Separate structural elements within internal transcribed spacer 1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae precursor ribosomal RNA direct the formation of 17S and 26S rRNA.

Structural features of Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS1) that direct its removal from Saccharomyces cerevisiae pre-rRNA during processing were identified by an initial phylogenetic approach followed by in vivo mutational analysis of specific structural elements. We found that S. cerevisiae ITS1 can functionally be replaced by the corresponding regions from the yeasts Torulaspora delbrueckii, Kluyveromyces lactis and Hansenula wingei, indicating that structural elements required in cis for processing are evolutionarily conserved. Despite large differences in size, all ITS1 regions conform to the secondary structure proposed by Yeh et al. [Biochemistry 29 (1990) 5911-5918], showing five domains (I-V; 5'-->3') of which three harbour an evolutionarily highly conserved element. Removal of most of domain II, including its highly conserved element, did not affect processing. In contrast, highly conserved nucleotides directly downstream of processing site A2 in domain III play a major role in production of 17S, but not 26S rRNA. Domain IV and V are dispensable for 17S rRNA formation although an alternative, albeit inefficient, processing route to mature 17S rRNA may be mediated by a conserved region in domain IV. Each of these two domains is individually sufficient for efficient production of 26S rRNA, suggesting two independent processing pathways. We conclude that ITS1 is organized into two functionally and structurally distinct halves.

A system to study transcription by yeast RNA polymerase I within the chromosomal context: functional analysis of the ribosomal DNA enhancer and the RBP1/REB1 binding sites.

We have developed a novel system to study transcription by yeast RNA polymerase I (Pol I) of mutated rDNA units within the chromosomal context. For this, complete rDNA units carrying specific oligonucleotide tags in both the 17S and 26S rRNA genes were integrated into the chromosomal rDNA locus. Using this novel system, we analysed the action of the rDNA enhancer in stimulating transcription within the chromosomal context. We found that the enhancer acts as a stimulatory element in both directions, mainly on its two most proximal rRNA operons. Deletion of the sequences between the enhancer and the Pol I promoter in the tagged, integrated unit indicated that this part of the intergenic spacer contains no other transcriptional regulatory elements for Pol I. We also applied the system to study the function of the rDNA binding protein RBP1/REB1. For this purpose, we analysed tagged units in which either one or both of the binding sites for this protein have been inactivated. We found that mutations of both binding sites strongly diminish the transcription of the adjacent operon. The protein is hypothesized to play a crucial role in keeping the chromosomal rDNA units in an optimal spatial configuration by anchoring consecutive enhancers and promoters to the nucle(ol)ar matrix.

Functional analysis of internal transcribed spacer 2 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae ribosomal DNA.

Using the previously described "tagged ribosome" (pORCS) system for in vivo mutational analysis of yeast rDNA, we show that small deletions in the 5'-terminal portion of ITS2 completely block maturation of 26 S rRNA at the level of the 29 SB precursor (5.8 S rRNA-ITS2-26 S rRNA). Various deletions in the 3'-terminal part, although severely reducing the efficiency of processing, still allow some mature 26 S rRNA to be formed. On the other hand, none of the ITS2 deletions affect the production of mature 17 S rRNA. Since all of the deletions severely disturb the recently proposed secondary structure of ITS2, these findings suggest an important role for higher order structure of ITS2 in processing. Analysis of the effect of complete or partial replacement of S. cerevisiae ITS2 with its counterpart sequences from Saccharomyces rosei or Hansenula wingei, points to helix V of the secondary structure model as an important element for correct and efficient processing. Direct mutational analysis shows that disruption of base-pairing in the middle of helix V does not detectably affect 26 S rRNA formation. In contrast, introduction of clustered point mutations at the apical end of helix V that both disrupt base-pairing and change the sequence of the loop, severely reduces processing. Since a mutant containing only point mutations in the sequence of the loop produces normal amounts of mature 26 S rRNA, we conclude that the precise (secondary and/or primary) structure at the lower end of helix V, but excluding the loop, is of crucial importance for efficient removal of ITS2.

Functional analysis of transcribed spacers of yeast ribosomal DNA.

Making use of an rDNA unit, containing oligonucleotide tags in both the 17S and 26S rRNA gene, we have analyzed the effect of various deletions in the External Transcribed Spacer (ETS) and in one of the Internal Transcribed Spacers 1 (ITS1) on the process of ribosome formation in yeast. By following the fate of the tagged transcripts of this rDNA unit in vivo by Northern hybridization we found that deleting various parts of the ETS prevents the accumulation of tagged 17S rRNA and its assembly into 40S subunits, but not the formation of 60S subunits. Deleting the central region of ITS1, including a processing site that is used in an early stage of the maturation process, was also found to prevent the accumulation of functional 49 S subunits, whereas no effect on the formation of 60S subunits was detected. The implications of these findings for yeast pre-rRNA processing are discussed.

Termination of transcription by yeast RNA polymerase I.

Analysis of the termination of transcription by yeast RNA polymerase I (Pol I) using in vitro run-on experiments in both isolated nuclei and permeabilized cells demonstrated that Pol I does not traverse the whole intergenic spacer separating consecutive 37S operons, but terminates transcription before reaching the 5S rRNA gene, that is within NTS 1. In order to discriminate between processing and termination at the 3'-end generating sites previously identified in vivo in NTS 1 (T1, T2 and T3), fragments containing these sites were inserted into the middle of the reporter DNA of an artificial rRNA minigene. RNA isolated from yeast cells transformed with these minigenes was analyzed for the presence of transcripts derived from sequences both up- and downstream of the insert by Northern blot hybridization, reverse transcription analysis and S1 nuclease mapping. In accordance with previously obtained results T1 (+15 to +50) was found to behave as a processing site. T2 (+210) however was concluded to be an efficient, genuine Pol I terminator. In addition to T2, two other terminators were identified in NTS 1: T3A (at +690) and T3B (at +950). Surprisingly, when the 3' terminal part of NTS 2 was tested for its capacity to generate 3'-ends, another terminator (Tp) was found to be present at a position 300 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site of the 37S-rRNA operon.

Paragrammatic speech without a comprehension deficit? A case report.

In this article we present a case report of a patient, who had a peculiar pattern of language use following a stroke. The two most prominent features were language switches during spontaneous speech in the first months postonset, when the patient mixed English, German, and French words and utterances into his mother tongue (Dutch); clearly disturbed speech output, showing signs of word-finding problems and paragrammatism but hardly any paraphasias, while at the same time no evidence of a language disturbance could be obtained with standard clinical aphasia tests.

Effects of divalent cations and of phospholipase A activity on excretion of cloacin DF13 and lysis of host cells.

Induction of cloacin DF13 synthesis in Escherichia coli harbouring plasmid CloDF13 results in the release of cloacin DF13, inhibition of growth and ultimately in lysis of the host cells. Expression of the pCloDF13-encoded protein H is essential for both the release of cloacin DF13 and the lysis of the cells. The divalent cations Mg2+ and Ca2+ interfered with the mitomycin C-induced protein H-dependent lysis, but hardly affected the release of cloacin DF13. Essentially all of the bacteriocin was released from the cells before a detectable degradation of the peptidoglycan occurred, independent of the presence of mitomycin C. Experiments with phospholipase A mutants revealed that activation of detergent-resistant phospholipase A was essential for the export of cloacin DF13 across the outer membrane and the lysis of induced cells. Transport of cloacin DF13 across the cytoplasmic membrane was mainly dependent on protein H. A revised model for the excretion of cloacin DF13 is presented.

The cellular level of yeast ribosomal protein L25 is controlled principally by rapid degradation of excess protein.

When the gene dosage for the primary rRNA-binding ribosomal protein L25 in yeast cells was raised about 50-fold, the level of mature L25 transcripts was found to increase almost proportionally. The plasmid-derived L25 transcripts were structurally indistinguishable from their genomic counterparts, freely entered polysomes in vivo and were fully translatable in a heterologous in vitro system. Nevertheless, pulse-labelling for periods varying from 3-20 min did not reveal a significant elevation of the intracellular level of L25-protein. When pulse-times were decreased to 10-45 s, however, we did detect a substantial overproduction of L25. We conclude that, despite the strong RNA-binding capacity of the protein, accumulation of L25 is not controlled by an autogenous (pre-)mRNA-targeted mechanism similar to that operating in bacteria, but rather by extremely rapid degradation of excess protein produced.