Exploring Adomet-Dependent Methyltransferases in Yeast
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EXPLORING ADOMET-DEPENDENT METHYLTRANSFERASES IN YEAST by Elena Lissina A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Molecular Genetics University of Toronto © Copyright by Elena Lissina, 2013 Exploring AdoMet-Dependent Methyltransferases in Yeast Elena Lissina Doctor of Philosophy Department of Molecular Genetics University of Toronto 2013 Abstract This work presents the investigation of fungal AdoMet-dependent methyltransferases. The first part of the dissertation focuses on two distinct methyltransferases with previously unknown functions in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. To characterize these enzymes I used a combinatorial approach that exploits contemporary high-throughput techniques available in yeast (chemical genetics, expression, lipid profiling and genetic interaction analysis) combined with rigorous biological follow-up. First, I showed that S. cerevisiae CRG1 (ScCRG1) is a small molecule methyltransferase that methylates cytotoxic drug cantharidin and is important for maintaining lipid homeostasis and actin cytoskeleton integrity in response to small-molecule cantharidin in the baker’s yeast. Similarly to ScCRG1, orf19.633 in the human fungal pathogen C. albicans (CaCRG1) methylates cantharidin and is important for GlcCer biosynthesis. I also demonstrated that CaCrg1 is a ceramide- and PIP-binding methyltransferase involved in Candida’s morphogenesis, membrane trafficking and fungal virulence. Together, the analysis of two genes in yeast illuminated the important roles of the novel small molecule methyltransferases in ii coupling drug response to lipid biosynthesis and fungal virulence. In the second part of my dissertation, I present the systematic characterization of the genetic architecture of the yeast methyltransferome by examining fitness of double-deletion methyltransferase mutants in standard and under environmental stress conditions. This analysis allowed me to describe specific properties of the methyltransferome network and to uncover functional relationships among methyltransferases inspiring multiple hypotheses and expanding the current knowledge of this family of enzymes. iii Acknowledgements This dissertation is the result of six years commitment to science and would not have been possible without the inspiration and support of my supervisors, colleagues, friends, and my family. First and foremost, I am truly grateful to my supervisors Corey Nislow and Guri Giaever for giving me the opportunity to satisfy my thirst for knowledge and for providing an incredible work environment that allowed me to grow as a scientist. Thank you for your never-ending enthusiasm, keeping your office door always open and believing in me! I am also grateful to the members of my thesis advisory committee Brent Derry and Brenda Andrews for their expert guidance over the years. I thank all members of HIPHOP lab (Andrew Smith, Kyle Tsui, Kahlin Cheung-Ong, Anthony Arnoldo, Elke Ericson, Zhun Yan, Ian Wallace, Kevin Song, Anna Lee, Nikko Torres, Ron Amar, Tanvi Shekhar, Simon Alfred, Anu Surendra, and Larry Heisler) for creating a perfect research environment to work in. Thanks to Malene Urbanus for her insightful discussions and help in the early years of my graduate career. Special thanks to Marinella Gebbia who gave me incredible technical support I needed to carry out my research and made my life so much easier and fun in many other aspects. I am also grateful to my friends-colleagues Anastasia Baryshnikova for her irreplaceable company throughout PhD years and to Marina Gorelik for being a reliable climbing partner. Finally, I am forever indebted to my mom, brother and dad for their understanding and unconditional love. Above all, I thank the Universe for allowing me to participate in this incredible learning adventure – science. iv Table of Contents Acknowledgements................................................................................................................iv Table of Contents..................................................................................................................... v List of Figures........................................................................................................................ viii List of Tables ............................................................................................................................ix List of Abbreviations .............................................................................................................. x List of Appendices ................................................................................................................. xv Chapter 1 Introduction.......................................................................................................... 1 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 2 1.1 Introduction to AdoMet-dependent methyltransferases..........................................2 1.1.1 Mechanism of the methylation reaction.................................................................................3 1.1.2 Structural diversity of methyltransferases...........................................................................4 1.1.3 Substrate promiscuity....................................................................................................................5 1.1.4 Brief overview of biological functions ....................................................................................6 1.2 Importance of AdoMet-dependent methyltransferases............................................7 1.2.1 Disease associations .......................................................................................................................7 1.2.2 Drug interactions .............................................................................................................................8 1.2.3 Methylation of exogenous small molecules..........................................................................9 1.2.3.1 Arsenic methyltransferase (AS3MT)............................................................................................... 9 1.2.3.2 Thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) ...................................................................................10 1.2.3.3 Glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT)..........................................................................................11 1.2.4 Methylation of endogenous small molecules....................................................................13 1.2.4.1 Catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT)........................................................................................14 1.2.4.2 Yeast Trans-Aconitate Methyltransferase (TMT1) .................................................................15 1.3 Non-canonical roles of methyltransferases................................................................ 16 1.4 Methods to explore methyltransferases...................................................................... 18 1.4.1 In silico computational approaches.......................................................................................18 1.4.2 In vitro approaches.......................................................................................................................19 1.4.2.1 Methylation activity assays...............................................................................................................20 1.4.2.2 Biochemical identification of methylated substrates ............................................................20 1.4.2.3 Peptide and protein microarrays ...................................................................................................21 1.4.3 In vivo functional genomic methods .....................................................................................23 1.4.4 Chemical genetics..........................................................................................................................25 1.5 Thesis rationale ................................................................................................................... 27 Chapter 2 Characterizing a putative Saccharomyces cerevisiae methyltransferase in response to chemical stress.....................................................29 2 Characterizing a putative Saccharomyces cerevisiae methyltransferase in response to chemical stress...............................................................................................30 2.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 30 2.2 Results..................................................................................................................................... 32 2.2.1 CRG1 is required for resistance to cantharidin ................................................................32 2.2.2 A functional Crg1 methyltransferase domain is required for resistance to cantharidin ......................................................................................................................................................34 v 2.2.3 Analysis of CRG1 transcript in response to cantharidin...............................................36 2.2.4 Analysis of yeast transcriptome upon exposure to cantharidin...............................38 2.2.5 CRG1 is a sequence homologue of small molecule methyltransferase