scholarly journals Functional analysis of the interaction between Afr1p and the Cdc12p septin, two proteins involved in pheromone-induced morphogenesis.

1997 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 987-998 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Giot ◽  
J B Konopka

Saccharomyces cerevisiae mating pheromones induce production of Afr1p, a protein that negatively regulates pheromone receptor signaling and is required for normal formation of the projection of cell growth that becomes the site of cell fusion during conjugation. Afr1p interacts with Cdc12p, which belongs to a family of filament-forming proteins termed septins that have been studied primarily for their role in bud morphogenesis and cytokinesis. The significance of the interaction between Afr1p and Cdc12p was tested in this study by examining the effects of AFR1 mutations that destroy the Cdc12p-binding domain. The results demonstrate that sequences in the C-terminal half of Afr1p are required for interaction with Cdc12p and for proper localization of Afr1p to the base of the mating projection. However, the Cdc12p-binding domain was not required for regulation of receptor signaling or for mating projection formation. This result was surprising because cells carrying a temperature-sensitive cdc12-6 mutation were defective in projection formation, indicating a role for Cdc12p in this process. Although the Cdc12p-binding domain was no essential for Afr1p function, this domain did improve the ability of Afr1p to promote morphogenesis, suggesting that the proper localization of Afr1p is important for its function.

1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 2484-2493 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Y Jahng ◽  
J Ferguson ◽  
S I Reed

Mutations which allowed conjugation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells lacking a mating pheromone receptor gene were selected. One of the genes defined by such mutations was isolated from a yeast genomic library by complementation of a temperature-sensitive mutation and is identical to the gene GPA1 (also known as SCG1), recently shown to be highly homologous to genes encoding the alpha subunits of mammalian G proteins. Physiological analysis of temperature-sensitive gpa1 mutations suggests that the encoded G protein is involved in signaling in response to mating pheromones. Mutational disruption of G-protein activity causes cell-cycle arrest in G1, deposition of mating-specific cell surface agglutinins, and induction of pheromone-specific mRNAs, all of which are responses to pheromone in wild-type cells. In addition, mutants can conjugate without the benefit of mating pheromone or pheromone receptor. A model is presented where the activated G protein has a negative impact on a constitutive signal which normally keeps the pheromone response repressed.


2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 907-918 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Schaefer ◽  
Pierre Côte ◽  
Malcolm Whiteway ◽  
Richard J. Bennett

ABSTRACT Mating in Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae is regulated by the secretion of peptide pheromones that initiate the mating process. An important regulator of pheromone activity in S. cerevisiae is barrier activity, involving an extracellular aspartyl protease encoded by the BAR1 gene that degrades the alpha pheromone. We have characterized an equivalent barrier activity in C. albicans and demonstrate that the loss of C. albicans BAR1 activity results in opaque a cells exhibiting hypersensitivity to alpha pheromone. Hypersensitivity to pheromone is clearly seen in halo assays; in response to alpha pheromone, a lawn of C. albicans Δbar1 mutant cells produces a marked zone in which cell growth is inhibited, whereas wild-type strains fail to show halo formation. C. albicans mutants lacking BAR1 also exhibit a striking mating defect in a cells, but not in α cells, due to overstimulation of the response to alpha pheromone. The block to mating occurs prior to cell fusion, as very few mating zygotes were observed in mixes of Δbar1 a and α cells. Finally, in a barrier assay using a highly pheromone-sensitive strain, we were able to demonstrate that barrier activity in C. albicans is dependent on Bar1p. These studies reveal that a barrier activity to alpha pheromone exists in C. albicans and that the activity is analogous to that caused by Bar1p in S. cerevisiae.


2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 1363-1372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Ren ◽  
Arti Santhanam ◽  
Paul Lee ◽  
Avrom Caplan ◽  
Stephen Garrett

ABSTRACT Cdc37 is a molecular chaperone that has a general function in the biogenesis of protein kinases. We identified mutations within the putative “protein kinase binding domain” of Cdc37 that alleviate the conditional growth defect of a strain containing a temperature-sensitive allele, tpk2(Ts), of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). These dominant mutations alleviate the temperature-sensitive growth defect by elevating PKA activity, as judged by their effects on PKA-regulated processes, localization and phosphorylation of the PKA effector Msn2, as well as in vitro PKA activity. Although the tpk2(Ts) growth defect is also alleviated by Cdc37 overproduction, the CDC37 dominant mutants contain wild-type Cdc37 protein levels. In addition, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ste11 protein kinase has an elevated physical interaction with the altered Cdc37 protein. These results implicate specific amino-terminal residues in the interaction between Cdc37 and client protein kinases and provide further genetic and biochemical support for a model in which Cdc37 functions as a molecular chaperone for protein kinases.


2008 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 848-858 ◽  
Author(s):  
Héloïse Muller ◽  
Christophe Hennequin ◽  
Julien Gallaud ◽  
Bernard Dujon ◽  
Cécile Fairhead

ABSTRACT The genome of the type strain of Candida glabrata (CBS138, ATCC 2001) contains homologs of most of the genes involved in mating in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, starting with the mating pheromone and receptor genes. Only haploid cells are ever isolated, but C. glabrata strains of both mating types are commonly found, the type strain being MATα and most other strains, such as BG2, being MAT a. No sexual cycle has been documented for this species. In order to understand which steps of the mating pathway are defective, we have analyzed the expression of homologs of some of the key genes involved as well as the production of mating pheromones and the organism's sensitivity to artificial pheromones. We show that cells of opposite mating types express both pheromone receptor genes and are insensitive to pheromones. Nonetheless, cells maintain specificity through regulation of the α1 and α2 genes and, more surprisingly, through differential splicing of the a 1 transcript.


1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 754-764 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Yano ◽  
M Nomura

The SRP3-1 mutation is an allele-specific suppressor of temperature-sensitive mutations in the largest subunit (A190) of RNA polymerase I from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Two mutations known to be suppressed by SRP3-1 are in the putative zinc-binding domain of A190. We have cloned the SRP3 gene by using its suppressor activity and determined its complete nucleotide sequence. We conclude from the following evidence that the SRP3 gene encodes the second-largest subunit (A135) of RNA polymerase I. First, the deduced amino acid sequence of the gene product contains several regions with high homology to the corresponding regions of the second-largest subunits of RNA polymerases of various origins, including those of RNA polymerase II and III from S. cerevisiae. Second, the deduced amino acid sequence contains known amino acid sequences of two tryptic peptides from the A135 subunit of RNA polymerase I purified from S. cerevisiae. Finally, a strain was constructed in which transcription of the SRP3 gene was controlled by the inducible GAL7 promoter. When this strain, which can grow on galactose but not on glucose, was shifted from galactose medium to glucose medium, a large decrease in the cellular concentration of A135 was observed by Western blot analysis. We have also identified the specific amino acid alteration responsible for suppression by SRP3-1 and found that it is located within the putative zinc-binding domain conserved among the second-largest subunits of eucaryotic RNA polymerases. From these results, it is suggested that this putative zinc-binding domain is in physical proximity to and interacts with the putative zinc-binding domain of the A190 subunit.


1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 5640-5651
Author(s):  
R Yano ◽  
M Oakes ◽  
M Yamaghishi ◽  
J A Dodd ◽  
M Nomura

The SRP1-1 mutation is an allele-specific dominant suppressor of temperature-sensitive mutations in the zinc-binding domain of the A190 subunit of Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNA polymerase I (Pol I). We found that it also suppresses temperature-sensitive mutations in the zinc-binding domain of the Pol I A135 subunit. This domain had been suggested to be in physical proximity to the A190 zinc-binding domain. We have cloned the SRP1 gene and determined its nucleotide sequence. The gene encodes a protein of 542 amino acids consisting of three domains: the central domain, which is composed of eight (degenerate) 42-amino-acid contiguous tandem repeats, and the surrounding N-terminal and C-terminal domains, both of which contain clusters of acidic and basic amino acids and are very hydrophilic. The mutational alteration (P219Q) responsible for the suppression was found to be in the central domain. Using antibody against the SRP1 protein, we have found that SRP1 is mainly localized at the periphery of the nucleus, apparently more concentrated in certain regions, as suggested by a punctate pattern in immunofluorescence microscopy. We suggest that SRP1 is a component of a larger macromolecular complex associated with the nuclear envelope and interacts with Pol I either directly or indirectly through other components in the structure containing SRP1.


Genetics ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 124 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Fujimura

Abstract Mating pheromones, a- and alpha-factors, arrest the division of cells of opposite mating types, alpha and a cells, respectively. I have isolated a sterile mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that is defective in division arrest in response to alpha-factor but not defective in morphological changes and agglutinin induction. The mutation was designated dac2 for division arrest control by mating pheromones. The dac2 mutation was closely linked to gal1 and was different from the previously identified cell type nonspecific sterile mutations (ste4, ste5, ste7, ste11, ste12, ste18 and dac1). Although dac2 cells had no phenotype in the absence of pheromones, they showed morphological alterations and divided continuously in the presence of pheromones. As a result, dac2 cells had a mating defect. The dac2 mutation could suppress the lethality caused by the disruption of the GPA1 gene (previously shown to encode a protein with similarity to the alpha subunit of mammalian G proteins). In addition, dac2 cells formed prezygotes with wild-type cells of opposite mating types, although they could not undergo cell fusion. These results suggest that the DAC2 product may control the signal for G-protein-mediated cell-cycle arrest and indicate that the synchronization of haploid yeast cell cycles by mating pheromones is essential for cell fusion during conjugation.


1982 ◽  
Vol 2 (9) ◽  
pp. 1052-1063
Author(s):  
J R Shuster

Temperature-sensitive mutants which arrest in the G1 phase of the cell cycle have been described for the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. One class of these mutants (carrying cdc28, cdc36, cdc37, or cdc39) forms a shmoo morphology at restrictive temperature, characteristic of mating pheromone-arrested wild-type cells. Therefore, one hypothesis to explain the control of cell division by mating factors states that mating pheromones arrest wild-type cells by inactivating one or more of these CDC gene products. A class of mutants (carrying ste4, ste5, ste7, ste11, or ste12) which is insensitive to mating pheromone and sterile has also been described. One possible function of the STE gene products is the inactivation of the CDC gene products in the presence of a mating pheromone. A model incorporating these two hypotheses predicts that such STE gene products will not be required for mating in strains carrying an appropriate cdc lesion. This prediction was tested by assaying the mating abilities of double mutants for all of the pairwise combinations of cdc and ste mutations. Lesions in either cdc36 or cdc39 suppressed the mating defect due to ste4 and ste5. Allele specificity was observed in the suppression of both ste4 and ste5. The results indicate that the CDC36, CDC39, STE4, and STE5 gene products interact functionally or physically or both in the regulation of cell division mediated by the presence or absence of mating pheromones. The cdc36 and cdc39 mutations did not suppress ste7, ste11, or ste12. Lesions in cdc28 or cdc37 did not suppress any of the ste mutations. Other models of CDC and STE gene action which predicted that some of the cdc and ste mutations would be alleles of the same locus were tested. None of the cdc mutations was allelic to the ste mutations and, therefore, these models were eliminated.


1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 746-753 ◽  
Author(s):  
J H McCusker ◽  
M Yamagishi ◽  
J M Kolb ◽  
M Nomura

Starting with two temperature-sensitive mutants (rpa190-1 and rpa190-5) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, both of which are amino acid substitutions in the putative zinc-binding domain of the largest subunit (A190) of RNA polymerase I, we have isolated many independent pseudorevertants carrying extragenic suppressors (SRP) of rpa190 mutations. All the SRP mutations were dominant over the corresponding wild-type genes. They were classified into at least seven different loci by crossing each suppressed mutant with all of the other suppressed mutants and analyzing segregants. SRP mutations representing each of the seven loci were studied for their effects on other known rpa190 mutations. All of the SRP mutations were able to suppress both rpa190-1 and rpa190-5. In addition, one particular suppressor, SRP5, was found to suppress two other rpa190 mutations as well as an rpa190 deletion. Southern blot analysis combined with genetic crosses demonstrated that SRP5 maps to a region on chromosome XV loosely linked to rpa190 and represents a transposed mutant gene in two copies. Analysis of the A190 subunit by using anti-A190 antiserum indicated that the cellular concentration of A190 and hence of RNA polymerase I decreases in rpa190-1 mutants after a shift to 37 degrees C and that in the mutant strain carrying SRP5 this decrease is partially alleviated, presumably because of increased synthesis caused by increased gene dosage. These results suggest that the zinc-binding domain plays an important role in protein-protein interaction essential for the assembly and/or stability of the enzyme, regardless of whether it also participates directly in the interaction of the assembled enzyme with DNA.


Genetics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 157 (4) ◽  
pp. 1437-1450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuhide Asakawa ◽  
Satoshi Yoshida ◽  
Fumiaki Otake ◽  
Akio Toh-e

Abstract Exit from mitosis requires the inactivation of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) activity. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a number of gene products have been identified as components of the signal transduction network regulating inactivation of CDK (called the MEN, for the mitotic exit network). Cdc15, one of such components of the MEN, is an essential protein kinase. By the two-hybrid screening, we identified Cdc15 as a binding protein of Tem1 GTPase, another essential regulator of the MEN. Coprecipitation experiments revealed that Tem1 binds to Cdc15 in vivo. By deletion analysis, we found that the Tem1-binding domain resides near the conserved kinase domain of Cdc15. The cdc15-LF mutation, which was introduced into the Tem1-binding domain, reduced the interaction with Cdc15 and Tem1 and caused temperature-sensitive growth.The kinase activity of Cdc15 was not so much affected by the cdc15-LF mutation. However, Cdc15-LF failed to localize to the SPB at the restrictive temperature. Our data show that the interaction with Tem1 is important for the function of Cdc15 and that Cdc15 and Tem1 function in a complex to direct the exit from mitosis.


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