evidenced by the low steady-state levels of 27SA₃, 27SB_S and 7S_L/S precursors. Furthermore, depletion of Rpl3p impairs the nucleocytoplasmic export of pre-60S ribosomal particles. Interestingly, flow cytometry analysis indicates that Rpl3p-depleted cells arrest in the G1 phase. Altogether, we suggest that upon depletion of Rpl3p, early assembly of 60S ribosomal subunits is aborted and subsequent steps during their maturation and export prevented.     

Tandemly arranged variant 5S ribosomal RNA genes in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Most of the ribosomal RNA genes of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae are about 9 kilobases (kb) in size and encode both the 35S rRNA (processed to produce the 25S, 18S, and 5.8S species) and 5S rRNA. These genes are arranged in a single tandem array of 100 repeats. Below, we present evidence that at the centromere-distal end of this array is a tandem arrangement of a different type of rRNA gene. Each of these repeats is 3.6 kb in length and encodes a single 5S rRNA. The coding sequence of this gene is different from that of the "normal" 5S gene in three positions located at the 3' end of the gene.