Haploid yeast cells undergo a reversible phenotypic switch associated with chromosome II copy number

Abstract

SUP35 and SUP45 are essential genes encoding polypeptide chain release factors. However, mutants for these genes may be viable but display pleiotropic phenotypes which include, but are not limited to, nonsense suppressor phenotype due to translation termination defect. [PSI (+)] prion formation is another Sup35p-associated mechanism leading to nonsense suppression through decreased availability of functional Sup35p. [PSI (+)] differs from genuine sup35 mutations by the possibility of its elimination and subsequent re-induction. Some suppressor sup35 mutants had also been shown to undergo a reversible phenotypic switch in the opposite direction. This reversible switching had been attributed to a prion termed [ISP (+)]. However, even though many phenotypic and molecular level features of [ISP (+)] were revealed, the mechanism behind this phenomenon has not been clearly explained and might be more complex than suggested initially.