A systematic genomic screen implicates nucleocytoplasmic transport and membrane growth in nuclear size control

PLoS Genet. 2017 May 18;13(5):e1006767. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006767. eCollection 2017 May.

Abstract

How cells control the overall size and growth of membrane-bound organelles is an important unanswered question of cell biology. Fission yeast cells maintain a nuclear size proportional to cellular size, resulting in a constant ratio between nuclear and cellular volumes (N/C ratio). We have conducted a genome-wide visual screen of a fission yeast gene deletion collection for viable mutants altered in their N/C ratio, and have found that defects in both nucleocytoplasmic mRNA transport and lipid synthesis alter the N/C ratio. Perturbing nuclear mRNA export results in accumulation of both mRNA and protein within the nucleus, and leads to an increase in the N/C ratio which is dependent on new membrane synthesis. Disruption of lipid synthesis dysregulates nuclear membrane growth and results in an enlarged N/C ratio. We propose that both properly regulated nucleocytoplasmic transport and nuclear membrane growth are central to the control of nuclear growth and size.

MeSH terms

  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / genetics*
  • Cell Membrane / genetics*
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Nucleus / genetics*
  • Cell Size*
  • Genome, Fungal
  • Lipids / biosynthesis
  • Lipids / genetics
  • Nuclear Envelope / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Schizosaccharomyces / genetics
  • Schizosaccharomyces / growth & development

Substances

  • Lipids
  • RNA, Messenger