Zymocin, a composite chitinase and tRNase killer toxin from yeast.
Growth inhibition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by the plasmid-encoded trimeric (alphabetagamma) zymocin toxin from dairy yeast, Kluyveromyces lactis, depends on a multistep response pathway in budding yeast. Following early processes that mediate cell-surface contact by the chitinase alpha-subunit of zymocin, later steps enable import of the gamma-toxin tRNase subunit and cleavage of target tRNAs that carry modified U34 (wobble uridine) bases. With the emergence of zymocin-like toxins, continued zymocin research is expected to yield new insights into the evolution of yeast pathosystems and their lethal modes of action.
Jablonowski
D
D
Biologicum, Institut für Biologie, Bereich Genetik, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Weinbergweg 10, D-06120 Halle/Saale, Germany.
Schaffrath
R
R
D055646:Killer Factors, Yeast; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development
D055646:Killer Factors, Yeast; D009183:Mycotoxins; C058975:zymocin; D012343:RNA, Transfer