The short life span of Saccharomyces cerevisiae sgs1 and srs2 mutants is a composite of normal aging processes and mitotic arrest due to defective recombination.

Authors: McVey M; Kaeberlein M; Tissenbaum HA; Guarente L

Abstract: Evidence from many organisms indicates that the conserved RecQ helicases function in the maintenance of genomic stability. Mutation of SGS1 and WRN, which encode RecQ homologues in budding yeast and humans, respectively, results in phenotypes characteristic of premature aging. Mutation of SRS2, another DNA helicase, causes synthetic slow growth in an sgs1 background. In this work, we demonstrate that srs2 mutants have a shortened life span similar to sgs1 mutants. Further dissection of the sgs1 and srs2 survival curves reveals two distinct phenomena. A majority of sgs1 and srs2 cells stops dividing stochastically as large-budded cells. This mitotic cell cycle arrest is age independent and requires the RAD9-dependent DNA damage checkpoint. Late-generation sgs1 and srs2 cells senesce due to apparent premature aging, most likely involving the accumulation of extrachromosomal rDNA circles. Double sgs1 srs2 mutants are viable but have a high stochastic rate of terminal G2/M arrest. This arrest can be suppressed by mutations in RAD51, RAD52, and RAD57, suggesting that the cell cycle defect in sgs1 srs2 mutants results from inappropriate homologous recombination. Finally, mutation of RAD1 or RAD50 exacerbates the growth defect of sgs1 srs2 cells, indicating that sgs1 srs2 mutants may utilize single-strand annealing as an alternative repair pathway.

Keywords: Cell Cycle; Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics/metabolism; DNA Helicases/genetics/*physiology; Mitosis/*physiology; Mutagenesis; RecQ Helicases; *Recombination, Genetic; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/growth & development; *Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
Journal: Genetics
Volume: 157
Issue: 4
Pages: 1531-42
Date: April 6, 2001
PMID: 11290710
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Citation:

McVey M, Kaeberlein M, Tissenbaum HA, Guarente L (2001) The short life span of Saccharomyces cerevisiae sgs1 and srs2 mutants is a composite of normal aging processes and mitotic arrest due to defective recombination. Genetics 157: 1531-42.


Study Lifespan Factors:
  • SRS2 DNA helicase and DNA-dependent ATPase involved in DNA repair, needed for proper timing of commitment to meiotic recombination and transition from Meiosis I to II; affects genome stability by suppressing unscheduled homologous recombination
  • RAD9 RADiation sensitive 9
  • SGS1 Slow Growth Suppressor 1


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