[PSI⁺] turns 50

abstract

The year 2015 sees the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of a research paper that underpins much of our understanding of fungal prion biology, namely “ψ, a cytoplasmic suppressor of super-suppressor in yeast” by Brian Cox. Here we show how our understanding of the molecular nature of the [PSI⁺] determinant evolved from an ‘occult’ determinant to a transmissible amyloid form of a translation termination factor. We also consider the impact studies on [PSI] have had – and continue to have - on prion research. To demonstrate this, leading investigators in the yeast prion field who have made extensive use of the [PSI⁺] trait in their research, provide their own commentaries on the discovery and significance of [PSI].

Keywords:

• yeast
• prion
• Brian Cox
• non-Mendelian inheritance
• [PSI⁺] prion
• nonsense suppression

Acknowledgments

BSC would like to acknowledge the help, skills, insights, wisdom, friendship and in some cases, hospitality in their laboratories, of the following collaborators in the ψ project over the last 50 years. The list is non-hierarchical: Hamish, Shirley, Mick, Chris, Clegg, Cathy, Theresa, Marie, Sheila, Patsy Petal, Hwa Dai, Simon, Lee, Paolo, Frederique, Kerry, Angela, Eric, Nadia, Gemma, Jo, Jintana, Wes, Ricardo, Gloria, Cal, Tricia, Bruce, Mike, Jack, Bob and Ray.

FUNDING

MFT's research on [PSI⁺] was funded by the BBSRC (ref BB/J000183/1) and a Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship (ref RF-2012–365). BSC acknowledges the award of 2 Leverhulme Emeritus Fellowships in 2004–2006 and 2012–2014.