Regulated exit from cell division and initiation of a non-proliferative quiescent state is a criticl requirement in all organisms. Failure to maintain quiescence and inappropriate reinitiation of proliferative cell growth underlies many human cancers. Conversely, subpopulations of quiescent tumor cells may play critical roles in resistance to chemotherapy and tumor recurrence as cancer drugs typically target processes active during cell growth. Similarly, quiescent pathogenic microbes are frequently insensitive to standard drug treatments. We will use the single-celled eukaryotic microbes, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (budding yeast) and Schizosaccharomyces pombe (fission yeast) to identify the conserved networks that regulate cell quiescence. Microbes and some tumor cells enter quiescent states in response to nutrient depletion and are able to survive for prolonged periods of nutrient starvation. Our preliminary studies demonstrate that initiation of quiescence in response to defined nutrient starvation is actively regulated by conserved signaling pathways including the TORC1, Ras/Protein kinase A (PKA) and AMPK pathways.
In Aim 1 we will define the conserved genetic program that controls cell quiescence by quantifying the defect in quiescence attributable to loss of function mutations in each gene in both budding and fission yeast in three quiescence-inducing conditions: carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous starvation. We will complement this genetic approach with studies of the phenotypic hallmarks of quiescence in wildtype and mutant cells to identify processes defective in quiescent mutants.
In Aim 2 we will study how signaling pathways integrate environmental information to initiate the quiescence program by identifying targets of quiescence-regulating pathways and interactions between pathways using genome-wide genetic interaction mapping in quiescent conditions in both species. These experiments will allow us to identify conserved functional interactions that enable the cell to initiate quiescence n response to specific pro-quiescence signals while simultaneously receiving pro-growth signals that activate parallel pathways. We hypothesize that one means of coordinating signaling pathways is by dynamic subcellular localization of their components and we will test this hypothesis using mutants in which signaling components are mislocalized.
In Aim 3 we will quantify variation in mRNA synthesis and degradation rates as cells enter quiescence using in vivo metabolic labeling of mRNAs coupled with RNA-Seq. We will use this method to test whether cells alter the stability of specific transcripts as cell growth slows and they enter quiescence. We will then identify conserved determinants of mRNA degradation variation using computational methods. By focusing on conserved signaling pathways and cellular processes that regulate quiescence we will enhance our understanding of quiescence in both normal and diseased human cells as well as microbial pathogens. A detailed understanding of cell quiescence will ultimately enable new therapeutic strategies that specifically target quiescent cells in a variety of pathological settings including cancer and microbial infections.

Public Health Relevance

Most cells exist in a non-proliferative, quiescent state that frequently results in generalized dru resistance of human tumor cells and pathogenic microbes. Our understanding of the regulation of quiescence is poor. We will identify genes, interactions and post-transcriptional regulation required for quiescence providing valuable insight into pathological conditions including cancer and microbial infection.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM107466-03
Application #
8915226
Study Section
Genomics, Computational Biology and Technology Study Section (GCAT)
Program Officer
Maas, Stefan
Project Start
2013-09-01
Project End
2016-08-31
Budget Start
2015-09-01
Budget End
2016-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
New York University
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
041968306
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10012
Miller, Darach; Brandt, Nathan; Gresham, David (2018) Systematic identification of factors mediating accelerated mRNA degradation in response to changes in environmental nitrogen. PLoS Genet 14:e1007406
Hong, Jungeui; Brandt, Nathan; Abdul-Rahman, Farah et al. (2018) An incoherent feedforward loop facilitates adaptive tuning of gene expression. Elife 7:
Abdul-Rahman, Farah; Gresham, David (2018) Determining mRNA Decay Rates Using RNA Approach to Equilibrium Sequencing (RATE-Seq). Methods Mol Biol 1720:15-24
Hong, Jungeui; Gresham, David (2017) Incorporation of unique molecular identifiers in TruSeq adapters improves the accuracy of quantitative sequencing. Biotechniques 63:221-226
Ziv, Naomi; Shuster, Bentley M; Siegal, Mark L et al. (2017) Resolving the Complex Genetic Basis of Phenotypic Variation and Variability of Cellular Growth. Genetics 206:1645-1657
Neymotin, Benjamin; Ettorre, Victoria; Gresham, David (2016) Multiple Transcript Properties Related to Translation Affect mRNA Degradation Rates in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. G3 (Bethesda) 6:3475-3483
Airoldi, Edoardo M; Miller, Darach; Athanasiadou, Rodoniki et al. (2016) Steady-state and dynamic gene expression programs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in response to variation in environmental nitrogen. Mol Biol Cell 27:1383-96
Bojsen, Rasmus; Regenberg, Birgitte; Gresham, David et al. (2016) A common mechanism involving the TORC1 pathway can lead to amphotericin B-persistence in biofilm and planktonic Saccharomyces cerevisiae populations. Sci Rep 6:21874
Irene, Carmela; Theis, James F; Gresham, David et al. (2016) Hst3p, a histone deacetylase, promotes maintenance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome III lacking efficient replication origins. Mol Genet Genomics 291:271-83
Doidy, Joan; Li, Ying; Neymotin, Benjamin et al. (2016) ""Hit-and-Run"" transcription: de novo transcription initiated by a transient bZIP1 ""hit"" persists after the ""run"". BMC Genomics 17:92

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