title: [PSI(+)] turns 50.
abstract: The year 2015 sees the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of a research paper that underpins much of our understanding of fungal prion biology, namely "ψ, a cytoplasmic suppressor of super-suppressor in yeast" by Brian Cox. Here we show how our understanding of the molecular nature of the [PSI(+)] determinant evolved from an 'occult' determinant to a transmissible amyloid form of a translation termination factor. We also consider the impact studies on [PSI] have had--and continue to have--on prion research. To demonstrate this, leading investigators in the yeast prion field who have made extensive use of the [PSI(+)] trait in their research, provide their own commentaries on the discovery and significance of [PSI].
authors.affiliation: a Kent Fungal Group; School of Biosciences; University of Kent ; Canterbury , Kent , UK.
authors.forename: Mick F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Tuite
authors.affiliation: a Kent Fungal Group; School of Biosciences; University of Kent ; Canterbury , Kent , UK.
authors.forename: Gemma L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Staniforth
authors.affiliation: a Kent Fungal Group; School of Biosciences; University of Kent ; Canterbury , Kent , UK.
authors.forename: Brian S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Cox
mesh_terms: D011328:Prions / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D011328:Prions
keywords: Brian Cox; [PSI+] prion; non-Mendelian inheritance; nonsense suppression; prion; yeast