Dataset Information

Gcn4-dependent translation reduction in long-lived ribosomal protein deletion strains

ABSTRACT: Deletion of several ribosomal proteins genes (RPKOs) has been shown to extend the lifespan of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a Gcn4-dependent manner. To characterize the underlying mechanisms, we systematically analyzed the gene expression of both short- and long-lived RPKO strains at multiple levels. We found that up-regulation of amino acid biosynthesis and global down-regulation of protein synthesis are hallmarks of long-lived strains. We provide direct evidence that gene expression changes observed in long-lived strains result from translational up-regulation of GCN4 mRNA via skipping of upstream open reading frames (uORFs), in turn due to slow/defective ribosome assembly. We further demonstrate that Gcn4 acts as a transcriptional repressor on promoters of translation-related genes, thereby globally reducing protein synthesis. Our data suggest that the Gcn4-dependent increase in lifespan can be attributed partially to its ability to dampen the translation capacity of the cell, thereby engaging a well known mechanism of longevity.

INSTRUMENT(S):

ORGANISM(S): Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (baker's Yeast)

TISSUE(S): Permanent Cell Line Cell, Cell Culture

SUBMITTER: Alexander Schmidt