Project description:Meiosis is a specialized cell division that generates gametes, such as eggs and sperm. Errors in meiosis result in miscarriages and are the leading cause of birth defects, however the molecular origins of these defects remain unknown. Studies in model organisms are beginning to identify the genes and pathways important for meiosis, but the parts list is still poorly defined. Here we present a comprehensive catalogue of genes required for meiosis in the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Our genome-wide functional screen surveyed all non-essential genes for roles in chromosome segregation and spore formation. Novel genes required at distinct stages of the meiotic chromosome segregation and differentiation programme were identified. Preliminary characterization implicated three of these genes in centrosome/spindle pole body function, centromere and cohesion function. Our findings represent a near-complete parts list of genes required for meiosis in fission yeast, providing a valuable resource to advance our molecular understanding of meiosis.
Project description:We used CLIP-Seq to determine the RNAs bound specifically to RNA binding protein Mei2 in early meiosis in fission yeast. We added a TAP tag to the C-terminal ends of two meiotic RNA binding proteins, Mei2 and Msa1. We used an untagged fission yeast strain as a negative control. These strains were nitrogen starved and allowed to progress into meiosis, after which they were harvested, lyzed and crosslinking immunoprecipitaion was performed. The RNAs purified after CLIP were sequenced
Project description:We determined the strand-specific transcriptome of the fission yeast S. pombe under multiple growth conditions using a novel RNA/DNA hybridization mapping (HybMap) technique. HybMap uses an antibody against an RNA/DNA hybrid to detect RNA molecules hybridized to a high density DNA oligonucleotide tiling microarray. HybMap exhibited exceptional dynamic range and reproducibility, and clearly revealed coding, non-coding and structural RNAs, as well as new RNAs conserved in distant yeast species. Virtually the entire euchromatic genome (including intergenics) is transcribed, with heterochromatin dampening intergenic transcription. Transcriptomes of alternative growth conditions reveal changes in both coding and non-coding RNAs. Interestingly, our analysis reveals large numbers of non-coding RNAs, extensive antisense transcription, new properties of antisense transcripts, and induced divergent transcription. Furthermore, HybMap informed the efficiency and locations of RNA splicing genome-wide. Finally, a remarkable feature is observed at heterochromatin boundaries inside centromeres; strand-specific transcription islands around tRNAs. These new features are discussed in terms of organism fitness and transcriptome evolution. Keywords: yeast, gene expression, bioinformatics
