title: Mechanisms of mitochondrial DNA escape to the nucleus in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
abstract: The transfer of organelle nucleic acid to the nucleus has been observed in both plants and animals. Using a unique assay to monitor mitochondrial DNA escape to the nucleus in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we previously showed that mutations in several nuclear genes, collectively called yme mutants, cause a high rate of mitochondrial DNA escape to the nucleus. Here we demonstrate that mtDNA escape occurs via an intracellular mechanism that is dependent on the composition of the growth medium and the genetic state of the mitochondrial genome, and is independent of an RNA intermediate. Isolation of several unique second-site suppressors of the high rate of mitochondrial DNA-escape phenotype of yme mutants suggests that there are multiple independent pathways by which this nucleic acid transfer occurs. We also demonstrate that the presence of centromeric plasmids in the nucleus can reduce the perceived rate of DNA escape from the mitochondria. We propose that mitochondrial DNA-escape events are manifested as unstable nuclear plasmids that can interact with centromeric plasmids resulting in a decrease in the number of observed events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071-3944, USA.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Shafer
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hanekamp
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Thorsness
mesh_terms: D049069:ATP-Dependent Proteases; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003470:Culture Media; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D013489:Suppression, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D049069:ATP-Dependent Proteases; C082702:YME1 protein, S cerevisiae; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases