Topoisomerase III is essential for accurate nuclear division in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Goodwin, A; Wang, S; Toda, T; Norbury, C; Hickson, I

Journal article

Topoisomerase III is essential for accurate nuclear division in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Abstract:: Topoisomerases catalyse changes in the topological state of DNA and are required for many aspects of DNA metabolism. While the functions of topoisomerases I and II in eukaryotes are well established, the role of topoisomerase III remains poorly defined. We have identified a gene in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, designated top3 (+), which shows significant sequence similarity to genes encoding topoisomerase III enzymes in other eukaryotic species. In common with murine TOP3 alpha, but in contrast to Saccharomyces cerevisiae TOP3, the S.pombe top3 (+)gene is essential for long-term cell viability. Fission yeast haploid spores containing a disrupted top3 (+)gene germinate successfully, but then undergo only a limited number of cell divisions. Analysis of these top3 mutants revealed evidence of aberrant mitotic chromosome segregation, including the 'cut' phenotype, where septation is completed prior to nuclear division. Consistent with the existence of an intimate association (originally identified in S.cerevisiae ) between topoisomerase III and DNA helicases of the RecQ family, deletion of the rqh1 (+)gene encoding the only known RecQ helicase in S.pombe suppresses lethality in top3 mutants. This conservation of genetic interaction between two widely diverged yeasts suggests that the RecQ family helicases encoded by the Bloom's and Werner's syndrome genes are likely to act in concert with topoisomerase III isozymes in human cells. Our data are consistent with a model in which the association of a RecQ helicase and topoisomerase III is important for facilitating decatenation of late stage replicons to permit faithful chromosome segregation during anaphase.

Publication status:: Published

Actions

Email

Email this record

Send the bibliographic details of this record to your email address.

Your Email
Please enter the email address that the record information will be sent to.

-
Your message (optional)
Please add any additional information to be included within the email.
Share
Cite

Cite this record

APA Style

Goodwin, A., Wang, S., Toda, T., Norbury, C., & Hickson, I. (1999). Topoisomerase III is essential for accurate nuclear division in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Nucleic Acids Research, 27(20), 4050–4058.

MLA Style

Goodwin, A, et al. “Topoisomerase III Is Essential for Accurate Nuclear Division in Schizosaccharomyces Pombe.” Nucleic Acids Research, vol. 27, no. 20, 1999, pp. 4050–58.

Chicago Style

Goodwin, A, S Wang, T Toda, C Norbury, and I Hickson. 1999. “Topoisomerase III Is Essential for Accurate Nuclear Division in Schizosaccharomyces Pombe.” Nucleic Acids Research 27 (20): 4050–58.
Print