Endocytosis is essential for dynamic translocation of a syntaxin 1 orthologue during fission yeast meiosis.

Syntaxin is a component of the target soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor complex, which is responsible for fusion of membrane vesicles at the target membrane. The fission yeast syntaxin 1 orthologue Psy1 is essential for both vegetative growth and spore formation. During meiosis, Psy1 disappears from the plasma membrane (PM) and dramatically relocalizes on the nascent forespore membrane, which becomes the PM of the spore.

New insights into galactose metabolism by Schizosaccharomyces pombe: isolation and characterization of a galactose-assimilating mutant.

The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe cannot use galactose as a carbon or energy source, and little is known about galactose metabolism in this species. Here we report isolation of a galactose-assimilating mutant that grows on a medium containing galactose as a sole carbon source through use of a proofreading-deficient DNA polymerase δ variant encoded by cdc6-1. Based on comparative analysis of gene expression profiles in the wild-type and the mutant (FG2-8), we found that SPBPB2B2.

Schizosaccharomyces pombe calmodulin, Cam1, plays a crucial role in sporulation by recruiting and stabilizing the spindle pole body components responsible for assembly of the forespore membrane.

Calmodulin in Schizosaccharomyces pombe is encoded by the cam1(+) gene, which is indispensable for both vegetative growth and sporulation. Here, we report how Cam1 functions in spore formation. We found that Cam1 preferentially localized to the spindle pole body (SPB) during meiosis and sporulation.

Development of valuable yeast strains using a novel mutagenesis technique for the effective production of therapeutic glycoproteins.

Yeast cells producing mammalian-type N-linked oligosaccharide show severe growth defects and the decreased protein productivity because of the disruption of yeast-specific glycosyltransferases. This decreased protein productivity in engineered yeast strains is an obstacle to the development of efficient glycoprotein production in yeast. For economic and effective synthesis of such therapeutic glycoproteins in yeast, the development of appropriate strains is highly desirable.

Isolation of thermotolerant mutants by using proofreading-deficient DNA polymerase delta as an effective mutator in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Eukaryotic DNA polymerases delta and epsilon, both of which are required for chromosomal DNA replication, contain proofreading 3'-->5'exonuclease activity. DNA polymerases lacking proofreading activity act as strong mutators. Here we report isolation of thermotolerant mutants by using a proofreading-deficient DNA polymerase delta variant encoded by pol3-01 in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Localization of type I myosin and F-actin to the leading edge region of the forespore membrane in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Myo1, a heavy chain of type I myosin of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, is essential for sporulation. Here we have analyzed the expression, localization and cellular function of the type I myosin light chain calmodulin, Cam2, encoded by cam2(+). Transcription of cam2(+) was constitutive and markedly enhanced in meiosis.