The role of reactive oxygen species in the induction of Tyl retrotransposition in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Here we provide evidence for a dependence between the increased production of reactive oxygen species and the activation of Tyl retrotransposition. We have found that the strong activator of Tyl mobility, methylmethane sulphonate, can not induce Tyl retrotransposition in cells with compromised mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (rho(-); scol Delta), which is the major source for production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The quantitative estimation of superoxide anions in living cells showed that rho(+) cells exposed to methylmethane sulphonate increase Tyl retrotransposition and superoxide levels. The increase of superoxide anions by the superoxide generator menadione is accompanied by induction of Tyl mobility without any treatment with a DNA-damaging agent. Higher frequencies of retrotransposition were found in rho(+) and rho(-) cells treated with exogenously added hydrogen peroxide or in cells with disrupted YAP1 gene characterized by increased intracellular levels of hydrogen peroxide. These data indicate that increased levels of ROS may have an independent and key role in the induction of Tyl retrotransposition. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.