201
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Abstract
Protein synthesis requires both amino acids, as precursors, and a substantial amount of metabolic energy. It is well established that starvation or lack of nutrients impairs protein synthesis in mammalian cells and tissues. Branched chain amino acids are particularly effective in promoting protein synthesis. Recent work has revealed important new information about the mechanisms involved in these effects. A number of components of the translational machinery are regulated through signalling events that require the mammalian target of rapamycin, mTOR. These include translational repressor proteins (eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding proteins, 4E-BPs) and protein kinases that act upon the small ribosomal subunit (S6 kinases). Amino acids, especially leucine, positively regulate mTOR signalling thereby relieving inhibition of translation by 4E-BPs and activating the S6 kinases, which can also regulate translation elongation. However, the molecular mechanisms by which amino acids modulate mTOR signalling remain unclear. Protein synthesis requires a high proportion of the cell's metabolic energy, and recent work has revealed that metabolic energy, or fuels such as glucose, also regulate targets of the mTOR pathway. Amino acids and glucose modulate a further important regulatory step in translation initiation, the activity of the guanine nucleotide-exchange factor eIF2B. eIF2B controls the recruitment of the initiator methionyl-tRNA to the ribosome and is activated by insulin. However, in the absence of glucose or amino acids, insulin no longer activates eIF2B. Since control of eIF2B is independent of mTOR, these data indicate the operation of additional, and so far unknown, regulatory mechanisms that control eIF2B activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher G Proud
- Division of Molecular Physiology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, MSI/WTB Complex, Dow Street, UK.
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202
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Loewith R, Jacinto E, Wullschleger S, Lorberg A, Crespo JL, Bonenfant D, Oppliger W, Jenoe P, Hall MN. Two TOR complexes, only one of which is rapamycin sensitive, have distinct roles in cell growth control. Mol Cell 2002; 10:457-68. [PMID: 12408816 DOI: 10.1016/s1097-2765(02)00636-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1413] [Impact Index Per Article: 64.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The target of rapamycin (TOR) proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, TOR1 and TOR2, redundantly regulate growth in a rapamycin-sensitive manner. TOR2 additionally regulates polarization of the actin cytoskeleton in a rapamycin-insensitive manner. We describe two functionally distinct TOR complexes. TOR Complex 1 (TORC1) contains TOR1 or TOR2, KOG1 (YHR186c), and LST8. TORC2 contains TOR2, AVO1 (YOL078w), AVO2 (YMR068w), AVO3 (YER093c), and LST8. FKBP-rapamycin binds TORC1, and TORC1 disruption mimics rapamycin treatment, suggesting that TORC1 mediates the rapamycin-sensitive, TOR-shared pathway. FKBP-rapamycin fails to bind TORC2, and TORC2 disruption causes an actin defect, suggesting that TORC2 mediates the rapamycin-insensitive, TOR2-unique pathway. Thus, the distinct TOR complexes account for the diversity, specificity, and selective rapamycin inhibition of TOR signaling. TORC1 and possibly TORC2 are conserved from yeast to man.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robbie Loewith
- Division of Biochemistry, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
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203
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Gelperin D, Horton L, DeChant A, Hensold J, Lemmon SK. Loss of ypk1 function causes rapamycin sensitivity, inhibition of translation initiation and synthetic lethality in 14-3-3-deficient yeast. Genetics 2002; 161:1453-64. [PMID: 12196392 PMCID: PMC1462197 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/161.4.1453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
14-3-3 proteins bind to phosphorylated proteins and regulate a variety of cellular activities as effectors of serine/threonine phosphorylation. To define processes requiring 14-3-3 function in yeast, mutants with increased sensitivity to reduced 14-3-3 protein levels were identified by synthetic lethal screening. One mutation was found to be allelic to YPK1, which encodes a Ser/Thr protein kinase. Loss of Ypk function causes hypersensitivity to rapamycin, similar to 14-3-3 mutations and other mutations affecting the TOR signaling pathway in yeast. Similar to treatment with rapamycin, loss of Ypk function disrupted translation, at least in part by causing depletion of eIF4G, a central adaptor protein required for cap-dependent mRNA translation initiation. In addition, Ypk1 as well as eIF4G protein levels were rapidly depleted upon nitrogen starvation, but not during glucose starvation, even though both conditions inhibit translation initiation. These results suggest that Ypk regulates translation initiation in response to nutrient signals, either through the TOR pathway or in a functionally related pathway parallel to TOR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Gelperin
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
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204
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Hara K, Maruki Y, Long X, Yoshino KI, Oshiro N, Hidayat S, Tokunaga C, Avruch J, Yonezawa K. Raptor, a binding partner of target of rapamycin (TOR), mediates TOR action. Cell 2002; 110:177-89. [PMID: 12150926 DOI: 10.1016/s0092-8674(02)00833-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1352] [Impact Index Per Article: 61.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
mTOR controls cell growth, in part by regulating p70 S6 kinase alpha (p70alpha) and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (4EBP1). Raptor is a 150 kDa mTOR binding protein that also binds 4EBP1 and p70alpha. The binding of raptor to mTOR is necessary for the mTOR-catalyzed phosphorylation of 4EBP1 in vitro, and it strongly enhances the mTOR kinase activity toward p70alpha. Rapamycin or amino acid withdrawal increases, whereas insulin strongly inhibits, the recovery of 4EBP1 and raptor on 7-methyl-GTP Sepharose. Partial inhibition of raptor expression by RNA interference (RNAi) reduces mTOR-catalyzed 4EBP1 phosphorylation in vitro. RNAi of C. elegans raptor yields an array of phenotypes that closely resemble those produced by inactivation of Ce-TOR. Thus, raptor is an essential scaffold for the mTOR-catalyzed phosphorylation of 4EBP1 and mediates TOR action in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Hara
- Biosignal Research Center, Kobe University, 657-8501, Kobe, Japan.
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205
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Edinger AL, Thompson CB. Akt maintains cell size and survival by increasing mTOR-dependent nutrient uptake. Mol Biol Cell 2002; 13:2276-88. [PMID: 12134068 PMCID: PMC117312 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.01-12-0584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 478] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2001] [Revised: 04/05/2002] [Accepted: 04/19/2002] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
In multicellular organisms, constituent cells depend on extracellular signals for growth, proliferation, and survival. When cells are withdrawn from growth factors, they undergo apoptosis. Expression of constitutively active forms of the serine/threonine kinase Akt/PKB can prevent apoptosis upon growth factor withdrawal. Akt-mediated survival depends in part on the maintenance of glucose metabolism, suggesting that reduced glucose utilization contributes to growth factor withdrawal-induced death. However, it is unclear how restricting access to extracellular glucose alone would lead to the metabolic collapse observed after growth factor withdrawal. We report herein that growth factor withdrawal results in the loss of surface transporters for not only glucose but also amino acids, low-density lipoprotein, and iron. This coordinated decline in transporters and receptors for extracellular molecules creates a catabolic state characterized by atrophy and a decline in the mitochondrial membrane potential. Activated forms of Akt maintained these transporters on the cell surface in the absence of growth factor through an mTOR-dependent mechanism. The mTOR inhibitor rapamycin diminished Akt-mediated increases in cell size, mitochondrial membrane potential, and cell survival. These results suggest that growth factors control cellular growth and survival by regulating cellular access to extracellular nutrients in part by modulating the activity of Akt and mTOR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee L Edinger
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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206
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Abstract
Yeast cells can respond to growth on relatively poor nitrogen sources by increasing expression of the enzymes for the synthesis of glutamate and glutamine and by increasing the activities of permeases responsible for the uptake of amino acids for use as a source of nitrogen. These general responses to the quality of nitrogen source in the growth medium are collectively termed nitrogen regulation. In this review, we discuss the historical foundations of the study of nitrogen regulation as well as the current understanding of the regulatory networks that underlie nitrogen regulation. One focus of the review is the array of four GATA type transcription factors which are responsible for the regulation the expression of nitrogen-regulated genes. They are the activators Gln3p and Nil1p and their antagonists Nil2p and Dal80p. Our discussion includes consideration of the DNA elements which are the targets of the transcription factors and of the regulated translocation of Gln3p and Nil1p from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. A second focus of the review is the nitrogen regulation of the general amino acid permease, Gap1p, and the proline permease, Put4p, by ubiquitin mediated intracellular protein sorting in the secretory and endosomal pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Magasanik
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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207
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Crespo JL, Powers T, Fowler B, Hall MN. The TOR-controlled transcription activators GLN3, RTG1, and RTG3 are regulated in response to intracellular levels of glutamine. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2002; 99:6784-9. [PMID: 11997479 PMCID: PMC124480 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.102687599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 244] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The essential, rapamycin-sensitive TOR kinases regulate a diverse set of cell growth-related readouts in response to nutrients. Thus, the yeast TOR proteins function as nutrient sensors, in particular as sensors of nitrogen and possibly carbon. However, the nutrient metabolite(s) that acts upstream of TOR is unknown. We investigated the role of glutamine, a preferred nitrogen source and a key intermediate in yeast nitrogen metabolism, as a possible regulator of TOR. We show that the glutamine synthetase inhibitor L-methionine sulfoximine (MSX) specifically provokes glutamine depletion in yeast cells. MSX-induced glutamine starvation caused nuclear localization and activation of the TOR-inhibited transcription factors GLN3, RTG1, and RTG3, all of which mediate glutamine synthesis. The MSX-induced nuclear localization of GLN3 required the TOR-controlled, type 2A-related phosphatase SIT4. Other TOR-controlled transcription factors, GAT1/NIL1, MSN2, MSN4, and an unknown factor involved in the expression of ribosomal protein genes, were not affected by glutamine starvation. These findings suggest that the TOR pathway senses glutamine. Furthermore, as glutamine starvation affects only a subset of TOR-controlled transcription factors, TOR appears to discriminate between different nutrient conditions to elicit a response appropriate to a given condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- José L Crespo
- Division of Biochemistry, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
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208
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Springael JY, Nikko E, André B, Marini AM. Yeast Npi3/Bro1 is involved in ubiquitin-dependent control of permease trafficking. FEBS Lett 2002; 517:103-9. [PMID: 12062418 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-5793(02)02586-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The membrane traffic and stability of the general amino acid permease Gap1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are under nitrogen control. Addition of a preferential nitrogen source such as ammonium to cells growing on a poor nitrogen source induces internalization of the permease and its subsequent degradation in the vacuole. This down-regulation requires ubiquitination of Gap1 through a process involving ubiquitin ligase Npi1/Rsp5, ubiquitin hydrolase Npi2/Doa4, and Bul1/2, two Npi1/Rsp5 interacting proteins. Here we report that yet another protein, Npi3, is involved in the regulation of Gap1 trafficking. We show that Npi3 is required for NH4+-induced down-regulation of Gap1, and particularly for efficient ubiquitination of the permease. Npi3 plays a pleiotropic role in permease down-regulation, since it is also involved in ubiquitination and stress-induced down-regulation of the uracil permease Fur4 and in glucose-induced degradation of hexose transporters Hxt6/7. We further provide evidence that Npi3 is required for direct vacuolar sorting of neosynthesized Gap1 permease as it occurs in npr1 mutant cells. NPI3 is identical to BRO1, a gene encoding a protein of unknown biochemical function and recently proposed to be involved in protein turnover. Npi3/Bro1 homologues include fungal proteins required for proteolytic cleavage of zinc finger proteins and the mouse Aip1 protein involved in apoptosis. We propose that proteins of the Npi3/Bro1 family, including homologues from higher species, may play a conserved role in ubiquitin-dependent control of membrane protein trafficking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Yves Springael
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire, Institut de Biologie et de Médecine Moléculaires, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies, Belgium
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209
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Abstract
Cells respond and adapt to changes in the environment. In this study, we examined the effect of environmental stresses on protein synthesis in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We found that osmotic stress causes irreversible inhibition of methionine uptake, transient inhibition of uracil uptake, transient stimulation of glucose uptake, transient repression of ribosomal protein (RP) genes such as CYH2 and RPS27, and the transient inhibition of translation initiation. Rapid inhibition of translation initiation by osmotic stress requires a novel pathway, different from the amino acid-sensing pathway, the glucose-sensing pathway, and the TOR pathway. The Hog1 MAP kinase pathway is not involved in the inhibition of either methionine uptake or translation initiation but is required for the adaptation of translation initiation after inhibition and the repression of RP genes by osmotic stress. These results suggest that the transient inhibition of translation initiation occurs as a result of a combination of both acute inhibition of translation and the long-term activation of translation by the Hog1 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukifumi Uesono
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
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210
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Kimball SR. Regulation of translation initiation by amino acids in eukaryotic cells. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR AND SUBCELLULAR BIOLOGY 2002; 26:155-84. [PMID: 11575165 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-56688-2_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The translation of mRNA in eukaryotic cells is regulated by amino acids through multiple mechanisms. One such mechanism involves activation of mTOR (Fig. 1). mTOR controls a myriad of downstream effectors, including RNA polymerase I, S6K1, 4E-BP1, and eEF2 kinase. In yeast, and probably in higher eukaryotes, mTOR signals through Tap42p/alpha 4 to regulate protein phosphatases. Through phosphorylation of Tap42p/alpha 4, mTOR abrogates dephosphorylation of the downstream effectors by PP2 A and/or PP6, resulting in their increased phosphorylation. Although at this time still speculative, in vitro results using mTOR immunoprecipitates suggest that mTOR, or an associated kinase, may also be directly involved in phosphorylating some effectors. Enhanced RNA polymerase I activity results in increased transcription of rDNA genes, whereas increased S6K1 activity promotes preferential translation of TOP mRNAs, such as those encoding ribosomal proteins. Together, stimulated RNA polymerase I and S6K1 activities enhance ribosome biogenesis, increasing the translational capacity of the cell. Phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 prohibits its association with eIF4E, allowing eIF4E to bind to eIF4G and form the active eIF4F complex. Increased eIF4F formation preferentially stimulates translation of mRNAs containing long, highly-structured 5' UTRs. Finally, amino acids cause inhibition of the eEF2 kinase, resulting in an increase in the proportion of eEF2 in the active, dephosphorylated form. By inhibiting eEF2 phosphorylation, amino acids may not only stimulate translation elongation, but may also prevent activation of GCN2 by enhancing the rate of removal of deacylated tRNA from the P-site on the ribosome; a potential activator of GCN2. GCN2 may also be regulated directly by the accumulation of deacylated-tRNA caused by treatment with inhibitors of tRNA synthetases or in cells incubated in the absence of essential amino acids. However, because the Km of the tRNA synthetases for amino acids is well above the amino acid concentrations found in plasma of fasted animals, such a mechanism may not be operative in mammals in vivo. Activation of GCN2 results in increased phosphorylation of the alpha-subunit of eIF2, which in turn causes inhibition of eIF2B. Thus, by preventing activation of GCN2, amino acids preserve eIF2B activity, which promotes translation of all mRNAs, i.e., global protein synthesis is enhanced.
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MESH Headings
- Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
- Amino Acids, Essential/metabolism
- Animals
- Carrier Proteins/metabolism
- Cell Cycle Proteins
- DNA-Binding Proteins
- Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2/metabolism
- Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2B/metabolism
- Fungal Proteins/genetics
- Humans
- Models, Biological
- Peptide Chain Initiation, Translational/physiology
- Phosphoproteins/metabolism
- Phosphorylation
- Protein Kinases/genetics
- Protein Kinases/metabolism
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
- RNA, Fungal/genetics
- RNA, Fungal/metabolism
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- RNA, Transfer, Met/metabolism
- Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases/metabolism
- Ribosomes/metabolism
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
- Signal Transduction
- eIF-2 Kinase/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- S R Kimball
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, USA
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211
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Gingras AC, Raught B, Sonenberg N. Control of translation by the target of rapamycin proteins. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR AND SUBCELLULAR BIOLOGY 2002; 27:143-74. [PMID: 11575159 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-09889-9_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A C Gingras
- Department of Biochemistry and McGill Cancer Centre, McGill University, 3655 Dummond Street, Montréal, Québec, H3G 1Y6, Canada
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212
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Avruch J, Belham C, Weng Q, Hara K, Yonezawa K. The p70 S6 kinase integrates nutrient and growth signals to control translational capacity. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR AND SUBCELLULAR BIOLOGY 2002; 26:115-54. [PMID: 11575164 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-56688-2_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J Avruch
- Diabetes Unit and Medical Services, Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA
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213
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Hinnebusch AG, Natarajan K. Gcn4p, a master regulator of gene expression, is controlled at multiple levels by diverse signals of starvation and stress. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2002; 1:22-32. [PMID: 12455968 PMCID: PMC118051 DOI: 10.1128/ec.01.1.22-32.2002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 259] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alan G Hinnebusch
- Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Development, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
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214
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Zabrocki P, Van Hoof C, Goris J, Thevelein JM, Winderickx J, Wera S. Protein phosphatase 2A on track for nutrient-induced signalling in yeast. Mol Microbiol 2002; 43:835-42. [PMID: 11929536 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2002.02786.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Early studies identified two bona fide protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A)-encoding genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, designated PPH21 and PPH22. In addition, three PP2A-related phosphatases, encoded by PPH3, SIT4 and PPG1, have been identified. All share as much as 86% sequence similarity at the amino acid level. This review will focus primarily on Pph21 and Pph22, but some aspects of Sit4 regulation will also be discussed. Whereas a role for PP2A in yeast morphology and cell cycle has been readily recognized, uncovering its function in yeast signal transduction is a more recent breakthrough. Via their interaction with phosphorylated Tap42, PP2A and Sit4 play a pivotal role in target of rapamycin (TOR) signalling. PPH22 overexpression mimics overactive cAMP-PKA (protein kinase A) signalling and PP2A and Sit4 might represent ceramide signalling targets. The methylation of its catalytic subunit stabilizes the heterotrimeric form of PP2A and might counteract TOR signalling. We will show how these new elements could lead us to understand the role and regulation of PP2A in nutrient-induced signalling in baker's yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Zabrocki
- Laboratorium voor Moleculaire Celbiologie, K.U.Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, B-3001 Leuven-Heverlee, Flanders, Belgium
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215
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Jablonowski D, Butler AR, Fichtner L, Gardiner D, Schaffrath R, Stark MJ. Sit4p protein phosphatase is required for sensitivity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to Kluyveromyces lactis zymocin. Genetics 2001; 159:1479-89. [PMID: 11779790 PMCID: PMC1461913 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/159.4.1479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We have identified two Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes that, in high copy, confer resistance to Kluyveromyces lactis zymocin, an inhibitor that blocks cells in the G(1) phase of the cell cycle prior to budding and DNA replication. One gene (GRX3) encodes a glutaredoxin and is likely to act at the level of zymocin entry into sensitive cells, while the other encodes Sap155p, one of a family of four related proteins that function positively and interdependently with the Sit4p protein phosphatase. Increased SAP155 dosage protects cells by influencing the sensitivity of the intracellular target and is unique among the four SAP genes in conferring zymocin resistance in high copy, but is antagonized by high-copy SAP185 or SAP190. Since cells lacking SIT4 or deleted for both SAP185 and SAP190 are also zymocin resistant, our data support a model whereby high-copy SAP155 promotes resistance by competition with the endogenous levels of SAP185 and SAP190 expression. Zymocin sensitivity therefore requires a Sap185p/Sap190p-dependent function of Sit4p protein phosphatase. Mutations affecting the RNA polymerase II Elongator complex also confer K. lactis zymocin resistance. Since sit4Delta and SAP-deficient strains share in common several other phenotypes associated with Elongator mutants, Elongator function may be a Sit4p-dependent process.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Jablonowski
- Institut für Genetik, Martin-Luther Universität Halle-Wittenberg, D-06120 Halle (Salle), Germany
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216
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Soetens O, De Craene JO, Andre B. Ubiquitin is required for sorting to the vacuole of the yeast general amino acid permease, Gap1. J Biol Chem 2001; 276:43949-57. [PMID: 11500494 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m102945200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 199] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In yeast, ubiquitin plays a central role in proteolysis of a multitude of proteins and serves also as a signal for endocytosis of many plasma membrane proteins. We showed previously that ubiquitination of the general amino acid permease (Gap1) is essential to its endocytosis followed by vacuolar degradation. These processes occur when NH(4)(+), a preferential source of nitrogen, is added to cells growing on proline or urea, i.e. less favored nitrogen sources. In this study, we show that Gap1 is ubiquitinated on two lysine residues in the cytosolic N terminus (positions 9 and 16). A mutant Gap1 in which both lysines are mutated (Gap1(K9K16)) remains fully stable at the plasma membrane after NH(4)(+) addition. Furthermore, each of the two lysines harbors a poly-ubiquitin chain in which ubiquitin is linked to the lysine 63 of the preceding ubiquitin. The Gap1(K9) and Gap1(K16) mutants, in which a single lysine is mutated, are down-regulated in response to NH(4)(+) although more slowly. In proline-grown cells lacking Npr1, a protein kinase involved in the control of Gap1 trafficking, newly synthesized Gap1 is sorted from the Golgi to the vacuole without passing through the plasma membrane (accompanying article, De Craene, J.-O., Soetens, O., and André, B. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 43939-43948). We show here that ubiquitination of Gap1 is also required for this direct sorting to the vacuole. In an npr1Delta mutant, neosynthesized Gap1(K9K16) is rerouted to and accumulates at the plasma membrane. Finally, Bul1 and Bul2, two proteins interacting with Npi1/Rsp5, are essential to ubiquitination and down-regulation of cell-surface Gap1, as well as to sorting of neosynthesized Gap1 to the vacuole, as occurs in an npr1Delta mutant. Our results reveal a novel role of ubiquitin in the control of Gap1 trafficking, i.e. direct sorting from the late secretory pathway to the vacuole. This result reinforces the growing evidence that ubiquitin plays an important role not only in internalization of plasma membrane proteins but also in their sorting in the endosomes and/or trans-Golgi.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Soetens
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire, Université Libre de Bruxelles CP300, Institut de Biologie et de Médecine Moléculaires, 12 rue des Professeurs Jeneer et Brachet, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
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217
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De Craene JO, Soetens O, Andre B. The Npr1 kinase controls biosynthetic and endocytic sorting of the yeast Gap1 permease. J Biol Chem 2001; 276:43939-48. [PMID: 11500493 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m102944200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Membrane trafficking of the general amino acid permease (Gap1) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is under nitrogen regulation. In cells growing on proline or urea as the sole nitrogen source, newly synthesized Gap1 is delivered to the plasma membrane, where it accumulates. Upon addition of NH(4)(+), a preferential nitrogen source, Gap1 is endocytosed and targeted to the vacuole, where it is degraded. This down-regulation requires ubiquitination of the permease, and this ubiquitination is dependent on the essential Npi1/Rsp5 ubiquitin ligase. In this study, we investigated the role of the Npr1 kinase in the regulation of Gap1 trafficking. We show that Npr1 is required for stabilization of Gap1 at the plasma membrane: when an npr1(ts) mutant growing on proline is shifted to the restrictive temperature, Gap1 down-regulation is triggered, as it is when NH(4)(+) is added to wild-type cells. The fate of newly synthesized Gap1 en route to the plasma membrane is also under Npr1 control: in an npr1Delta mutant, neosynthesized Gap1 is sorted from the Golgi to the vacuole without passing via the plasma membrane. Similar direct sorting of neosynthesized Gap1 to the vacuole was observed in wild-type cells grown on NH(4)(+). Finally, Gap1 is phosphorylated in NPR1 cells, but this phosphorylation is not strictly dependent on Npr1. Our results show that Npr1 kinase plays a central role in the physiological control of Gap1 trafficking and that this control is exerted not only on Gap1 present at the plasma membrane but also on Gap1 late in the secretory pathway. Npr1 belongs to a subgroup of protein kinases, some of which are reported to exert a positive control on the activity of other permeases. We propose that these kinases also function as regulators of permease trafficking.
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Affiliation(s)
- J O De Craene
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire, Institut de Biologie et de Médecine Moléculaires, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 12 rue des Professeurs Jeneer et Brachet, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
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218
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Miron M, Sonenberg N. Regulation of translation via TOR signaling: insights from Drosophila melanogaster. J Nutr 2001; 131:2988S-93S. [PMID: 11694634 DOI: 10.1093/jn/131.11.2988s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The target of rapamycin (TOR) proteins are large protein kinases evolutionarily conserved from yeast to human. A large body of evidence demonstrates that TOR proteins function in a nutrient-sensing checkpoint whose role is to restrict growth under conditions of low nutrient availability. Under such conditions, TOR blocks the transmission of growth-promoting signals from extracellular stimuli. Recent data obtained by genetic studies in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster demonstrate the importance of both insulin-like signaling and TOR signaling in promoting growth. Importantly, these studies identified a major downstream target of TOR and insulin-like signaling as the translational machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Miron
- Department of Biochemistry and McGill Cancer Center, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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219
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Jacinto E, Guo B, Arndt KT, Schmelzle T, Hall MN. TIP41 interacts with TAP42 and negatively regulates the TOR signaling pathway. Mol Cell 2001; 8:1017-26. [PMID: 11741537 DOI: 10.1016/s1097-2765(01)00386-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the rapamycin-sensitive TOR kinases negatively regulate the type 2A-related phosphatase SIT4 by promoting the association of this phosphatase with the inhibitor TAP42. Here, we describe TIP41, a conserved TAP42-interacting protein involved in the regulation of SIT4. Deletion of the TIP41 gene confers rapamycin resistance, suppresses a tap42 mutation, and prevents dissociation of SIT4 from TAP42. Furthermore, a TIP41 deletion prevents SIT4-dependent events such as dephosphorylation of the kinase NPR1 and nuclear translocation of the transcription factor GLN3. Thus, TIP41 negatively regulates the TOR pathway by binding and inhibiting TAP42. The binding of TIP41 to TAP42 is stimulated upon rapamycin treatment via SIT4-dependent dephosphorylation of TIP41, suggesting that TIP41 is part of a feedback loop that rapidly amplifies SIT4 phosphatase activity under TOR-inactivating conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Jacinto
- Division of Biochemistry, Biozentrum, University of Basel, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland
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220
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Omura F, Kodama Y, Ashikari T. The N-terminal domain of the yeast permease Bap2p plays a role in its degradation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2001; 287:1045-50. [PMID: 11587526 DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.2001.5697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The amino acid permease Bap2p in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mediates a major part of the uptake of leucine, isoleucine, and valine from media containing a preferred nitrogen source. Although the transcriptional controls of BAP2 have been well studied, the posttranslational down-regulation mechanisms for Bap2p have not been established. Here we show that Bap2p is subject to a starvation-induced degradation upon rapamycin treatment or cultivation with proline as the sole nitrogen source. The starvation-induced degradation of Bap2p was dependent on the cellular functions of ubiquitination and endocytosis. Down-regulation of the permease required the most probable ubiquitination sites, the lysine residues situated in the N-terminal 49 residues, as well as the C-terminal domain. Furthermore, when the N-terminal domain of Bap2p was fused to the general amino acid permease Gap1p, the resultant chimeric permease became susceptible to the starvation-induced degradation, indicating that the Bap2p N-terminus contains a determinant responsive to the starvation signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Omura
- Institute for Fundamental Research, Suntory Ltd., 1-1-1, Wakayamadai, Shimamoto-cho, Mishima-gun, Osaka, 618-8503, Japan.
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221
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Calastretti A, Bevilacqua A, Ceriani C, Viganò S, Zancai P, Capaccioli S, Nicolin A. Damaged microtubules can inactivate BCL-2 by means of the mTOR kinase. Oncogene 2001; 20:6172-80. [PMID: 11593425 DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1204751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2000] [Revised: 06/14/2001] [Accepted: 06/26/2001] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Rapamycin, a specific inhibitor of the serine/threonine mTOR kinase, markedly inhibited both cell growth and apoptosis in human B-cell lines. Besides arresting cells in G(1) by increasing p27(kip1), rapamycin tripled the cellular level of the BCL-2 protein. The activity was dose-dependent and specific for the p27(kip1) and BCL-2 proteins. Rapamycin did not affect bcl-2 mRNA although it increased cellular BCL-2 concentration by inhibiting phosphorylation, a mechanism initiating the decay process. To add new insight, we combined rapamycin treatment with treatment by taxol, which, by damaging microtubules, can phosphorylate BCL-2 and activate apoptosis. It was found that the mTOR kinase was activated in cells treated with taxol or with nocodazole although it was inhibited in cells pre-treated with rapamycin. BCL-2 phosphorylation, apoptosis and hyperdiploidy were also inhibited by rapamycin. In contrast, taxol-induced microtubule stabilization or metaphase synchronization were not inhibited by rapamycin. Taken together, these findings indicate that mTOR belongs to the enzymatic cascade that, starting from damaged microtubules, phosphorylates BCL-2. By regulating apoptosis, in addition to the control of a multitude of growth-related pathways, mTOR plays a nodal role in signaling G(1) and G(2)-M events.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Calastretti
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Milan, Via Vanvitelli 32, Milan 20129, Italy
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222
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Abeliovich H, Klionsky DJ. Autophagy in yeast: mechanistic insights and physiological function. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2001; 65:463-79, table of contents. [PMID: 11528006 PMCID: PMC99037 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.65.3.463-479.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Unicellular eukaryotic organisms must be capable of rapid adaptation to changing environments. While such changes do not normally occur in the tissues of multicellular organisms, developmental and pathological changes in the environment of cells often require adaptation mechanisms not dissimilar from those found in simpler cells. Autophagy is a catabolic membrane-trafficking phenomenon that occurs in response to dramatic changes in the nutrients available to yeast cells, for example during starvation or after challenge with rapamycin, a macrolide antibiotic whose effects mimic starvation. Autophagy also occurs in animal cells that are serum starved or challenged with specific hormonal stimuli. In macroautophagy, the form of autophagy commonly observed, cytoplasmic material is sequestered in double-membrane vesicles called autophagosomes and is then delivered to a lytic compartment such as the yeast vacuole or mammalian lysosome. In this fashion, autophagy allows the degradation and recycling of a wide spectrum of biological macromolecules. While autophagy is induced only under specific conditions, salient mechanistic aspects of autophagy are functional in a constitutive fashion. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, induction of autophagy subverts a constitutive membrane-trafficking mechanism called the cytoplasm-to-vacuole targeting pathway from a specific mode, in which it carries the resident vacuolar hydrolase, aminopeptidase I, to a nonspecific bulk mode in which significant amounts of cytoplasmic material are also sequestered and recycled in the vacuole. The general aim of this review is to focus on insights gained into the mechanism of autophagy in yeast and also to review our understanding of the physiological significance of autophagy in both yeast and higher organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Abeliovich
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, 830 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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223
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Dorn BR, Dunn WA, Progulske-Fox A. Porphyromonas gingivalis traffics to autophagosomes in human coronary artery endothelial cells. Infect Immun 2001; 69:5698-708. [PMID: 11500446 PMCID: PMC98686 DOI: 10.1128/iai.69.9.5698-5708.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Porphyromonas gingivalis is a periodontal pathogen that also localizes to atherosclerotic plaques. Our previous studies demonstrated that P. gingivalis is capable of invading endothelial cells and that intracellular bacteria are contained in vacuoles that resemble autophagosomes. In this study, we have examined the trafficking of P. gingivalis 381 to the autophagic pathway. P. gingivalis 381 internalized by human coronary artery endothelial (HCAE) cells is located within vacuoles morphologically identical to autophagosomes. The progression of P. gingivalis 381 through intracellular vacuoles was analyzed by immunofluorescence microscopy. Vacuoles containing P. gingivalis colocalize with Rab5 and HsGsa7p early after internalization. At later times, P. gingivalis colocalizes with BiP and then progresses to a vacuole that contains BiP and lysosomal glycoprotein 120. Late endosomal markers and the lysosomal cathepsin L do not colocalize with P. gingivalis 381. The intracellular survival of P. gingivalis 381 decreases over 8 h in HCAE cells pretreated with the autophagy inhibitors 3-methyladenine and wortmannin. In addition, the vacuole containing P. gingivalis 381 lacks BiP but contains cathepsin L in the presence of wortmannin. These results suggest that P. gingivalis 381 evades the endocytic pathway to lysosomes and instead traffics to the autophagosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- B R Dorn
- Center for Molecular Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA
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224
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Natarajan K, Meyer MR, Jackson BM, Slade D, Roberts C, Hinnebusch AG, Marton MJ. Transcriptional profiling shows that Gcn4p is a master regulator of gene expression during amino acid starvation in yeast. Mol Cell Biol 2001; 21:4347-4368. [PMID: 11390663 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.21.13.4347-4368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Starvation for amino acids induces Gcn4p, a transcriptional activator of amino acid biosynthetic genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In an effort to identify all genes regulated by Gcn4p during amino acid starvation, we performed cDNA microarray analysis. Data from 21 pairs of hybridization experiments using two different strains derived from S288c revealed that more than 1,000 genes were induced, and a similar number were repressed, by a factor of 2 or more in response to histidine starvation imposed by 3-aminotriazole (3AT). Profiling of a gcn4Delta strain and a constitutively induced mutant showed that Gcn4p is required for the full induction by 3AT of at least 539 genes, termed Gcn4p targets. Genes in every amino acid biosynthetic pathway except cysteine and genes encoding amino acid precursors, vitamin biosynthetic enzymes, peroxisomal components, mitochondrial carrier proteins, and autophagy proteins were all identified as Gcn4p targets. Unexpectedly, genes involved in amino acid biosynthesis represent only a quarter of the Gcn4p target genes. Gcn4p also activates genes involved in glycogen homeostasis, and mutant analysis showed that Gcn4p suppresses glycogen levels in amino acid-starved cells. Numerous genes encoding protein kinases and transcription factors were identified as targets, suggesting that Gcn4p is a master regulator of gene expression. Interestingly, expression profiles for 3AT and the alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) overlapped extensively, and MMS induced GCN4 translation. Thus, the broad transcriptional response evoked by Gcn4p is produced by diverse stress conditions. Finally, profiling of a gcn4Delta mutant uncovered an alternative induction pathway operating at many Gcn4p target genes in histidine-starved cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Natarajan
- Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Development, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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225
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Natarajan K, Meyer MR, Jackson BM, Slade D, Roberts C, Hinnebusch AG, Marton MJ. Transcriptional profiling shows that Gcn4p is a master regulator of gene expression during amino acid starvation in yeast. Mol Cell Biol 2001; 21:4347-68. [PMID: 11390663 PMCID: PMC87095 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.21.13.4347-4368.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 551] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2001] [Accepted: 04/03/2001] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Starvation for amino acids induces Gcn4p, a transcriptional activator of amino acid biosynthetic genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In an effort to identify all genes regulated by Gcn4p during amino acid starvation, we performed cDNA microarray analysis. Data from 21 pairs of hybridization experiments using two different strains derived from S288c revealed that more than 1,000 genes were induced, and a similar number were repressed, by a factor of 2 or more in response to histidine starvation imposed by 3-aminotriazole (3AT). Profiling of a gcn4Delta strain and a constitutively induced mutant showed that Gcn4p is required for the full induction by 3AT of at least 539 genes, termed Gcn4p targets. Genes in every amino acid biosynthetic pathway except cysteine and genes encoding amino acid precursors, vitamin biosynthetic enzymes, peroxisomal components, mitochondrial carrier proteins, and autophagy proteins were all identified as Gcn4p targets. Unexpectedly, genes involved in amino acid biosynthesis represent only a quarter of the Gcn4p target genes. Gcn4p also activates genes involved in glycogen homeostasis, and mutant analysis showed that Gcn4p suppresses glycogen levels in amino acid-starved cells. Numerous genes encoding protein kinases and transcription factors were identified as targets, suggesting that Gcn4p is a master regulator of gene expression. Interestingly, expression profiles for 3AT and the alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) overlapped extensively, and MMS induced GCN4 translation. Thus, the broad transcriptional response evoked by Gcn4p is produced by diverse stress conditions. Finally, profiling of a gcn4Delta mutant uncovered an alternative induction pathway operating at many Gcn4p target genes in histidine-starved cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Natarajan
- Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Development, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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226
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Abstract
Rapamycin potently inhibits downstream signaling from the target of rapamycin (TOR) proteins. These evolutionarily conserved protein kinases coordinate the balance between protein synthesis and protein degradation in response to nutrient quality and quantity. The TOR proteins regulate (i) the initiation and elongation phases of translation, (ii) ribosome biosynthesis, (iii) amino acid import, (iv) the transcription of numerous enzymes involved in multiple metabolic pathways, and (v) autophagy. Intriguingly, recent studies have also suggested that TOR signaling plays a critical role in brain development, learning, and memory formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Raught
- Department of Biochemistry and McGill Cancer Centre, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Montréal, QC H3G 1Y6 Canada
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227
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Liu J, Prickett TD, Elliott E, Meroni G, Brautigan DL. Phosphorylation and microtubule association of the Opitz syndrome protein mid-1 is regulated by protein phosphatase 2A via binding to the regulatory subunit alpha 4. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2001; 98:6650-5. [PMID: 11371618 PMCID: PMC34408 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.111154698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2001] [Accepted: 03/29/2001] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Opitz syndrome (OS) is a human genetic disease characterized by deformities such as cleft palate that are attributable to defects in embryonic development at the midline. Gene mapping has identified OS mutations within a protein called Mid1. Wild-type Mid1 predominantly colocalizes with microtubules, in contrast to mutant versions of Mid1 that appear clustered in the cytosol. Using yeast two-hybrid screening, we found that the alpha4-subunit of protein phosphatases 2A/4/6 binds Mid1. Epitope-tagged alpha4 coimmunoprecipitated endogenous or coexpressed Mid1 from COS7 cells, and this required only the conserved C-terminal region of alpha4. Localization of Mid1 and alpha4 was influenced by one another in transiently transfected cells. Mid1 could recruit alpha4 onto microtubules, and high levels of alpha4 could displace Mid1 into the cytosol. Metabolic (32)P labeling of cells showed that Mid1 is a phosphoprotein, and coexpression of full-length alpha4 decreased Mid1 phosphorylation, indicative of a functional interaction. Association of green fluorescent protein-Mid1 with microtubules in living cells was perturbed by inhibitors of MAP kinase activation. The conclusion is that Mid1 association with microtubules, which seems important for normal midline development, is regulated by dynamic phosphorylation involving MAP kinase and protein phosphatase that is targeted specifically to Mid1 by alpha4. Human birth defects may result from environmental or genetic disruption of this regulatory cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Liu
- Center for Cell Signaling, University of Virginia School of Medicine, P.O. Box 800577, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0577, USA
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228
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van der Merwe GK, Cooper TG, van Vuuren HJJ. Ammonia regulates VID30 expression and Vid30p function shifts nitrogen metabolism toward glutamate formation especially when Saccharomyces cerevisiae is grown in low concentrations of ammonia. J Biol Chem 2001; 276:28659-66. [PMID: 11356843 PMCID: PMC4384459 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m102280200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The GATA family proteins Gln3p and Gat1p mediate nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR)-sensitive transcription in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. When cells are cultured with a good nitrogen source (glutamine, ammonia), Gln3p and Gat1p are restricted to the cytoplasm, whereas with a poor nitrogen source (proline), they localize to the nucleus, bind to the GATA sequences of NCR-sensitive gene promoters, and activate transcription. The target of rapamycin-signaling cascade and Ure2p participate in regulating the cellular localization of Gln3p and Gat1p. Rapamycin, a Tor protein inhibitor, like growth with a poor nitrogen source, promotes nuclear localization of Gln3p and Gat1p. gln3 Delta and ure2 Delta mutants are partially resistant and hypersensitive to growth inhibition by rapamycin, respectively. We show that a vid30 Delta is more rapamycin-sensitive than wild type but less so than a ure2 Delta. VID30 expression is modestly NCR-sensitive, responsive to deletion of URE2, and greatly increases in low ammonia medium. Patterns of gene expression in a vid30 Delta suggest that the Vid30p function shifts the balance of nitrogen metabolism toward the production of glutamate, especially when cells are grown in low ammonia. CAN1, DAL4, DAL5, MEP2, DAL1, DAL80, and GDH3 transcription is down-regulated by Vid30p function with proline as the nitrogen source. An effect, however, that could easily be indirect.
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Affiliation(s)
- George K. van der Merwe
- Wine Research Center, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Terrance G. Cooper
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee 38163
| | - Hennie J. J. van Vuuren
- Wine Research Center, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel.: 604-822-0418; Fax: 604-822-5143;
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229
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Gingras
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada
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230
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Weisman R, Choder M. The fission yeast TOR homolog, tor1+, is required for the response to starvation and other stresses via a conserved serine. J Biol Chem 2001; 276:7027-32. [PMID: 11096119 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m010446200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Targets of rapamycin (TORs) are conserved phosphatidylinositol kinase-related kinases that are involved in the coordination between nutritional or mitogenic signals and cell growth. Here we report the initial characterization of two Schizosaccharomyces pombe TOR homologs, tor1(+) and tor2(+). tor2(+) is an essential gene, whereas tor1(+) is required only under starvation and other stress conditions. Specifically, Deltator1 cells fail to enter stationary phase or undergo sexual development and are sensitive to cold, osmotic stress, and oxidative stress. In complex with the prolyl isomerase FKBP12, the drug rapamycin binds a conserved domain in TORs, FRB, thus inhibiting some of the functions of TORs. Mutations at a conserved serine within the FRB domain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae TOR proteins led to rapamycin resistance but did not otherwise affect the functions of the proteins. The S. pombe tor1(+) exhibits different features; substitution of the conserved serine residue, Ser(1834), with arginine compromises its functions and has no effect on the inhibition that rapamycin exerts on sexual development in S. pombe.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Weisman
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences. Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
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231
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Johnston SD, Enomoto S, Schneper L, McClellan MC, Twu F, Montgomery ND, Haney SA, Broach JR, Berman J. CAC3(MSI1) suppression of RAS2(G19V) is independent of chromatin assembly factor I and mediated by NPR1. Mol Cell Biol 2001; 21:1784-94. [PMID: 11238915 PMCID: PMC86735 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.21.5.1784-1794.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cac3p/Msi1p, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae homolog of retinoblastoma-associated protein 48 (RbAp48), is a component of chromatin assembly factor I (CAF-I), a complex that assembles histones H3 and H4 onto replicated DNA. CAC3 overexpression also suppresses the RAS/cyclic AMP (cAMP) signal transduction pathway by an unknown mechanism. We investigated this mechanism and found that CAC3 suppression of RAS/cAMP signal transduction was independent of either CAC1 or CAC2, subunits required for CAF-I function. CAC3 suppression was also independent of other chromatin-modifying activities, indicating that Cac3p has at least two distinct, separable functions, one in chromatin assembly and one in regulating RAS function. Unlike Cac1p, which localizes primarily to the nucleus, Cac3p localizes to both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. In addition, Cac3p associates with Npr1p, a cytoplasmic kinase that stablizes several nutrient transporters by antagonizing a ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation pathway. Deletion of NPR1, like overexpression of Cac3p, suppressed the RAS/cAMP pathway. Furthermore, NPR1 overexpression interfered with the ability of CAC3 to suppress the RAS/cAMP pathway, indicating that extra Cac3p suppresses the RAS/cAMP pathway by sequestering Npr1p. Deletion of NPR1 did not affect the quantity, phosphorylation state, or localization of Ras2p. Consistent with the idea that Npr1p exerts its effect on the RAS/cAMP pathway by antagonizing a ubiquitin-mediated process, excess ubiquitin suppressed both the heat shock sensitivity and the sporulation defects caused by constitutive activation of the RAS/cAMP pathway. Thus, CAC3/MSI1 regulates the RAS/cAMP pathway via a chromatin-independent mechanism that involves the sequestration of Npr1p and may be due to the increased ubiquitination of an Npr1p substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- S D Johnston
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA
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232
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Forsberg H, Ljungdahl PO. Genetic and biochemical analysis of the yeast plasma membrane Ssy1p-Ptr3p-Ssy5p sensor of extracellular amino acids. Mol Cell Biol 2001; 21:814-26. [PMID: 11154269 PMCID: PMC86673 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.21.3.814-826.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ssy1p and Ptr3p are known components of a yeast plasma membrane system that functions to sense the presence of amino acids in the extracellular environment. In response to amino acids, this sensing system initiates metabolic signals that ultimately regulate the functional expression of several amino acid-metabolizing enzymes and transport proteins, including multiple, genetically distinct amino acid permeases. We have found that SSY5 encodes a third component of this amino acid sensing system. Mutations in SSY5 manifest phenotypes that are indistinguishable from those resulting from either single ssy1 and ptr3 mutations or ssy5 ssy1 and ssy5 ptr3 double mutations. Although Ssy5p is predicted to be a soluble protein, it exhibits properties indicating that it is a peripherally associated plasma membrane protein. Each of the three sensor components, Ssy1p, Ptr3p, and Ssy5p, adopts conformations and modifications that are dependent upon the availability of amino acids and on the presence of the other two components. These results suggest that these components function as part of a sensor complex localized to the plasma membrane. Consistent with a sensor complex, the overexpression of SSY1 or the unique N-terminal extension of this amino acid permease homologue inactivates the amino acid sensor in a dominant-negative manner. Each of the components of the Ssy1p-Ptr3p-Ssy5p (SPS) signaling system undergoes rapid physical changes, reflected in altered electrophoretic mobility, when leucine is added to cells grown in media lacking amino acids. Furthermore, the levels of each SPS sensor component present in whole-cell extracts diminish upon leucine addition. The rapid physical alterations and reduced levels of sensor components are consistent with their being downregulated in response to amino acid availability. These results reveal the dynamic nature of the amino acid-initiated signals transduced by the SPS sensor.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Forsberg
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
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233
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Kunz J, Schneider U, Howald I, Schmidt A, Hall MN. HEAT repeats mediate plasma membrane localization of Tor2p in yeast. J Biol Chem 2000; 275:37011-20. [PMID: 10973982 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m007296200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The subcellular distribution of Tor1p and Tor2p, two phosphatidylinositol kinase homologs and targets of the immunosuppressive drug rapamycin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was analyzed. We found that Tor protein is peripherally associated with membranes. Subcellular fractionation and immunofluorescence studies showed that Tor1p and Tor2p associate with the plasma membrane and a second fraction that is distinct from Golgi, vacuoles, mitochondria, and nucleus and may represent vesicular structures. Pulse-chase experiments showed that association of Tor protein with plasma membrane and the second compartment is fast, does not appear to involve components of endocytic, secretory, or Golgi to vacuole transport pathways, and is not affected by the immunosuppressive drug rapamycin. Deletion analysis reveals that two domains within Tor2p independently mediate localization to both compartments. These domains are composed of HEAT repeats that are thought to act as protein-protein interaction surfaces. Our studies therefore place Tor proteins at the site of action of their known downstream effectors and suggest that they may be part of a multiprotein complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Kunz
- Department of Biochemistry, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
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234
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Bertram PG, Choi JH, Carvalho J, Ai W, Zeng C, Chan TF, Zheng XF. Tripartite regulation of Gln3p by TOR, Ure2p, and phosphatases. J Biol Chem 2000; 275:35727-33. [PMID: 10940301 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m004235200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 192] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Gln3p is a GATA-type transcription factor responsive to different nitrogen nutrients and starvation in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Recent evidence has linked TOR signaling to Gln3p. Rapamycin causes dephosphorylation and nuclear translocation of Gln3p, thereby activating nitrogen catabolite repressible-sensitive genes. However, a detailed mechanistic understanding of this process is lacking. In this study, we show that Tor1p physically interacts with Gln3p. An intact TOR kinase domain is essential for the phosphorylation of Gln3p, inhibition of Gln3p nuclear entry and repression of Gln3p-dependent transcription. In contrast, at least two distinct protein phosphatases, Pph3p and the Tap42p-dependent phosphatases, are involved in the activation of Gln3p. The yeast pro-prion protein Ure2p binds to both hyper- and hypo-phosphorylated Gln3p. In contrast to the free Gln3p, the Ure2p-bound Gln3p is signifcantly resistant to dephosphorylation. Taken together, these results reveal a tripartite regulatory mechanism by which the phosphorylation of Gln3p is regulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- P G Bertram
- Department of Pathology and Immunology and the Molecular Genetics and Molecular Cell Biology Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
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235
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Abe F, Horikoshi K. Tryptophan permease gene TAT2 confers high-pressure growth in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mol Cell Biol 2000; 20:8093-102. [PMID: 11027279 PMCID: PMC86419 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.20.21.8093-8102.2000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrostatic pressure in the range of 15 to 25 MPa was found to cause arrest of the cell cycle in G(1) phase in an exponentially growing culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, whereas a pressure of 50 MPa did not. We found that a plasmid carrying the TAT2 gene, which encodes a high-affinity tryptophan permease, enabled the cells to grow under conditions of pressure in the range of 15 to 25 MPa. Additionally, cells expressing the Tat2 protein at high levels became endowed with the ability to grow under low-temperature conditions at 10 or 15 degrees C as well as at high pressure. Hydrostatic pressure significantly inhibited tryptophan uptake into the cells, and the Tat2 protein level was down-regulated by high pressure. The activation volume associated with tryptophan uptake was found to be a large positive value, 46.2 +/- 3.85 ml/mol, indicating that there was a net volume increase in a rate-limiting step in tryptophan import. The results showing cell cycle arrest in G(1) phase and down-regulation of the Tat2 protein seem to be similar to those observed upon treatment of cells with the immunosuppressive drug rapamycin. Although rapamycin treatment elicited the rapid dephosphorylation of Npr1 and induction of Gap1 expression, hydrostatic pressure did not affect the phosphorylation state of Npr1 and it decreased the level of Gap1 protein, suggesting that the pressure-sensing pathway may be independent of Npr1 function. Here we describe high-pressure sensing in yeast in comparison with the TOR-signaling pathway and discuss an important factor involved in adaptation of organisms to high-pressure environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Abe
- The DEEPSTAR Group, Japan Marine Science and Technology Center, Yokosuka 237-0061, Japan.
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236
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Wu J, Tolstykh T, Lee J, Boyd K, Stock JB, Broach JR. Carboxyl methylation of the phosphoprotein phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit promotes its functional association with regulatory subunits in vivo. EMBO J 2000; 19:5672-81. [PMID: 11060018 PMCID: PMC305778 DOI: 10.1093/emboj/19.21.5672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The phosphoprotein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) catalytic subunit contains a methyl ester on its C-terminus, which in mammalian cells is added by a specific carboxyl methyltransferase and removed by a specific carboxyl methylesterase. We have identified genes in yeast that show significant homology to human carboxyl methyltransferase and methylesterase. Extracts of wild-type yeast cells contain carboxyl methyltransferase activity, while extracts of strains deleted for one of the methyltransferase genes, PPM1, lack all activity. Mutation of PPM1 partially disrupts the PP2A holoenzyme in vivo and ppm1 mutations exhibit synthetic lethality with mutations in genes encoding the B or B' regulatory subunit. Inactivation of PPM1 or overexpression of PPE1, the yeast gene homologous to bovine methylesterase, yields phenotypes similar to those observed after inactivation of either regulatory subunit. These phenotypes can be reversed by overexpression of the B regulatory subunit. These results demonstrate that Ppm1 is the sole PP2A methyltransferase in yeast and that its activity is required for the integrity of the PP2A holoenzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Wu
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
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237
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Abstract
Cell growth (increase in cell mass) and cell proliferation (increase in cell number) are distinct yet coupled processes that go hand-in-hand to give rise to an organ, organism, or tumor. Cyclin-dependent kinase(s) is the central regulator of cell proliferation. Is there an equivalent regulator for cell growth? Recent findings reveal that the target of rapamycin TOR controls an unusually abundant and diverse set of readouts all of which are important for cell growth, suggesting that this conserved kinase is such a central regulator.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Schmelzle
- Department of Biochemistry, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Switzerland
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238
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Goossens A, de La Fuente N, Forment J, Serrano R, Portillo F. Regulation of yeast H(+)-ATPase by protein kinases belonging to a family dedicated to activation of plasma membrane transporters. Mol Cell Biol 2000; 20:7654-61. [PMID: 11003661 PMCID: PMC86331 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.20.20.7654-7661.2000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The regulation of electrical membrane potential is a fundamental property of living cells. This biophysical parameter determines nutrient uptake, intracellular potassium and turgor, uptake of toxic cations, and stress responses. In fungi and plants, an important determinant of membrane potential is the electrogenic proton-pumping ATPase, but the systems that modulate its activity remain largely unknown. We have characterized two genes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, PTK2 and HRK1 (YOR267c), that encode protein kinases implicated in activation of the yeast plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase (Pma1) in response to glucose metabolism. These kinases mediate, directly or indirectly, an increase in affinity of Pma1 for ATP, which probably involves Ser-899 phosphorylation. Ptk2 has the strongest effect on Pma1, and ptk2 mutants exhibit a pleiotropic phenotype of tolerance to toxic cations, including sodium, lithium, manganese, tetramethylammonium, hygromycin B, and norspermidine. A plausible interpretation is that ptk2 mutants have a decreased membrane potential and that diverse cation transporters are voltage dependent. Accordingly, ptk2 mutants exhibited reduced uptake of lithium and methylammonium. Ptk2 and Hrk1 belong to a subgroup of yeast protein kinases dedicated to the regulation of plasma membrane transporters, which include Npr1 (regulator of Gap1 and Tat2 amino acid transporters) and Hal4 and Hal5 (regulators of Trk1 and Trk2 potassium transporters).
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Affiliation(s)
- A Goossens
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia-C.S.I.C., 46022 Valencia, Spain
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239
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Montagne J. Genetic and molecular mechanisms of cell size control. MOLECULAR CELL BIOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS : MCBRC 2000; 4:195-202. [PMID: 11409911 DOI: 10.1006/mcbr.2001.0284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Since the discovery of the cell as the minimal indivisible living entity, scientists have tried to understand how all the various physiological aspects were assumed within this single functional unit. One fascinating question concerns the role of cell size and cell number in determining the overall size of an organism. During the past century, increasing knowledge in molecular genetics has allowed the characterization of a number of molecular events that influence the size of a cell. However, in spite of recent progress, precise molecular mechanisms governing cell size remain unclear. Although the existence of a master regulator is still possible, cell size may be primarily controlled by an interactive network linking gene expression with translational capacity and cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Montagne
- Friedrich Miescher-Institut, Maulbeerstrasse 66, Basel, CH-4058, Switzerland.
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240
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Kamada Y, Funakoshi T, Shintani T, Nagano K, Ohsumi M, Ohsumi Y. Tor-mediated induction of autophagy via an Apg1 protein kinase complex. J Cell Biol 2000; 150:1507-13. [PMID: 10995454 PMCID: PMC2150712 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.150.6.1507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 883] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a membrane trafficking to vacuole/lysosome induced by nutrient starvation. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Tor protein, a phosphatidylinositol kinase-related kinase, is involved in the repression of autophagy induction by a largely unknown mechanism. Here, we show that the protein kinase activity of Apg1 is enhanced by starvation or rapamycin treatment. In addition, we have also found that Apg13, which binds to and activates Apg1, is hyperphosphorylated in a Tor-dependent manner, reducing its affinity to Apg1. This Apg1-Apg13 association is required for autophagy, but not for the cytoplasm-to-vacuole targeting (Cvt) pathway, another vesicular transport mechanism in which factors essential for autophagy (Apg proteins) are also employed under vegetative growth conditions. Finally, other Apg1-associating proteins, such as Apg17 and Cvt9, are shown to function specifically in autophagy or the Cvt pathway, respectively, suggesting that the Apg1 complex plays an important role in switching between two distinct vesicular transport systems in a nutrient-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Kamada
- Department of Cell Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
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241
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Takahashi T, Hara K, Inoue H, Kawa Y, Tokunaga C, Hidayat S, Yoshino K, Kuroda Y, Yonezawa K. Carboxyl-terminal region conserved among phosphoinositide-kinase-related kinases is indispensable for mTOR function in vivo and in vitro. Genes Cells 2000; 5:765-75. [PMID: 10971657 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2443.2000.00365.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) belongs to the family of phosphoinositide (PI)-kinase-related kinases that includes the ataxia-telangiectasia gene product (ATM). mTOR plays a critical role in controlling translational effectors such as p70 S6 kinase alpha (p70 alpha) and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (4EBP1). RESULTS We show that the C-terminal region of mTOR, which is highly conserved among the PI-kinase-related kinases, plays a critical role in the mTOR protein kinase activity. Deletion of the C-terminal residues did not adversely affect the expression of mTOR, but caused a nearly complete loss of the mTOR protein kinase activity toward both 4EBP1 and p70 alpha in vitro. These deletions also abolished the ability of a rapamycin-resistant mTOR mutant to rescue the activity of p70 alpha from inhibition induced by rapamycin in vivo. Furthermore, replacement of Trp2545, a conserved residue in the C-terminal region throughout the PI-kinase-related kinase family, abolished the function of the mTOR kinase, both in vivo and in vitro. However, substitution of 32 C-terminal residues of mTOR with those of ATM did not restore the mTOR function. CONCLUSIONS These findings define an indispensable role for the noncatalytic C-terminal region of mTOR and indicate that, although this highly conserved region may be important throughout the PI-kinase-related kinase family, it is not functionally interchangeable within the family.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Takahashi
- Biosignal Research Center, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
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242
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Abstract
Advances in our understanding of the roles of phosphatidylinositol phosphates in controlling cellular functions such as endocytosis, exocytosis and the actin cytoskeleton have included new insights into the phosphatases that are responsible for the interconversion of these lipids. One of these is an entirely novel class of phosphatase domain found in a number of well characterized proteins. Proteins containing this Sac phosphatase domain include the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae proteins Sac1p and Fig4p. The Sac phosphatase domain is also found within the mammalian phosphoinositide 5-phosphatase synaptojanin and the yeast synaptojanin homologues Inp51p, Inp52p and Inp53p. These proteins therefore contain both Sac phosphatase and 5-phosphatase domains. This review describes the Sac phosphatase domain-containing proteins and their actions, with particular reference to the genetic and biochemical insights provided by study of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
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Affiliation(s)
- W E Hughes
- Protein Phosphorylation Laboratory, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, 44, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PX, UK
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243
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Xiao Y, Mitchell AP. Shared roles of yeast glycogen synthase kinase 3 family members in nitrogen-responsive phosphorylation of meiotic regulator Ume6p. Mol Cell Biol 2000; 20:5447-53. [PMID: 10891485 PMCID: PMC85996 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.20.15.5447-5453.2000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitrogen limitation activates meiosis and meiotic gene expression in yeast, but nitrogen-responsive signal transduction mechanisms that govern meiotic gene expression are poorly understood. We show here that Ume6p, a subunit of the Ume6p-Ime1p meiotic transcriptional activator, undergoes increased phosphorylation in vivo in response to nitrogen limitation. Phosphorylation depends on an N-terminal glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) target site in which substitutions cause reduced Ume6p-Ime1p interaction and meiotic gene expression, thus arguing that phosphorylation promotes functional Ume6p-Ime1p interaction. Phosphorylation of this site depends on two GSK3 homologs, Rim11p and Mck1p. Prior studies indicate that Rim11p phosphorylates both Ume6p and Ime1p in vitro and is required for Ume6p-Ime1p interaction, but no evidence has linked Mck1p function to Ume6p activity. Here we find that Mck1p-Ume6p interaction is detectable by two-hybrid assays and that meiosis in a partially defective rim11-K68R mutant is completely dependent on Mck1p. These findings argue that nitrogen limitation governs Rim11p/Mck1p-dependent phosphorylation of Ume6p, which in turn is required for Ume6p-Ime1p interaction and meiotic gene activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Xiao
- Department of Microbiology and Institute of Cancer Research, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA
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244
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Oldham S, Böhni R, Stocker H, Brogiolo W, Hafen E. Genetic control of size in Drosophila. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2000; 355:945-52. [PMID: 11128988 PMCID: PMC1692799 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2000.0630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
During the past ten years, significant progress has been made in understanding the basic mechanisms of the development of multicellular organisms. Genetic analysis of the development of Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila has unearthed a fruitful number of genes involved in establishing the basic body plan, patterning of limbs, specification of cell fate and regulation of programmed cell death. The genes involved in these developmental processes have been conserved throughout evolution and homologous genes are involved in the patterning of insect and human limbs. Despite these important discoveries, we have learned astonishingly little about one of the most obvious distinctions between animals: their difference in body size. The mass of the smallest mammal, the bumble-bee bat, is 2 g while that of the largest mammal, the blue whale, is 150 t or 150 million grams. Remarkably, even though they are in the same class, body size can vary up to 75-million-fold. Furthermore, this body growth can be finite in the case of most vertebrates or it can occur continuously throughout life, as for trees, molluscs and large crustaceans. Currently, we know comparatively little about the genetic control of body size. In this article we will review recent evidence from vertebrates and particularly from Drosophila that implicates insulin/insulin-like growth factor-I and other growth pathways in the control of cell, organ and body size.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Oldham
- Zoological Institute, University of Zurich, Switzerland
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245
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Cosentino GP, Schmelzle T, Haghighat A, Helliwell SB, Hall MN, Sonenberg N. Eap1p, a novel eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-associated protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mol Cell Biol 2000; 20:4604-13. [PMID: 10848587 PMCID: PMC85860 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.20.13.4604-4613.2000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/1999] [Accepted: 03/27/2000] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ribosome binding to eukaryotic mRNA is a multistep process which is mediated by the cap structure [m(7)G(5')ppp(5')N, where N is any nucleotide] present at the 5' termini of all cellular (with the exception of organellar) mRNAs. The heterotrimeric complex, eukaryotic initiation factor 4F (eIF4F), interacts directly with the cap structure via the eIF4E subunit and functions to assemble a ribosomal initiation complex on the mRNA. In mammalian cells, eIF4E activity is regulated in part by three related translational repressors (4E-BPs), which bind to eIF4E directly and preclude the assembly of eIF4F. No structural counterpart to 4E-BPs exists in the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, a functional homolog (named p20) has been described which blocks cap-dependent translation by a mechanism analogous to that of 4E-BPs. We report here on the characterization of a novel yeast eIF4E-associated protein (Eap1p) which can also regulate translation through binding to eIF4E. Eap1p shares limited homology to p20 in a region which contains the canonical eIF4E-binding motif. Deletion of this domain or point mutation abolishes the interaction of Eap1p with eIF4E. Eap1p competes with eIF4G (the large subunit of the cap-binding complex, eIF4F) and p20 for binding to eIF4E in vivo and inhibits cap-dependent translation in vitro. Targeted disruption of the EAP1 gene results in a temperature-sensitive phenotype and also confers partial resistance to growth inhibition by rapamycin. These data indicate that Eap1p plays a role in cell growth and implicates this protein in the TOR signaling cascade of S. cerevisiae.
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Affiliation(s)
- G P Cosentino
- Department of Biochemistry and McGill Cancer Center, McGill University, Montreal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada
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246
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Friant S, Zanolari B, Riezman H. Increased protein kinase or decreased PP2A activity bypasses sphingoid base requirement in endocytosis. EMBO J 2000; 19:2834-44. [PMID: 10856229 PMCID: PMC203374 DOI: 10.1093/emboj/19.12.2834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipids have been implicated in signal transduction and in several stages of membrane trafficking, but these two functions have not been functionally linked. In yeast, sphingoid base synthesis is required for the internalization step of endocytosis and organization of the actin cytoskeleton. We show that inactivation of a protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) or overexpression of one of two kinases, Yck2p or Pkc1p, can specifically suppress the sphingoid base synthesis requirement for endocytosis. The two kinases have an overlapping function because only a mutant with impaired function of both kinases is defective in endocytosis. An ultimate target of sphingoid base synthesis may be the actin cytoskeleton, because overexpression of the kinases and inactivation of PP2A substantially corrected the actin defect due to the absence of sphingoid base. These results suggest that sphingoid base controls protein phosphorylation, perhaps by activating a signal transduction pathway that is required for endocytosis and proper actin cytoskeleton organization in yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Friant
- Biozentrum of the University of Basel, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
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247
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Abstract
Prior studies have shown that S. cerevisiae rim4 mutations cause reduced expression of a sporulation-specific reporter gene and sporulation. We report here that RIM4 (ORF YHL024W) is a putative RNA-binding protein of the RRM class that is expressed at elevated levels early in meiosis. Mutations in the two RRMs reduce or abolish sporulation and, in some cases, cause reduced Rim4p expression. RIM4 is required for expression of early and middle sporulation-specific genes. Unlike other meiotic regulatory genes, RIM4 is required for full gene activation through both the Ime1p and Ime2p pathways. The rim4Delta defect in activation by Ime2p is suppressed by a hyperactive Ime2p derivative. These observations argue that Rim4p may act upstream of Ime2p, perhaps in a nutritional sensing pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Soushko
- Department of Microbiology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
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248
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Ashe MP, De Long SK, Sachs AB. Glucose depletion rapidly inhibits translation initiation in yeast. Mol Biol Cell 2000; 11:833-48. [PMID: 10712503 PMCID: PMC14814 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.11.3.833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 313] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucose performs key functions as a signaling molecule in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Glucose depletion is known to regulate gene expression via pathways that lead to derepression of genes at the transcriptional level. In this study, we have investigated the effect of glucose depletion on protein synthesis. We discovered that glucose withdrawal from the growth medium led to a rapid inhibition of protein synthesis and that this effect was readily reversed upon readdition of glucose. Neither the inhibition nor the reactivation of translation required new transcription. This inhibition also did not require activation of the amino acid starvation pathway or inactivation of the TOR kinase pathway. However, mutants in the glucose repression (reg1, glc7, hxk2, and ssn6), hexose transporter induction (snf3 rgt2), and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (tpk1(w) and tpk2(w)) pathways were resistant to the inhibitory effects of glucose withdrawal on translation. These findings highlight the intimate connection between the nutrient status of the cell and its translational capacity. They also help to define a new area of posttranscriptional regulation in yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- M P Ashe
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
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249
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Huang HL, Brandriss MC. The regulator of the yeast proline utilization pathway is differentially phosphorylated in response to the quality of the nitrogen source. Mol Cell Biol 2000; 20:892-9. [PMID: 10629046 PMCID: PMC85206 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.20.3.892-899.2000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The proline utilization pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is regulated by the Put3p transcriptional activator in response to the presence of the inducer proline and the quality of the nitrogen source in the growth medium. Put3p is constitutively bound to the promoters of its target genes, PUT1 and PUT2, under all conditions studied but activates transcription to the maximum extent only in the absence of rich nitrogen sources and in the presence of proline (i.e., when proline serves as the sole source of nitrogen). Changes in target gene expression therefore occur through changes in the activity of the DNA-bound regulator. In this report, we demonstrate by phosphatase treatment of immunoprecipitates of extracts metabolically labeled with (32)P or (35)S that Put3p is a phosphoprotein. Examination of Put3p isolated from cells grown on a variety of nitrogen sources showed that it was differentially phosphorylated as a function of the quality of the nitrogen source: the poorer the nitrogen source, the slower the gel migration of the phosphoforms. The presence of the inducer does not detectably alter the phosphorylation profile. Activator-defective and activator-constitutive Put3p mutants have been analyzed. One activator-defective mutant appears to be phosphorylated in a pattern similar to that of the wild type, thus separating its ability to be phosphorylated from its ability to activate transcription. Three activator-constitutive mutant proteins from cells grown on an ammonia-containing medium have a phosphorylation profile similar to that of the wild-type protein in cells grown on proline. These results demonstrate a correlation between the phosphorylation status of Put3p and its ability to activate its target genes and suggest that there are two signals, proline induction and quality of nitrogen source, impinging on Put3p that act synergistically for maximum expression of the proline utilization pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- H L Huang
- Department of Microbiology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103, USA
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250
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Hardwick JS, Kuruvilla FG, Tong JK, Shamji AF, Schreiber SL. Rapamycin-modulated transcription defines the subset of nutrient-sensitive signaling pathways directly controlled by the Tor proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1999; 96:14866-70. [PMID: 10611304 PMCID: PMC24739 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.96.26.14866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 433] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The immunosuppressant rapamycin inhibits Tor1p and Tor2p (target of rapamycin proteins), ultimately resulting in cellular responses characteristic of nutrient deprivation through a mechanism involving translational arrest. We measured the immediate transcriptional response of yeast grown in rich media and treated with rapamycin to investigate the direct effects of Tor proteins on nutrient-sensitive signaling pathways. The results suggest that Tor proteins directly modulate the glucose activation and nitrogen discrimination pathways and the pathways that respond to the diauxic shift (including glycolysis and the citric acid cycle). Tor proteins do not directly modulate the general amino acid control, nitrogen starvation, or sporulation (in diploid cells) pathways. Poor nitrogen quality activates the nitrogen discrimination pathway, which is controlled by the complex of the transcriptional repressor Ure2p and activator Gln3p. Inhibiting Tor proteins with rapamycin increases the electrophoretic mobility of Ure2p. The work presented here illustrates the coordinated use of genome-based and biochemical approaches to delineate a cellular pathway modulated by the protein target of a small molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Hardwick
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Center for Genomics Research, Department of Chemistry, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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