Gene-targeted Random Mutagenesis to Select Heterochromatin-destabilizing Proteasome Mutants in Fission Yeast

Summary

This article describes a detailed methodology for random mutagenesis of a target gene in fission yeast. As an example, we target rpt4+, which encodes a subunit of the 19S proteasome, and screen for mutations that destabilize heterochromatin.

Abstract

Random mutagenesis of a target gene is commonly used to identify mutations that yield the desired phenotype. Of the methods that may be used to achieve random mutagenesis, error-prone PCR is a convenient and efficient strategy for generating a diverse pool of mutants (i.e., a mutant library). Error-prone PCR is the method of choice when a researcher seeks to mutate a pre-defined region, such as the coding region of a gene while leaving other genomic regions unaffected. After the mutant library is amplified by error-prone PCR, it must be cloned into a suitable plasmid. The size of the library generated by error-prone PCR is constrained by the efficiency of the cloning step. However, in the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the cloning step can be replaced by the use of a highly efficient one-step fusion PCR to generate constructs for transformation. Mutants of desired phenotypes may then be selected using appropriate reporters. Here, we describe this strategy in detail, taking as an example, a reporter inserted at centromeric heterochromatin.

Introduction

Forward genetics is a classical method in which researchers seek naturally occurring mutants that display a particular phenotype, and perform genetic analyses. In reverse genetics, mutations are introduced into a gene of interest and the phenotype is examined. In the latter case, random mutagenesis of a target gene is often used to generate a pool of mutants that are subsequently selected for desired phenotypes, such as temperature sensitivity or altered enzymatic activity. Various methods may be used to achieve random mutagenesis, including error-prone PCR¹; UV irradiation²; chemical mutagens, such as ethyl methanesulfo....

Protocol

1. Preparation of Media

1. Prepare Yeast Extract with supplements (YES), YES without adenine (YES Low Ade), Pombe Glutamate medium (PMG¹²), and PMG without adenine (PMG-Ade) by mixing the components as described in Table 1. YES-Ade (Low Ade) and PMG-Ade plates have all of the same components, but the adenine is omitted from the latter.
   1. Use the following salt (50x) stock: 52.5 g/L MgCl₂·6H₂O, 2 g/L CaCl₂·2H₂O, 50 g/L KCl, 2 g/L Na₂SO₄ in distilled water. Filter sterilize using a 0.22-µm pore-size filter and store at 4 °C.

Results

The acquired Rpt4 mutants by following the procedures described in Figure 1 can be analyzed by assessing the colors of the colonies. The colors of the colonies are spotted onto the relevant plates in decreasing cell number in Figure 2. The ade6+ reporter inserted at the heterochromatin region is silenced in wild-type and shows red colonies in YES-Ade plate. Once the heterochromatin is destabilized and the ade6+ .......

Discussion

Random mutagenesis via error-prone PCR is a powerful tool for generating a diverse pool of mutants in a given region. This technique is especially useful for studies that seek to assess the function of a protein under a specific circumstance. For example, we herein used error-prone PCR to assess the function of the 19S proteasome subunit, Rpt4, in heterochromatin maintenance. By varying the region targeted by the error-prone PCR and adjusting the screening conditions, we were able to mutate cells at the genomic region of.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
1. Media
Glucose	Sigma-Aldrich	G8270-10KG
Yeast extract	BD Biosciences	212720
L-Leucine	JUNSEI	87070-0310
Adenine sulfate	ACR	16363-0250
Uracil	Sigma-Aldrich	U0750
L-Histidine	Sigma-Aldrich	H8125
KH2PO4	Sigma-Aldrich	1.05108.0050
NaCl	JUNSEI	19015-0350
MgSO4•7H2O	Sigma-Aldrich	63140
CaCl2	Sigma-Aldrich	12095
Potassium phthalate	Sigma-Aldrich	P6758-500g
Inositol	Sigma-Aldrich	I7508-50G
Biotin	Sigma-Aldrich	B4501-100MG
Boric Acid	Sigma-Aldrich	B6768-1KG
MnSO4	Sigma-Aldrich	M7634-500G
ZnSO4•7H2O	JUNSEI	83060-031
FeCl2•4H2O	KANTO	CB8943686
Sodium molybdate dihydrate	YAKURI	31621
KI	JUNSEI	80090-0301
CuSO4•5H2O	YAKURI	09605
D-myo-inositol	MP biomedicals	102052
Pantothenate	YAKURI	26003
Nicotinic Acid	Sigma-Aldrich	N4126-500G
(NH4)2SO4	Sigma-Aldrich	A4418-100G
Agarose	Biobasic	D0012
G418, geneticin	LPS	G41805
2. Enzyme reactions
PfuUltra II Fusion HS DNA Polymerase	Aglient	600380	For site-directed mutagenesis
GeneMorphII Random mutagenesis Kit	Aglient	200500	For error-prone PCR
Phusion High-Fidelity DNA Polymerase	Thermo Fisher	F-530L	For fusion PCR
Ex Taq DNA Polymerase	Takara	RR001b	For general PCR
BamH1	New England BioLabs	R0136S
Xho1	New England BioLabs	R0146S
Dpn1	New England BioLabs	R0176S
3. Equipment
Velveteen square, black	VWR	89033-116	For replica
Replica-plating tool	VWR	25395-380	For replica
MicroPulser Electroporator	Biorad	1652100	For fission yeast transformation
Electroporation Cuvettes, 0.2 cm gap	Biorad	1652086	For fission yeast transformation
Thermal Cycler	Bioer	BYQ6078	For fusion PCR ramp reaction