CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ROLE OF Saccharomyces cerevisiae EISOSOMAL MEMBRANE DOMAINS IN AGING

SALZMAN, VALENTINA; PATERNOSTE, MARIBEL; AGUILAR, PABLO S.

CORDOBA

Congreso; 52th Annual Meeting Argentine Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; 2016

SAIB

Eisosomes are large protein complexes that delimit nanoscale plasma membrane invaginations in S. cerevisiae. They are reservoirs of more than 25 proteins including transporters, signaling molecules and proteins of unknown function. Some of these proteins have been reported to be involved in the cellular aging process, considered the greatest risk factor for most age-associated diseases. We are interested in understanding eisosomes´ role in aging using S. cerevisiae, an experimental model that has contributed to the identification of many mammalian genes that affect this process. Eisosomes segregate asymmetrically to the older cell and preliminary results show that accumulate with age. Performing yeast aging assays with knockout strains we found that when organization of these domains is lost longevity is significantly enhanced. Mutant strains in genes encoding eisosomal structural proteins where analyzed in different S. cerevisiae genetic backgrounds and growing conditions demonstrating that reducing eisosomes´ presence leads to lifespan extension. Finally, we analyzed if conditions that increase the levels of eisosomes in plasma membrane decreases lifespan. Our results strongly suggest that eisosomes play a key role in the aging process and that their proper structuration is essential for fulfilling it.