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Identification of genes encoding putative nucleoporins and transport factors in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe : a deletion analysis
Author(s) -
Chen Xue Qin,
Du Xianming,
Liu Jianhua,
Balasubramanian Mohan K.,
Balasundaram David
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
yeast
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.923
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1097-0061
pISSN - 0749-503X
DOI - 10.1002/yea.1115
Subject(s) - biology , nucleoporin , schizosaccharomyces pombe , genetics , identification (biology) , gene , schizosaccharomyces , nuclear pore , computational biology , saccharomyces cerevisiae , nuclear protein , transcription factor , botany , cytoplasm
In a systematic approach to study genes that are related to nucleocytoplasmic trafficking in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe , the open reading frames (ORFs) of 26 putative nucleoporins and transport factors were deleted. Here we report the initial characterization of these deletion mutants. Of the 26 putative genes deleted, 14 were found to be essential for viability. Null mutations of essential genes resulted in failure to either complete one round or to sustain cell division. Four of the 14 essential genes, SPBC582.11c, SPBC17G9.04c, SPBC3B9.16c and SPCC162.08c , encode putative nucleoporins and a myosin‐like protein with homologues NUP84, NUP85, NUP120 and MLP1, respectively, that are not required for viability in Saccharomyces cerevisiae , suggesting that their gene products perform critical functions in Sz. pombe . On the basis of combined drug sensitivity assays and genetic analysis we have identified five non‐essential null mutants that were hypersensitive to the microtubule depolymerizing drug thiabendazole (TBZ) and exhibited a cut phenotype upon TBZ treatment, suggesting possible involvement in microtubule function. Three of the corresponding ORFs, SPCC18B5.07c, nup40 and SPAC1805.04 , encode putative nucleoporins with low similarity to the S. cerevisiae nucleoporins NUP2p, NUP53p and NUP133p, respectively. Further genetic analysis revealed that one of the nucleoporin genes, nup40 , and another gene, SPCC1322.06 , encoding a putative importin‐β/Cse1p superfamily protein may have a spindle checkpoint function. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.