Open AccessThe expanding role of yeast in cancer research and diagnosis: insights into the function of the oncosuppressors p53 and BRCA 1/2
Author(s) -
Guaragnella Nicoletta,
Palermo Vanessa,
Galli Alvaro,
Moro Loredana,
Mazzoni Cristina,
Giannattasio Sergio
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
fems yeast research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.991
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1567-1364
pISSN - 1567-1356
DOI - 10.1111/1567-1364.12094
Subject(s) - biology , saccharomyces cerevisiae , yeast , carcinogenesis , cancer cell , cancer , model organism , function (biology) , microbiology and biotechnology , heterologous , gene , genetics
When the glucose supply is high, despite the presence of oxygen, Saccharomyces cerevisiae uses fermentation as its main metabolic pathway and switches to oxidative metabolism only when this carbon source is limited. There are similarities between glucose‐induced repression of oxidative metabolism of yeast and metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells. The glucose‐induced repression of oxidative metabolism is regulated by oncogene homologues in yeast, such as RAS and S ch9p, the yeast homologue of A kt. Yeast also undergoes an apoptosis‐like programmed cell death process sharing several features with mammalian apoptosis, including oxidative stress and a major role played by mitochondria. Evasion of apoptosis and sustained proliferative signaling are hallmarks of cancer. This, together with the possibility of heterologous expression of human genes in yeast, has allowed new insights to be obtained into the function of mammalian oncogenes/oncosuppressors. Here, we elaborate on the similarities between tumor and yeast cells underpinning the use of this model organism in cancer research. We also review the achievements obtained through heterologous expression in yeast of p53, BRCA 1 , and BRCA 2 , which are among the best‐known cancer‐susceptibility genes, with the aim of understanding their role in tumorigenesis. Yeast‐cell‐based functional assays for cancer genetic testing will also be dealt with.