title: Effects of the S288c genetic background and common auxotrophic markers on mitochondrial DNA function in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
abstract: Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a valuable model organism for the study of eukaryotic processes. Throughout its development as a research tool, several strain backgrounds have been utilized and different combinations of auxotrophic marker genes have been introduced into them, creating a useful but non-homogeneous set of strains. The ade2 allele was used as an auxotrophic marker, and for 'red-white' screening for respiratory competence. his3 alleles that influence the expression of MRM1 have been used as selectable markers, and the MIP1[S] allele, found in the commonly used S228c strain, is associated with mitochondrial DNA defects. The focus of the current work was to examine the effects of these alleles, singly and in combination, on the maintenance of mitochondrial function. The combination of the ade2 and MIP1[S] alleles is associated with a slight increase in point mutations in mitochondrial DNA. The deletion in the his3Delta200 allele, which removes the promoter for MRM1, is associated with loss of respiratory competence at 37 degrees C in the presence of either MIP1 allele. Thus, multiple factors can contribute to the maintenance of mitochondrial function, reinforcing the concept that strain background is an important consideration in both designing experiments and comparing results obtained by different research groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Court
mesh_terms: D004256:DNA Polymerase I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D005819:Genetic Markers; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017354:Point Mutation; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; C058452:HAP1 protein, S cerevisiae; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004256:DNA Polymerase I; C068352:MIP1 protein, S cerevisiae