Impact of 1,6-Hexanediol on Schizosaccharomyces pombe Genome Stability.

Phase separation is a major mechanism of macromolecular condensation within cells. A frequently chosen tool for global disruption of phase separation via weak hydrophobic interactions is treatment with 1,6-hexanediol. This study evaluates the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of treating live fission yeast with 1,6-hexanediol. We find that 1,6-hexanediol causes a drastic decrease in cell survival and growth rate. We also see a reduction in HP1 protein foci, and increase in DNA damage foci. However, there is no evidence for increased genomic instability in two classically phase separated domains, the heterochromatic pericentromere, and the nucleolar rDNA repeats. This study reveals that 1,6-hexanediol is a blunt tool for phase separation inhibition and its secondary effects must be taken into consideration during its in vivo use.