A fast method to diagnose chromosome and plasmid loss in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains.

We have developed a simple, fast and reliable method for the analysis of genetic stability in budding yeast strains. The assay relies on our previous finding that cells expressing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) can be detected and counted by flow cytometric analysis (FACS) (Niedenthal et al., 1996). Expression of a gfp-carrying CEN-plasmid in a wild-type strain resulted in the emission of strong fluorescence from 80% of the cell population. Strong fluorescence and presence of the plasmid, determined by the presence of the URA3 genetic marker, was strictly correlated. Expression of this plasmid in 266 yeast strains, each carrying a complete deletion of a novel, non-essential gene identified in the S. cerevisiae sequencing project, pinpointed 12 strains with an increased level of mitotic plasmid loss. Finally we have shown that measurement of mitotic loss of artificial chromosome fragments equipped with the gfp expression cassette can be performed quantitatively using FACS.

Functional analysis of 150 deletion mutants in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by a systematic approach.

In a systematic approach to the study of Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes of unknown function, 150 deletion mutants were constructed (1 double, 149 single mutants) and phenotypically analysed. Twenty percent of all genes examined were essential. The viable deletion mutants were subjected to 20 different test systems, ranging from high throughput to highly specific test systems. Phenotypes were obtained for two-thirds of the mutants tested. During the course of this investigation, mutants for 26 of the genes were described by others. For 18 of these the reported data were in accordance with our results. Surprisingly, for seven genes, additional, unexpected phenotypes were found in our tests. This suggests that the type of analysis presented here provides a more complete description of gene function.

Green fluorescent protein as a marker for gene expression and subcellular localization in budding yeast.

The green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria has attracted much attention as a tool to study a number of biological processes. This study describes the use of GFP as a vital reporter molecule for localization and expression studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Construction of GFP expression vectors which allow N- or C-terminal fusion of the gfp gene to a gene of interest allowed the generation of fusion proteins whose subcellular localization was followed by fluorescence microscopy in living yeast cells. Analysis of three unknown open reading frames obtained from the budding yeast chromosome XIV resulted in distinct staining patterns, allowing prediction of the cellular localization of these unknown proteins. Furthermore, GFP was used to construct a gene replacement cassette which, after homologous integration into the genomic locus, placed the gfp gene behind a promoter of interest. The amount of GFP produced from this promoter was then quantified in living yeast cells by flow cytometry. With this novel replacement cassette a gene of interest can be deleted and at the same time its expression level studied under various growth conditions. The experiments presented here suggest that GFP represents a convenient fluorescent marker for localization studies as well as gene expression studies in budding yeast. Systematic studies of a large number of genes should benefit from such assays.

The sequence of a 24,152 bp segment from the left arm of chromosome XIV from Saccharomyces cerevisiae between the BNI1 and the POL2 genes.

In the framework of the European Union programme for sequencing the genome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae we have determined the nucleotide sequence of a region of 24,152 bp located on the left arm of chromosome XIV between the BNI1 and the POL2 genes. The sequence was obtained by directed sequence analysis using a mixture of ExoIII and primer walking strategies. Subsequent analysis revealed 13 open reading frames (ORFs) including four small ORFs completely internal to, or partly overlapping with, other ORFs. Five of these ORFs have been described previously (BNI1, APL1, LYP1, PIK1, POL2) and thus 74.8% of the 24,152 bp were already present in the databases prior to this sequencing effort. Interestingly, all 13 identified ORFs are characterized by a low codon adaptation index (0.04-0.22). In addition, this region of chromosome XIV shows an unusually high gene density with about 88% of coding DNA. This amounts to one gene per 2177 bp, which is significantly above the average gene length (about 1500 bp). For eight ORFs considerable homologies to 'Expressed Sequence Tags' derived from human cDNAs located in the XREF database could be identified.

The yeast centromere CDEI/Cpf1 complex: differences between in vitro binding and in vivo function.

The centromere and promoter factor Cpf1 binds centromere DNA element I found in all centromere DNAs from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We analyzed thirty different point mutations in or around CEN6-CDEI (ATCACGTG) for their relative binding affinity to Cpf1 and these data were compared with the in vivo centromere function of these mutants. We show that the minimal length of the Cpf1 binding site needed for full in vitro binding and in vivo activity is 10 base pairs long comprised of CDEI plus the two base pairs 3' of this sequence. The palindromic core sequence CACGTG is most important for in vivo CEN function and in vitro Cpf1 binding. Symmetrical mutations in either halfsite of the core sequence affect in vitro Cpf1 binding and in vivo mitotic centromere function asymmetrically albeit to a different extent. Enlarging the CDEI palindrome to 12 or 20 bps increases in vitro Cpf1 binding but results in increased chromosome loss rates suggesting a need for asymmetrical Cpf1 binding sequences. Additionally, the ability of Cpf1 protein to bind a mutant CDEI element in vitro does not parallel the ability of that mutant to confer in vivo CEN activity. Our data indicate that the in vitro binding characteristics of Cpf1 to CDEI only partly overlap with their corresponding activity within the centromere complex, thus suggesting that in the in vivo situation the CDEI/Cpf1 complex might undergo interactions with other centromere DNA/protein complexes.

Cpf1 protein induced bending of yeast centromere DNA element I.

The centromere complex is a multicomponent structure essential for faithful chromosome transmission. Here we show that the S. cerevisiae centromere protein Cpf1 bends centromere DNA element I (CDEI) with the bend angle ranging from 66 degrees to 71 degrees. CDEI DNA sequences that carry point mutations which lead to reduced Cpf1 binding affinity and in vivo centromere activity are still able to show bending. The Cpf1 induced bend is directed towards the major groove with the bend centre located in CDEI. An intrinsic bend cannot replace the Cpf1 induced DNA bend for in vivo centromere function. An in vivo phasing experiment suggests that both the distance and the correct spatial arrangement of the CDEI/Cpf1 complex to CDEII and CDEIII are important for optimal centromere function.