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Sexual development of Schizosaccharomyces pombe is induced by zinc or iron limitation through Ecl1 family genes

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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.

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Acknowledgments

We thank K. Azuma and T. Shimasaki (Nagoya University, Japan) for the helpful discussion and Drs. M. Yamamoto, A. Yamashita, and Y. Watanabe (The University of Tokyo, Japan) and Dr. K. Kitamura (Hiroshima University, Japan) for materials. This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan. Part of this work was also supported by the Adaptable and Seamless Technology Transfer Program through target-driven R&D, JST, Nagase Science and Technology Foundation, and The Asahi Glass Foundation [to HA].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Department of Basic Medicinal Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa-Ku, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan

    Hokuto Ohtsuka, Maiko Ishida & Hirofumi Aiba

  2. Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa-Ku, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan

    Chikako Naito

  3. Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, 1-13-27 Kasuga, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 112-8551, Japan

    Hiroshi Murakami

Authors
  1. Hokuto Ohtsuka
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  2. Maiko Ishida
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  3. Chikako Naito
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  4. Hiroshi Murakami
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  5. Hirofumi Aiba
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hirofumi Aiba.

Additional information

Communicated by M. Collart.

H. Ohtsuka and M. Ishida contributed equally to this work.

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Ohtsuka, H., Ishida, M., Naito, C. et al. Sexual development of Schizosaccharomyces pombe is induced by zinc or iron limitation through Ecl1 family genes. Mol Genet Genomics 290, 173–185 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00438-014-0911-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00438-014-0911-8

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