Clearance of yeast prions by misfolded multi-transmembrane proteins.

Accumulation of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) induces the stress response to protect cells against toxicity by the unfolded protein response (UPR), heat shock response (HSR), and ER-associated degradation pathways. Here, we found that over-production of C-terminally truncated multi-transmembrane (MTM) mutant proteins triggers HSR, but not UPR, and clearance of yeast prions [PSI(+)] and [URE3]. One of the mutant MTM proteins, Dip5ΔC-v82, produces a disabled amino-acid permease. Fluorescence microscopy analysis revealed abnormal accumulation of Dip5ΔC-v82 in the ER. Importantly, the mutant defective in the GET pathway, which functions for ER membrane insertion of tail-anchored proteins, failed to translocate Dip5ΔC-v82 to the ER and disabled Dip5ΔC-v82-mediated prion clearance. These findings suggest that the GET pathway plays a pivotal role in quality assurance of MTM proteins, and entraps misfolded MTM proteins into ER compartments, leading to loss-of-prion through a yet undefined mechanism.

Selfish prion of Rnq1 mutant in yeast.

[PIN(+)] is a prion form of Rnq1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and is necessary for the de novo induction of a second prion, [PSI(+)]. We previously isolated a truncated form of Rnq1, named Rnq1Delta100, as a [PSI(+)]-eliminating factor in S. cerevisiae. Rnq1Delta100 deletes the N-terminal non-prion domain of Rnq1, and eliminates [PSI(+)] in [PIN(+)] yeast. Here we found that [PIN(+)] is transmissible to Rnq1Delta100 in the absence of full-length Rnq1, forming a novel prion variant [RNQ1Delta100(+)]. [RNQ1Delta100(+)] has similar [PIN(+)] properties as it stimulates the de novo induction of [PSI(+)] and is eliminated by the null hsp104Delta mutation, but not by Hsp104 overproduction. In contrast, [RNQ1Delta100(+)] inherits the inhibitory activity and hampers the maintenance of [PSI(+)] though less efficiently than [PIN(+)] made of Rnq1-Rnq1Delta100 co-aggregates. Interestingly, [RNQ1Delta100(+)] prion was eliminated by de novo [PSI(+)] induction. Thus, the [RNQ1Delta100(+)] prion demonstrates selfish activity to eliminate a heterologous prion in S. cerevisiae, showing the first instance of a selfish prion variant in living organisms.

A G-protein gamma subunit mimic is a general antagonist of prion propagation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The Gpg1 protein is a Ggamma subunit mimic implicated in the G-protein glucose-signaling pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and its function is largely unknown. Here we report that Gpg1 blocks the maintenance of [PSI(+)], an aggregated prion form of the translation termination factor Sup35. Although the GPG1 gene is normally not expressed, over-expression of GPG1 inhibits propagation of not only [PSI(+)] but also [PIN(+)], [URE3] prions, and the toxic polyglutamine aggregate in S. cerevisiae. Over-expression of Gpg1 does not affect expression and activity of Hsp104, a protein-remodeling factor required for prion propagation, showing that Gpg1 does not target Hsp104 directly. Nevertheless, prion elimination by Gpg1 is weakened by over-expression of Hsp104. Importantly, Gpg1 protein is prone to self-aggregate and transiently colocalized with Sup35NM-prion aggregates when expressed in [PSI(+)] cells. Genetic selection and characterization of loss-of-activity gpg1 mutations revealed that multiple mutations on the hydrophobic one-side surface of predicted alpha-helices of the Gpg1 protein hampered the activity. Prion elimination by Gpg1 is unaffected in the gpa2Delta and gpb1Delta strains lacking the supposed physiological G-protein partners of Gpg1. These findings suggest a general inhibitory interaction of the Gpg1 protein with other transmissible and nontransmissible amyloids, resulting in prion elimination. Assuming the ability of Gpg1 to form G-protein heterotrimeric complexes, Gpg1 is likely to play a versatile function of reversing the prion state and modulating the G-protein signaling pathway.

[Infectious aneurysm rerupture caused by delayed diagnosis: an operative case report].

A 21-year-old febrile woman with sudden onset of headache and semicoma was transferred to our institute. CT and 3D-CT angiography showed subaracnoid hemorrhage and intracranial hemorrhage in the left hemisphere due to a saccular aneurysm at the occluded M2 portion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Her present illness started with a toothache and lumber pain 3 weeks earlier. Echocardiography revealed active infective endocarditis. We could have treated her by administering antibiotics, but during a cerebral angiography, she became comatose due to an aneurismal rerupture. Immediately, an emergency operation for aneurismal trapping was performed, but she died 19 days later because of left hemispheric swelling. We report a relatively rare case of infectious aneurysm at the proximal artery and discuss the pitfalls of its diagnosis and treatment. We should educate general physicians about infectious endocarditis because misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of infectious aneurysm due to endocarditis results in unpleasant outcomes. We should treat infectious aneurysm at the proximal side artery by first administering antibiotics, and if necessary, subsequent direct surgery of the aneurismal trapping should be performed with a bypass. Unnecessary invasive treatment must be avoided while the disease is in the active infectious stage.

A regulatory role of the Rnq1 nonprion domain for prion propagation and polyglutamine aggregates.

Prions are infectious, self-propagating protein conformations. Rnq1 is required for the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae prion [PIN(+)], which is necessary for the de novo induction of a second prion, [PSI(+)]. Here we isolated a [PSI(+)]-eliminating mutant, Rnq1Delta100, that deletes the nonprion domain of Rnq1. Rnq1Delta100 inhibits not only [PSI(+)] prion propagation but also [URE3] prion and huntingtin's polyglutamine aggregate propagation in a [PIN(+)] background but not in a [pin(-)] background. Rnq1Delta100, however, does not eliminate [PIN(+)]. These findings are interpreted as showing a possible involvement of the Rnq1 prion in the maintenance of heterologous prions and polyQ aggregates. Rnq1 and Rnq1Delta100 form a sodium dodecyl sulfate-stable and Sis1 (an Hsp40 chaperone protein)-containing coaggregate in [PIN(+)] cells. Importantly, Rnq1Delta100 is highly QN-rich and prone to self-aggregate or coaggregate with Rnq1 when coexpressed in [pin(-)] cells. However, the [pin(-)] Rnq1-Rnq1Delta100 coaggregate does not represent a prion-like aggregate. These findings suggest that [PIN(+)] Rnq1-Rnq1Delta100 aggregates interact with other transmissible and nontransmissible amyloids to destabilize them and that the nonprion domain of Rnq1 plays a crucial role in self-regulation of the highly reactive QN-rich prion domain of Rnq1.