Project description:We developed an artificial genome evolution system, which we termed ‘TAQing’, by introducing multiple genomic DNA double-strand breaks using a heat-activatable endonuclease in mitotic yeast. The heat-activated endonuclease, TaqI, induced random DSBs, which resulted in diverse types of chromosomal rearrangements including translocations. Array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) analysis was performed with cell-fused Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains induced genome evolution by TAQing system. Some of copy number variations (CNVs) induced by massive genome rearrangements were detected in the TAQed yeast strains.
Project description:The polyploid S. cerevisiae karyotypes were analyzed by array-CGH to identify the deletion or duplication of gene or chromosome during the strain construction and after experimental evolution.
Project description:microarray experiment to test the gene expression in long term lines of mutator and non-mutator yeast. Here we use an experimental evolution approach to investigate the conditions required for evolution of a reduction in mutation rate and the mechanisms by which populations tolerate the accumulation of deleterious mutations. We find that after ~6700 generations four out of eight experimental mutator lines had evolved a decreased mutation rate.
Project description:Genomic instability is a common feature found in cancer cells. Accordingly, many tumor suppressor genes identified in familiar cancer syndromes are involved in the maintenance of the stability of the genome during every cell division, and are commonly referred to as caretakers. Inactivating mutations and epigenetic silencing of caretakers are thought to be the most important mechanism that explains cancer-related genome instability. However, little is known of whether transient inactivation of caretaker proteins could trigger genome instability and, if so, what types of instability would occur. In this work, we show that a brief and reversible inactivation, during just one cell cycle, of the key phosphatase Cdc14 in the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae is enough to result in diploid cells with multiple gross chromosomal rearrangements and changes in ploidy. Interestingly, we observed that such transient inactivation yields a characteristic fingerprint whereby trisomies are often found in small-sized chromosomes and gross chromosome rearrangements, often associated with concomitant loss of heterozygosity (LOH), are mainly detected on the rDNA-bearing chromosome XII. Taking into account the key role of Cdc14 in preventing anaphase bridges, resetting replication origins and controlling spindle dynamics in a well-defined window within anaphase, we speculate that its transient inactivation causes cells to go through a single mitotic catastrophe with irreversible consequences for the genome stability of the progeny.
