Since Western blot was performed in denaturing conditions (after SDS-PAGE) the band depicted with asterisk might be observed due to the formation of a mixed disulfide bond between Pof1p and Ubc7p. Pof1p possesses six cysteine residues. Probably the concentrations of DTT (1 mM) employed were

too low to reduce the mixed disulfide between Pof1p and Ubc7p. Taking advantage of the anti-Pof1p antibody, the Pof1p sub-cellular distribution was studied. A punctuated Pof1p distribution in was observed in wild-type cells (Figure 6), which was more evident in Δpct1 cells. This is in agreement with higher protein expression of Pof1p in Δpct1 cells, which was also observed by Western blotting (data not shown), suggesting a compensatory response. Based on previous immunocytochemistry studies [30], we speculate that Pof1p localizes to the Golgi compartment. Figure 6 Immunocytochemistry assays to find more study Pof1 protein cell localization and distribution. The POF1 null cells were used as a negative control to establish antibody background levels. Discussion The first suggestion that the POF1 gene

was related to the protein quality control response arose from wide-scale studies about the relationship between MG 132 the ERAD and UPR systems [20]. Indeed, mRNA levels of POF1 gene were significantly increased in cells that were treated with ER stress agents (DTT and tunicamycin), and this induction was dependent on both Ire1p and Hac1p. In addition, a proteasome inhibitor (PS-341) provoked a four-fold induction of POF1 gene expression [31]. Furthermore, the expression of POF1 gene is repressed in the Δopi1 strain [20], suggesting an involvement of Pof1p with membrane and protein metabolism. The viability data presented here are in agreement with this idea, especially when considering the fact that all

stressful conditions tested (oxidative, heat shock, and ER stress in Figures 1, 2 and 4) Bcl-w are well known to provoke protein misfolding. Yet, oxidative stress and heat shock (Figures 1 and 2) caused the most severe phenotypes in Δpof1 cells, which is likely due to the fact that these stresses check details damage both membrane and protein homeostasis [32, 33]. The fact that POF1 overexpression was able to complement the function of PCT1 in Δpct1 cells during heat shock (Figure 2) and its expression levels by Opi1p [20] suggests the involvement of Pof1p in membrane lipid metabolism. In addition, the levels of Pof1p are augmented in Δpct1 cells (Figure 6 and western blot analyses – data not shown), which indicated that Pof1p might at least partially backing up Pct1p. However, the molecular function of Pof1p could not be directly related to membrane lipid synthesis although the protein displayed ATPase activity (Figure 3).