Project description:Theory and experiment suggest that organisms would benefit from pre-adaptation to future stressors based on reproducible environmental fluctuations experienced by their ancestors. Yet mechanisms driving pre-adaptation remain enigmatic. We report that the [SMAUG+] prion allows yeast to anticipate nutrient repletion after periods of starvation, providing a strong selective advantage. By transforming the landscape of post-transcriptional gene expression, [SMAUG+] regulates the decision between two broad growth and survival strategies: mitotic proliferation or meiotic differentiation into a stress-resistant state. [SMAUG+] is common in laboratory yeast strains, where standard propagation practice produces regular cycles of nutrient scarcity followed by repletion. Distinct [SMAUG+] variants are also widespread in wild yeast isolates from multiple niches, establishing that prion polymorphs can be utilized in natural populations. Our data provide a striking example of how protein-based epigenetic switches, hidden in plain sight, can establish a transgenerational memory that integrates adaptive prediction into developmental decisions.
Project description:Sfp1p is known to form the [ISP+] prion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Interestingly enough, the consequences and phenotypes of Sfp1p prionization and its absence are quite different. In order to understand the origin of this difference, we compared transcription profiles of an [ISP+], sfp1delta strains against the control strain (SFP1 [isp-]).
Project description:Reprogramming a non-methylotrophic industrial host, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, to a synthetic methylotroph reprents a huge challenge due to the complex regulation in yeast. Through TMC strategy together with ALE strategy, we completed a strict synthetic methylotrophic yeast that could use methanol as the sole carbon source. However, how cells respond to methanol and remodel cellular metabolic network on methanol were not clear. Therefore, genome-scale transcriptional analysis was performed to unravel the cellular reprograming mechanisms underlying the improved growth phenotype.
Project description:The yeast RNA binding protein PUB1 contains a prion-like domain (PrLD) and, when overexpressed, localizes into cytoplasmic liquid droplets and is toxic. However, truncated versions lacking the PrLD are either soluble or aggregating and do not significantly alter yeast growth. Analysis of the interactomes of WT and mutant PUB1 was analyzed to clarify the link between droplets formation and toxicity.
Project description:In response to carbon source switching from glucose to non-glucose, such as ethanol and galactose, yeast cells can directionally preprogram cellular metabolism to efficiently utilize the nutrients. However, the understanding of cellular responsive network to utilize a non-natural carbon source, such as xylose, is limited due to the incomplete knowledge on the xylose response mechanisms. Here, through optimization of the xylose assimilation pathway together with combinational evaluation of reported targets, we generated a series of mutants with varied growth ability. However, understanding how cells respond to xylose and remodel cellular metabolic network is far insufficient based on current information. Therefore, genome-scale transcriptional analysis was performed to unravel the cellular reprograming mechanisms underlying the improved growth phenotype.