Defects arising from whole-genome duplications in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Comparisons among closely related species have led to the proposal that the duplications found in many extant genomes are the remnants of an ancient polyploidization event, rather than a result of successive duplications of individual chromosomal segments. If this interpretation is correct, it would support Ohno's proposal that polyploidization drives evolution by generating the genetic material necessary for the creation of new genes. Paradoxically, analysis of contemporary polyploids suggests that increased ploidy is an inherently unstable state.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae SSD1-V confers longevity by a Sir2p-independent mechanism.

The SSD1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a polymorphic locus that affects diverse cellular processes including cell integrity, cell cycle progression, and growth at high temperature. We show here that the SSD1-V allele is necessary for cells to achieve extremely long life span. Furthermore, addition of SSD1-V to cells can increase longevity independently of SIR2, although SIR2 is necessary for SSD1-V cells to attain maximal life span.

High osmolarity extends life span in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by a mechanism related to calorie restriction.

Calorie restriction (CR) extends life span in many different organisms, including mammals. We describe here a novel pathway that extends the life span of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mother cells but does not involve a reduction in caloric content of the media, i.e.

Calorie restriction extends Saccharomyces cerevisiae lifespan by increasing respiration.

Calorie restriction (CR) extends lifespan in a wide spectrum of organisms and is the only regimen known to lengthen the lifespan of mammals. We established a model of CR in budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this system, lifespan can be extended by limiting glucose or by reducing the activity of the glucose-sensing cyclic-AMP-dependent kinase (PKA).