FSH1 overexpression triggers apoptosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

FSH1 belongs to the family of serine hydrolases in yeast and is homologous to the human ovarian tumor suppressor gene (OVAC2). Our preliminary results showed that cells lacking Fsh1p exhibit an increase in cell growth, and a decrease in the expression of AIF1 and NUC1 (apoptosis responsive genes) when compared to the wild type cells. Growth inhibition of cells overexpressing FSH1 is due to induction of cell death associated with cell death markers typical of mammalian apoptosis namely DNA fragmentation, phosphatidylserine externalization, ROS accumulation, Cytochrome c release, and altered mitochondrial membrane potential. When wild type cells were overexpressed with FSH1 there was up regulation of AIF1 level when compared to control cells suggesting that overexpression of FSH1 regulated cell death in yeast.