Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) can undergo cell death accompanied by diagnostic features of apoptosis, such as phosphatidylserine externalization, DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation, cytochrome c release from mitochondria, and dissipation of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential. Both caspase-dependent and caspase-independent cell death executors participate in yeast cell death. On one hand, a yeast caspase-like protease appears to be essential for approximately 40% of the investigated cell death scenarios. On the other hand, factors like the mitochondrially located nucleases AIF (apoptosis-inducing factor) and endonuclease G, can execute caspase-independent cell death in yeast. Furthermore, complex correlates of mammalian cell death are observed in yeast. This applies to cell death-associated cytochrome c release, mitochondrial fragmentation, cytoskeletal alterations, generation of reactive oxygen species and epigenetic histone modifications. Hence, yeast constitutes an excellent model organism to delineate phylogenetically conserved pathways leading to apoptotic or necrotic cell death. Moreover, yeast can be used to identify pharmacological and genetic modulators of cell death pathways that are relevant for human disease.

• PMID: 19250922
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Journal Article | Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't | Review

Authors

Madeo F, Carmona-Gutierrez D, Ring J, Büttner S, Eisenberg T, Kroemer G

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