Project description:We performed massive screening of the genes in yeast that were involved in the tolerance to isopropanol using the non-essential genes deleted yeast collection, and identified sixty-five disruptants that grew slower than the wild type strain in the presence of isopropanol. The isopropanol sensitive mutants were tested to know their behaviour under other alcohol stresses. Besides, we conducted microarray analysis to reveal the transcriptional response to isopropanol stress in yeast. Our results certainly provide new insights into yeast response to C3 alcohol isopropanol.
Project description:The canonical role of eEF1A is to deliver the aminoacyl tRNA to the ribosome, we have used the yeast model system to investigate further roles for this protein. We used microarray to study the transcriptomic effects of elevated levels of eEF1A on yeast cells during log phase growth
Project description:Using multiple genetic screening assays and high-throughput analysis approaches, this study explored the genotoxic and evolutional effects of nonlethal dosages of furfural in yeast model.
Project description:Nonylphenol (NP), is a bioaccumulative environmental estrogen that is widely used as a nonionic surfactant. We have previously examined short-term effects of NP on yeast cells using microarray technology. In the present study, we investigated the long-term impacts of NP on Saccharomyces cerevisiae BY4742 cells by analyzing genome-wide transcriptional profiles using RNA-sequencing. We used 2 mg/L NP concentration exposure for 40 days. Gene expression analysis showed that a total of 948 genes were differentially expressed. Of these, 834 genes were downregulated, while 114 genes were significantly upregulated. GO enrichment analysis revealed that 369 GO terms were significantly affected by NP exposure. Further analysis showed that many of the differentially expressed genes were associated with oxidative phosphorylation, iron and copper acquisition, autophagy, pleiotropic drug resistance and cell cycle progression and related processes such as DNA and mismatch repair, chromosome segregation, spindle checkpoint activity, and kinetochore organization. Overall, these results provide considerable information and a comprehensive understanding of the long-term effects of NP at the gene expression level.
Project description:Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Oligomers of Amyloid-β peptides (Aβ) are thought to play a pivotal role in AD pathogenesis, yet the mechanisms involved remain unclear. Two major isoforms of Aβ associated with AD are Aβ40 and Aβ42, the latter being more prone to form oligomers and toxic. Humanized yeast models are currently applied to unravel the cellular mechanisms behind Aβ toxicity. Here, we took a systems biology approach to study two yeast AD models which expressed either Aβ40 or Aβ42 in bioreactor cultures. Strict control of oxygen availability and culture pH, strongly affected the chronological lifespan and reduced confounding effects of variations during cell growth. Reduced growth rates and biomass yields were observed upon expression of Aβ42, indicating a redirection of energy from growth to maintenance. Quantitative physiology analyses furthermore revealed reduced mitochondrial functionality and ATP generation in Aβ42 expressing cells, which matched with observed aberrant fragmented mitochondrial structures. Genome-wide expression levels analysis showed that Aβ42 expression triggers strong ER stress and unfolded protein responses (UPR). Expression of Aβ40 induced only mild ER stress, leading to activation of UPR target genes that cope with misfolded proteins, which resulted in hardly affected physiology. The combination of well-controlled cultures and AD yeast models strengthen our understanding of how cells translate different levels of Aβ toxicity signals into particular cell fate programs, and further enhance their role as a discovery platform to identify potential therapies.
Project description:A systematic approach allowing the identification of the molecular way-of-action of novel potential drugs represents the golden-tool for drug-discovery. While high-throughput screening technologies of large libraries is now well established, the assessment of the drug targets and mechanism of action is still under development. Taking advantage of the yeast model Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we herein applied BarSeq, a Next Generation Sequencing-based method to the analysis of both haploinsufficiency and homozygous fitness effects of a novel antifungal drug ('089') compared to the well-known antifungal ketoconazole. '089' was a novel compound identified in during a screen for antifungal drugs, as it was showing fungicidal effects, and able to affect the yeast fitness at the mitochondrial level (Stefanini et al., 2010. (Dissection of the Effects of Small Bicyclic Peptidomimetics on a Panel of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mutants;.J Biol Chem, 285: 23477-23485.) Integrative bioinformatic analysis of BarSeq, whole genome expression analysis and classical biological assays identified the target and cell pathways affected by the novel antifungal. Confirmation of the effects observed in the yeast model and in pathogenic fungi further demonstrated the reliability of the multi-sided approach and the novelty of the targets and way-of-action of the new class of molecules studied representing a valuable source of novel antifungals.