Triacylglycerol-deficient fission yeast and its uses
AssigneeNational University of Singapore
InventorHongyuan Yang
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Abstract
A fission yeast having non-functional dga1 and plh1 genes, which is incapable of synthesizing triacylglycerols, is disclosed. The fission yeast is susceptible to lipotoxicity including lipoapoptosis, and is useful for screening of compounds that inhibit or prevent lipotoxicity or lipoapoptosis. The fission yeast strain may be transformed to express a mammalian enzyme involved in triacylglycerol synthesis, and therefore is also useful for screening of compounds that inhibit or prevent triacylglycerol synthesis, which activity is conferred by the mammalian enzyme.
Claims48
An isolated Schizosaccharomyces pombe yeast strain comprising non-functional dgal and plhl genes.
A method for screening or identifying a compound that inhibits or prevents TAG synthesis, comprising:
- treating with a compound a culture of a fission yeast strain comprising non-functional dgal and plhl genes, wherein the yeast strain comprises an exogenous gene which is expressible in the yeast strain and which, when-expressed in the yeast strain, results in TAG synthesis;
- and detecting any TAG synthesis in the culture.
A method of screening or identifying a compound that inhibits lipotoxicity, comprising:
- treating with a compound a culture of a fission yeast strain comprising non-functional dgal and plhl genes;
- exposing the treated culture to conditions that are suitable for inducing lipotoxicity in an untreated culture;
- and detecting lipotoxicity in the treated culture.
A method of making a fission yeast strain comprising non-functional dgal and plhl genes, comprising functionally interrupting the dgal and plhl genes in a fission yeast strain.
A method of screening or identifying a gene that complements non-functional dgal and plhl genes, comprising transforming a fission yeast strain comprising non-functional dgal and plhl genes with an exogenous gene;
- culturing the transformed yeast strain;
- and detecting any TAG synthesis in the culture.
A kit or commercial package comprising a fission yeast strain comprising non-functional dgal and plhl genes and instructions for screening or identifying a compound that inhibits TAG synthesis.
A kit or commercial package comprising a fission yeast strain comprising non-functional dgal and plhl genes and instructions for screening or identifying a compound that inhibits lipotoxicity.
A kit or commercial package comprising a fission yeast strain comprising non-functional dgal and plhl genes and instructions for screening or identifying a gene that complements the dgal and plhl genes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.