Defects in THO/TREX-2 function cause accumulation of novel cytoplasmic mRNP granules that can be cleared by autophagy

THO, but not TREX-2 null strains, show moderate impairment of canonical stress granule induction. (A) WT and THO/TREX-2 null strains were transformed with pRP1657 and examined in midlog (left) or additionally subjected to NaN₃ stress (0.5% w/v) for 30 min. (B) Quantitation of average number of stress granules/cell in control strains. (C) Quantitation of average number of stress granules/cell in NaN₃ stressed strains. (D) Quantitation of average number of P-bodies/cell in control strains. (E) Quantitation of average number of P-bodies/cell in NaN₃ stressed strains. For A–E, all data were collected from three biological replicates (separate culture and transformant) with mean ± SD shown. Paired one-tailed (B) or two-tailed (C–E) Student's t-tests were conducted to assess significance of mutant data relative to WT; (*) = P < 0.05; (**) = P < 0.01. Scale bar = 2.5 µM.