Hunting for Prions: Propagating Putative Prion States in Budding Yeast
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Date
2021
Authors
Capage, Mikala
Jacob, Evarts
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Prion proteins, although commonly associated with neurodegenerative diseases, are not universally harmful to cells. Instead, prions may allow cells to alter their phenotype in response to adverse environmental conditions by acting as an epigenetic mechanism. Importantly, prions are not dependent on chromosomal segregation and have inheritance patterns distinct from traits caused by genetic mutations. The Garcia Lab recently screened RNA modifying enzymes for their potential to induce prion conformations. From this screen, six enzymes, Abd1, Cet1, Ppm2, Pus4, Pus6, and Trm5, exhibited higher maximum growth rates than control strains when exposed to adverse chemical stressors. It is now necessary to confirm that the heritable growth states are truly caused by a prion-based conformation of an RNA modifying enzyme. Here, patterns of mitotic, diploid, and meiotic inheritance were determined for each strain by using central methods in yeast genetics, including a tetrad sporulation and dissection protocol and growth assays. Taken together, these results are key in attributing the previously identified growth states to a prion conformation of each of the six RNA modifying enzyme. The Garcia lab will continue to investigate these putative prions in future experiments. This research represents an important contribution to our understanding of epigenetic mechanisms and their effects on key cell processes.
Description
1 page.
Keywords
Epigenetics, Molecular Biology, Yeast