Protein Folding Activity of the Ribosome is involved in Yeast Prion Propagation

Sci Rep. 2016 Sep 16:6:32117. doi: 10.1038/srep32117.

Abstract

6AP and GA are potent inhibitors of yeast and mammalian prions and also specific inhibitors of PFAR, the protein-folding activity borne by domain V of the large rRNA of the large subunit of the ribosome. We therefore explored the link between PFAR and yeast prion [PSI(+)] using both PFAR-enriched mutants and site-directed methylation. We demonstrate that PFAR is involved in propagation and de novo formation of [PSI(+)]. PFAR and the yeast heat-shock protein Hsp104 partially compensate each other for [PSI(+)] propagation. Our data also provide insight into new functions for the ribosome in basal thermotolerance and heat-shocked protein refolding. PFAR is thus an evolutionarily conserved cell component implicated in the prion life cycle, and we propose that it could be a potential therapeutic target for human protein misfolding diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Guanabenz / pharmacology
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / genetics
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mutation
  • Peptide Termination Factors / genetics
  • Peptide Termination Factors / metabolism*
  • Phenanthridines / pharmacology
  • Prions / genetics
  • Prions / metabolism*
  • Protein Folding* / drug effects
  • RNA, Ribosomal / metabolism
  • Ribosomes / genetics
  • Ribosomes / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / drug effects
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • 6-aminophenanthridine
  • Heat-Shock Proteins
  • LTV1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Peptide Termination Factors
  • Phenanthridines
  • Prions
  • RNA, Ribosomal
  • SUP35 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • YAR1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • HsP104 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Guanabenz