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PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH IN THE YEAST SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE

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2. PHYSIOLOGIC CONDITIONS THAT INDUCE

APOPTOSIS IN YEAST

Among the physiologic conditions that can induce programmed cell death in yeast are (1) the presence of small quantities of the conjugation pheromone (matingtype pheromone), (2) the expansion of colonies on solid media, (3) the killer toxin, and (4) aging (Fabrizio et al., 2004b; Herker et al., 2004; Ivanovska and Hardwick, 2005; Longo et al., 1997; Reiter et al., 2005; Severin and Hyman, 2002; Vachova and Palkova, 2005).

2.1. Pheromone-induced cell death

Exposure of haploid yeast cells to small quantities of mating-type pheromones can induce apoptosis when a suitable mating partner is absent. If the mating occurs, apoptosis is prevented, suggesting that mating factorinduced cell death is used to eliminate infertile or otherwise damaged cells. Moreover, pheromone-induced apoptosis may favor the diploid state, which is likely to provide an adaptive advantage over the haploid state (Severin and Hyman, 2002). Cell death induced by a high concentration of mating pheromone is not apoptotic, but rather involves at least three different cellular pathways (Zhang et al., 2006). Under conditions such as scarce nutrition, diploid yeast cells can undergo meiosis and sporulation. Meiosis is important in that it increases genetic diversity and, as a consequence, fitness (Ahn et al., 2005). During meiosis, approximately 20% of cells undergo apoptosis, ensuring survival only for those cells that are better genetically adapted.

2.1.1. Colony growth

Yeast cells are able to use the nutrients released by their neighbors and can use this energy to reproduce, thus a theory of altruism seems feasible. In fact, although many of the data on yeast apoptosis have come from cells grown in liquid suspension, yeast in nature can grow as multicellular colonies that are capable of simple differentiation.

During the growth of colonies on solid media, apoptosis has been demonstrated to occur in a spatially restricted fashion, namely in the center of the colony. Cells present in this position are the oldest cells, and it has been demonstrated that their sacrifice improves viability of the younger cells located to the edge of the colony, consistent with the altruistic death program, described in the aging section that follows. Interestingly, the physical removal of the central region (dead zone)

from growing colonies caused a reduction in growth at the colony periphery.

2.1.2. Killer-induced cell death

The killer phenotype, a widespread phenomenon among yeasts, is typically associated with the secretion of a low-molecular-mass protein or glycoprotein toxin (killer toxin) that kills sensitive cells, without direct cell–cell contact in a two-step receptor-mediated process. In S. cerevisiae, three different killer toxins (K1, K2, and K28) have been identified so far, all encoded as precursors of the secreted alpha/beta toxins by cytoplasmic doublestranded RNA viruses. At low concentrations, all three virally encoded yeast toxins induce apoptotic cell death accompanied by apoptotic markers, whereas at high concentrations they induce nonapoptotic necrotic cell death. It can be concluded that when the toxin concentration is low, as in natural environments, killer yeast can eliminate sensitive competitor yeasts through the induction of apoptosis.

3. EXTERNAL STIMULI THAT INDUCE APOPTOSIS IN YEAST

Many environmental factors or drugs have been reported to be stimuli to commit cell death associated with typical hallmarks of metazoan apoptosis. Among the most studied inducers of apoptosis in yeast are the low dose of H2O2 and acetic acid, but also hyperosmotic stress, elevated temperature, amiodarone, osmotin, aspirin, HOCl, or merely sugar itself. More recently, it has been reported that the induction of programmed cell death (PCD) can also be achieved by metal ions, caffeine, sphingolipid, and dermaseptin, and this cell death can be meta caspase-dependent or -independent.

Yeasts may also be a powerful model for the screening or the development of cell death–directed drugs, overcoming the problem of cellular specificity in the design of antitumor drugs.

Paclitaxel, arsenic, bleomycin, and valproate represent the most well-studied antitumor drugs known to induce apoptosis in yeast, but the toxicity of doxorubicin, edelfosine, and other antitumor drugs has also been described (Almeida et al., 2008). The evidence indicates that the mechanisms of antitumor drug-induced apoptosis in yeast share some homology with those in mammalian cells and involve mitochondria, DNA fragmentation, and especially ROS production/accumulation.

Beside the studies of yeast apoptosis cells as a model to determine the cytotoxic effects of a multitude of drugs,

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