2022

Biochemical principles in prion-based inheritance (review)

epigenomes 6(1), 4

Dennis E.M., Garcia, D.M.

2021

a prion that regulates genome diversification

biorxiv

Byers, J.S.*, Futia, R.A.*, Van Elgort, A., Lozanoski, T.M., Garcia, D.M., Jarosz, D.F.‡

A prion formed by a conserved DNA helicase promotes survival of the current generation and diversification of the next.

2021

a prion accelerates proliferation at the expense of lifespan

elifE 10:e60917

Garcia, D.M.*‡, Campbell, E.A.*, Jakobson, C.M., Tsuchiya, M., Shaw, E.A., DiNardo, A.L., Kaeberlein, M., Jarosz, D.F.‡

A highly conserved RNA-modifying enzyme, the pseudouridine synthase Pus4/TruB, can act as a prion, endowing yeast with greater proliferation, increased cell size, and altered translation, at the cost of shortened lifespan.

• eLife Press Pack: How proteins help yeast adapt to changing conditions

2020

a non-amyloid prion particle that activates a heritable gene expression program

molecular cell 77(2): 251-265.  

Chakravarty, A.K., Smejkal, T., Itakura, A., Garcia, D.M., Jarosz, D.F.

Discovered that phase separation of an evolutionary ancient RNA-binding protein allows it to act as a protein-based genetic element. 

2016

A common bacterial metabolite elicits prion-based bypass of glucose repression

eLife 5:e17978

Garcia, D.M.*, Dietrich, D.*, Clardy, J.‡, Jarosz, D.F.‡

Activity-guided fractionation identified the first bacterial metabolite that potently induces a prion in nature. Demonstrated that chemically simple and ubiquitous small molecules can induce epigenetic states. Also finally explained a mysterious observation first made by Louis Pasteur over 140 years ago.

• eLife Insight: An acid tale of prion formation. Tuite, M.F., eLife 2016, 5:e22256

• Editor’s Choice: Bacteria stop fermentation with lactic acid. Science Signaling  9,457: ec288

• Stanford Medicine Scope: How prions help yeast feast. Spector, R., December 1, 2016

2016

Intrinsically Disordered Proteins Drive Emergence and Inheritance of Biological Traits

Cell 167, 369–381

Chakrabortee, S.*, Byers, J.S.*, Jones, S., Garcia, D.M., Bhullar, B., Chang, A., She, R., Lee, L., Fremin, B., Lindquist, S.‡, Jarosz, D.F.‡

Defined a new class of non-amyloid prions in yeast responsible for protein-based transgenerational inheritance that do not rely necessarily on stable protein aggregates like classic (amyloid) prions.

• Remembering the Past: A New Form of Protein-Based Inheritance. Tuite, M.F., Cell 167, 369–381

• Science Daily: Revising the meaning of ‘prion’. October 4, 2016

• Stanford Medicine Scope: DNA dethroned? Spector, R., October 6, 2016

2014

Rebels with a cause: molecular features and physiological consequences of yeast prions (Review)

FEMS Yeast Research 14 (1): 136–147

Garcia, D.M. and Jarosz, D.F.

2011

Weak Seed-Pairing Stability and High Target-Site Abundance Decrease the Proficiency of lsy-6 and Other miRNAs

Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, 18 (10): 1139–1146

Garcia, D.M.*, Baek, D.*, Shin, C., Bell, G.W., Grimson, A., Bartel, D.P. 

Discovered new sequence features central to the microRNA pathway, an ancient and widespread mechanism of post-transcriptional gene control. Results were integrated into miRNA target prediction program TargetScan.org, used by tens of thousands of users per month.