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

Mol Cell Biol. 2008 May;28(10):3313-23. doi: 10.1128/MCB.01900-07. Epub 2008 Mar 10.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
  • Genes, Fungal
  • HSP40 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / genetics
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism
  • Models, Biological
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Peptide Termination Factors
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Peptides / metabolism*
  • Prions / chemistry
  • Prions / genetics
  • Prions / metabolism*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism*
  • Sequence Deletion

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Fungal
  • HSP40 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Peptide Termination Factors
  • Peptides
  • Prions
  • RNQ1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • SIS1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • SUP35 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • polyglutamine