Novacic, A. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2023

Boosting N-terminally anchored yeast surface display via structural insights into S. cerevisiae Pir proteins

Surface display co-opts yeasts innate ability to embellish its cell wall with mannoproteins, thus converting the yeasts outer surface into a growing and self-sustaining catalyst. However, the efficient toolbox for converting the enzyme of interest into its surface-displayed isoform is currently lacking, especially if the isoform needs to be anchored to the cell wall near the isoforms N-terminus. Aiming to advance such N-terminally anchored surface display, we employed in silico and machine-learning strategies to study the 3D structure, function, genomic organisation, and evolution of the Pir protein family, whose members evolved to covalently attach themselves near their N-terminus to the {beta}-1,3-glucan of the cell wall. Through the newly-gained insights, we rationally engineered 14 S. cerevisiae Hsp150 (Pir2)-based fusion proteins. We quantified their performance, uncovering guidelines for efficient yeast surface display while developing a construct that promoted a 2.5-fold more efficient display than the full-length Hsp150 and a Pir-tag, i.e., a peptide spanning only 4.5 kDa but promoting as efficient surface display as the full-length Hsp150. These constructs fortify the existing surface display toolbox, allowing for a prompt and routine refitting of any protein into its N-terminally anchored isoform. Graphical abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=137 SRC="FIGDIR/small/538238v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (60K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@909e7aorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@9480ceorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1945bdcorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@11ae505_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Antisense non-coding transcription represses the PHO5 model gene via remodelling of promoter chromatin structure

Pervasive transcription of eukaryotic genomes generates non-coding transcripts with regulatory potential. We examined the effects of non-coding antisense transcription on the regulation of expression of the yeast PHO5 gene, a paradigmatic case for gene regulation through promoter chromatin remodeling. A negative role for antisense transcription at the PHO5 gene locus was demonstrated by leveraging the level of overlapping antisense transcription through specific mutant backgrounds, expression from a strong promoter in cis, and use of the CRISPRi system. Furthermore, we showed that enhanced elongation of PHO5 antisense leads to a more repressive chromatin conformation at the PHO5 gene promoter, which is more slowly remodeled upon gene induction. The negative effect of antisense transcription on PHO5 gene transcription is mitigated upon inactivation of the histone deacetylase Rpd3, showing that PHO5 antisense RNA acts via histone deacetylation. This regulatory pathway leads to Rpd3-dependent decreased recruitment of the RSC chromatin remodeling complex to the PHO5 gene promoter upon induction of antisense transcription. Overall, the data in this work reveal an additional level in the complex regulatory mechanism of PHO5 gene expression by showing antisense transcription-mediated repression at the level of promoter chromatin structure remodeling.

molecular biology↗