Accelerated aging and nucleolar fragmentation in yeast sgs1 mutants

Science. 1997 Aug 29;277(5330):1313-6. doi: 10.1126/science.277.5330.1313.

Abstract

The SGS1 gene of yeast encodes a DNA helicase with homology to the human WRN gene. Mutations in WRN result in Werner's syndrome, a disease with symptoms resembling premature aging. Mutation of SGS1 is shown to cause premature aging in yeast mother cells on the basis of a shortened life-span and the aging-induced phenotypes of sterility and redistribution of the Sir3 silencing protein from telomeres to the nucleolus. Further, in old sgs1 cells the nucleolus is enlarged and fragmented-changes that also occur in old wild-type cells. These findings suggest a conserved mechanism of cellular aging that may be related to nucleolar structure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Division
  • Cell Nucleolus / chemistry
  • Cell Nucleolus / metabolism
  • Cell Nucleolus / ultrastructure*
  • Cellular Senescence*
  • DNA Helicases / genetics*
  • DNA Helicases / physiology
  • Exodeoxyribonucleases
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Fungal Proteins / analysis
  • Genes, Fungal
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Phenotype
  • RecQ Helicases
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / cytology*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / physiology
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / ultrastructure
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Silent Information Regulator Proteins, Saccharomyces cerevisiae*
  • Trans-Activators / analysis
  • Werner Syndrome / genetics
  • Werner Syndrome Helicase

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • SIR3 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Silent Information Regulator Proteins, Saccharomyces cerevisiae
  • Trans-Activators
  • Exodeoxyribonucleases
  • SGS1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • DNA Helicases
  • RecQ Helicases
  • WRN protein, human
  • Werner Syndrome Helicase