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Selfish prion of Rnq1 mutant in yeast
Author(s) -
Kurahashi Hiroshi,
Shibata Shoichiro,
Ishiwata Masao,
Nakamura Yoshikazu
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
genes to cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1365-2443
pISSN - 1356-9597
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2443.2009.01297.x
Subject(s) - saccharomyces cerevisiae , mutant , biology , heterologous , overproduction , yeast , mutation , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , gene
[ PIN + ] is a prion form of Rnq1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and is necessary for the de novo induction of a second prion, [ PSI + ]. We previously isolated a truncated form of Rnq1, named Rnq1Δ100, as a [ PSI + ]‐eliminating factor in S. cerevisiae . Rnq1Δ100 deletes the N‐terminal non‐prion domain of Rnq1, and eliminates [ PSI + ] in [ PIN + ] yeast. Here we found that [ PIN + ] is transmissible to Rnq1Δ100 in the absence of full‐length Rnq1, forming a novel prion variant [ RNQ1Δ100 + ]. [ RNQ1Δ100 + ] has similar [ PIN + ] properties as it stimulates the de novo induction of [ PSI + ] and is eliminated by the null hsp104Δ mutation, but not by Hsp104 overproduction. In contrast, [ RNQ1Δ100 + ] inherits the inhibitory activity and hampers the maintenance of [ PSI + ] though less efficiently than [ PIN + ] made of Rnq1–Rnq1Δ100 co‐aggregates. Interestingly, [ RNQ1Δ100 + ] prion was eliminated by de novo [ PSI + ] induction. Thus, the [ RNQ1Δ100 + ] prion demonstrates selfish activity to eliminate a heterologous prion in S. cerevisiae , showing the first instance of a selfish prion variant in living organisms.