title: Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model system to study the response to anticancer agents.
abstract: The development of new strategies for cancer therapeutics is indispensable for the improvement of standard protocols and the creation of other possibilities in cancer treatment. Yeast models have been employed to study numerous molecular aspects directly related to cancer development, as well as to determine the genetic contexts associated with anticancer drug sensitivity or resistance. The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae presents conserved cellular processes with high homology to humans, and it is a rapid, inexpensive and efficient compound screening tool. However, yeast models are still underused in cancer research and for screening of antineoplastic agents. Here, the employment of S. cerevisiae as a model system to anticancer research is discussed and exemplified. Focusing on the important determinants in genomic maintenance and cancer development, including DNA repair, cell cycle control and epigenetics, this review proposes the use of mutant yeast panels to mimic cancer phenotypes, screen and study tumor features and synthetic lethal interactions. Finally, the benefits and limitations of the yeast model are highlighted, as well as the strategies to overcome S. cerevisiae model limitations.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biofísica, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matuo
authors.forename: Fabrício G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Daniele G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bonatto
authors.forename: Jenifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saffi
authors.forename: Alexandre E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Escargueil
authors.forename: Annette K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: João Antonio Pêgas
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Henriques
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000187:drug effects; D004351:Drug Resistance; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents