Nucleo-mitochondrial interactions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: characterization of a nuclear gene suppressing a defect in mitochondrial tRNA(Asp) processing

• Published in: Gene Vol. 303; pp. 63 - 68
• Main Authors: Rinaldi, T, Gambadoro, A, Francisci, S, Frontali, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 16-01-2003
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Cell Nucleus - genetics; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Conserved Sequence - genetics; DNA, Mitochondrial - genetics; Evolution, Molecular; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; Genetic Complementation Test; Mitochondria - genetics; Mitochondria - metabolism; Molecular Sequence Data; Mutation; Nuclear Proteins - genetics; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; Oxidoreductases; RNA, Transfer, Asp - genetics; RNA, Transfer, Asp - metabolism; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - genetics; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - growth & development; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - metabolism; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins - genetics; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins - metabolism; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Temperature
• ISSN: 0378-1119
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-1119(02)01154-X

We utilized the heat-sensitive mutant strain (Ts932), bearing a mutation at position 61 in the mitochondrial tRNA(Asp) gene, to identify nuclear genes involved in tRNA biogenesis; this mutant is defective in 3'-end processing and consequently in the production of mature mitochondrial tRNA(Asp). We transformed this strain with a yeast nuclear library and we isolated among other suppressors, an unknown, non-essential gene (called SMM1, corresponding to open reading frame YNR015w), which restored the growth on glycerol and a normal amount of processed tRNA(Asp) in the mutant. The gene contains a domain highly conserved in evolution from bacteria to human and its product has been recently shown to have dihydrouridine synthase activity.