title: Sexual development of Schizosaccharomyces pombe is induced by zinc or iron limitation through Ecl1 family genes.
abstract: Ecl1 family genes (ecl1 (+), ecl2 (+), and ecl3 (+)) have been identified as extenders of the chronological lifespan in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Here, we found that the triple-deletion mutant (∆ecl1/2/3) had a defect in sexual development after entry into the stationary phase, although the mutant essentially showed normal mating and sporulation under nitrogen starvation or carbon limitation. In this study, we showed that limitation of zinc or iron can be a signal for sexual development of S. pombe cells grown in Edinburgh minimal medium until the stationary phase and that Ecl1 family genes are important for this process. Because the ∆ecl1/2/3 mutant diminishes the zinc depletion-dependent gene expression, Ecl1 family proteins may function as zinc sensors in the process of sexual development.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Department of Basic Medicinal Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa-Ku, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan.
authors.forename: Hokuto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohtsuka
authors.forename: Maiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: Chikako
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Naito
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aiba
mesh_terms: D003227:Conjugation, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D049770:Genes, Mating Type, Fungal; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D005810:Multigene Family; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000172:deficiency; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: C558592:Ecl1 protein, S pombe; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; D004492:Edetic Acid; D015032:Zinc; D009584:Nitrogen