Fission yeast tor1 functions in response to various stresses including nitrogen starvation, high osmolarity, and high temperature

Proteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses reveal that TORC1 is reactivated by pheromone signaling during sexual reproduction in fission yeast

Starvation, which is associated with inactivation of the growth-promoting TOR complex 1 (TORC1), is a strong environmental signal for cell differentiation. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, nitrogen starvation has distinct physiological consequences depending on the presence of mating partners. In their absence, cells enter quiescence, and TORC1 inactivation prolongs their life. In presence of compatible mates, TORC1 inactivation is essential for sexual differentiation. Gametes engage in paracrine pheromone signaling, grow towards each other, fuse to form the diploid zygote, and form resistant, haploid spore progenies. To understand the signaling changes in the proteome and phospho-proteome during sexual reproduction, we developed cell synchronization strategies and present (phospho-)proteomic data sets that dissect pheromone from starvation signals over the sexual differentiation and cell-cell fusion processes. Unexpectedly, these data sets reveal phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 during sexual development, which we establish requires TORC1 activity. We demonstrate that TORC1 is re-activated by pheromone signaling, in a manner that does not require autophagy. Mutants with low TORC1 re-activation exhibit compromised mating and poorly viable spores. Thus, while inactivated to initiate the mating process, TORC1 is reactivated by pheromone signaling in starved cells to support sexual reproduction.

TORC2 is required for the accumulation of γH2A in response to DNA damage

TOR protein kinases serve as the catalytic subunit of the TORC1 and TORC2 complexes, which regulate cellular growth, proliferation, and survival. In the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, cells lacking TORC2 or its downstream kinase Gad8 (AKT or SGK1 in human cells) exhibit sensitivity to a wide range of stress conditions, including DNA damage stress. One of the first responses to DNA damage is the phosphorylation of C-terminal serine residues within histone H2AX in human cells (γH2AX), or histone H2A in yeast cells (γH2A). The kinases responsible for γH2A in S. pombe are the two DNA damage checkpoint kinases Rad3 and Tel1 (ATR and ATM, respectively, in human cells). Here we report that TORC2-Gad8 signaling is required for accumulation of γH2A in response to DNA damage and during quiescence. Using the TOR-specific inhibitor, Torin1, we demonstrate that the effect of TORC2 on γH2A in response to DNA damage is immediate, rather than adaptive. The lack of γH2A is restored by deletion mutations of transcription and chromatin modification factors, including loss of components of Paf1C, SAGA, Mediator, and the bromo-domain proteins Bdf1/Bdf2. Thus, we suggest that TORC2-Gad8 may affect the accumulation of γH2A by regulating chromatin structure and function.

TOR regulates variability of protein synthesis rates

Cellular processes are subject to inherent variability, but the extent to which cells can regulate this variability has received little investigation. Here, we explore the characteristics of the rate of cellular protein synthesis in single cells of the eukaryote fission yeast. Strikingly, this rate is highly variable despite protein synthesis being dependent on hundreds of reactions which might be expected to average out at the overall cellular level. The rate is variable over short time scales, and exhibits homoeostatic behaviour at the population level. Cells can regulate the level of variability through processes involving the TOR pathway, suggesting there is an optimal level of variability conferring a selective advantage. While this could be an example of bet-hedging, but we propose an alternative explanation: regulated 'loose' control of complex processes of overall cellular metabolism such as protein synthesis, may lead to this variability. This could ensure cells are fluid in control and agile in response to changing conditions, and may constitute a novel organisational principle of complex metabolic cellular systems.

TOR in plants: Multidimensional regulators of plant growth and signaling pathways

Target Of Rapamycin (TOR) represents a ubiquitous kinase complex that has emerged as a central regulator of cell growth and metabolism in nearly all eukaryotic organisms. TOR is an evolutionarily conserved protein kinase, functioning as a central signaling hub that integrates diverse internal and external cues to regulate a multitude of biological processes. These processes collectively exert significant influence on plant growth, development, nutrient assimilation, photosynthesis, fruit ripening, and interactions with microorganisms. Within the plant domain, the TOR complex comprises three integral components: TOR, RAPTOR, and LST8. This comprehensive review provides insights into various facets of the TOR protein, encompassing its origin, structure, function, and the regulatory and signaling pathways operative in photosynthetic organisms. Additionally, we explore future perspectives related to this pivotal protein kinase.

TOR inactivation triggers heterochromatin formation in rDNA during glucose starvation

In response to environmental cues, such as nutrient starvation, living organisms modulate gene expression through mechanisms involving histone modifications. Specifically, nutrient depletion inactivates the TOR (target of rapamycin) pathway, leading to reduced expression of ribosomal genes. While these regulatory mechanisms are well elucidated in budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, their conservation across diverse organisms remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe cells repress ribosomal gene transcription through a different mechanism. TORC1, which accumulates in the rDNA region, dissociates upon starvation, resulting in enhanced methylation of H3K9 and heterochromatin formation, facilitated by dissociation of the stress-responsive transcription factor Atf1 and accumulation of the histone chaperone FACT. We propose that this mechanism might be adapted in mammals that possess Suv39H1 and HP1, which are absent in budding yeast.

Interplays of AMPK and TOR in Autophagy Regulation in Yeast

Cells survey their environment and need to balance growth and anabolism with stress programmes and catabolism towards maximum cellular bioenergetics economy and survival. Nutrient-responsive pathways, such as the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) interact and cross-talk, continuously, with stress-responsive hubs such as the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) to regulate fundamental cellular processes such as transcription, protein translation, lipid and carbohydrate homeostasis. Especially in nutrient stresses or deprivations, cells tune their metabolism accordingly and, crucially, recycle materials through autophagy mechanisms. It has now become apparent that autophagy is pivotal in lifespan, health and cell survival as it is a gatekeeper of clearing damaged macromolecules and organelles and serving as quality assurance mechanism within cells. Autophagy is hard-wired with energy and nutrient levels as well as with damage-response, and yeasts have been instrumental in elucidating such connectivities. In this review, we briefly outline cross-talks and feedback loops that link growth and stress, mainly, in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, a favourite model in cell and molecular biology.

Comparative Research: Regulatory Mechanisms of Ribosomal Gene Transcription in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Restricting ribosome biosynthesis and assembly in response to nutrient starvation is a universal phenomenon that enables cells to survive with limited intracellular resources. When cells experience starvation, nutrient signaling pathways, such as the target of rapamycin (TOR) and protein kinase A (PKA), become quiescent, leading to several transcription factors and histone modification enzymes cooperatively and rapidly repressing ribosomal genes. Fission yeast has factors for heterochromatin formation similar to mammalian cells, such as H3K9 methyltransferase and HP1 protein, which are absent in budding yeast. However, limited studies on heterochromatinization in ribosomal genes have been conducted on fission yeast. Herein, we shed light on and compare the regulatory mechanisms of ribosomal gene transcription in two species with the latest insights.

TOR complex 2 contributes to regulation of gene expression via inhibiting Gcn5 recruitment to subtelomeric and DNA replication stress genes

The fission yeast TOR complex 2 (TORC2) is required for gene silencing at subtelomeric regions and for the induction of gene transcription in response to DNA replication stress. Thus, TORC2 affects transcription regulation both negatively and positively. Whether these two TORC2-dependent functions share a common molecular mechanism is currently unknown. Here, we show that Gad8 physically interacts with proteins that regulate transcription, including subunits of the Spt-Ada-Gcn5-acetyltransferase (SAGA) complex and the BET bromodomain protein Bdf2. We demonstrate that in the absence of TORC2, Gcn5, the histone acetyltransferase subunit of SAGA, accumulates at subtelomeric genes and at non-induced promoters of DNA replication genes. Remarkably, the loss of Gcn5 in TORC2 mutant cells restores gene silencing as well as transcriptional induction in response to DNA replication stress. Loss of Bdf2 alleviates excess of Gcn5 binding in TORC2 mutant cells and also rescues the aberrant regulation of transcription in these cells. Furthermore, the loss of either SAGA or Bdf2 suppresses the sensitivity of TORC2 mutant cells to a variety of stresses, including DNA replication, DNA damage, temperature and nutrient stresses. We suggest a role of TORC2 in transcriptional regulation that is critical for gene silencing and gene induction in response to stress and involves the binding of Gcn5 to the chromatin.

Fission Yeast TORC2 Signaling Pathway Ensures Cell Proliferation under Glucose-Limited, Nitrogen-Replete Conditions

Target of rapamycin (TOR) kinases form two distinct complexes, TORC1 and TORC2, which are evolutionarily conserved among eukaryotes. These complexes control intracellular biochemical processes in response to changes in extracellular nutrient conditions. Previous studies using the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, showed that the TORC2 signaling pathway, which is essential for cell proliferation under glucose-limited conditions, ensures cell-surface localization of a high-affinity hexose transporter, Ght5, by downregulating its endocytosis. The TORC2 signaling pathway retains Ght5 on the cell surface, depending on the presence of nitrogen sources in medium. Ght5 is transported to vacuoles upon nitrogen starvation. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying this regulation to cope with nutritional stress, a response which may be conserved from yeasts to mammals.

TOR and MAP kinase pathways synergistically regulate autophagy in response to nutrient depletion in fission yeast

General autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved process in eukaryotes, by which intracellular materials are transported into and degraded inside lysosomes or vacuoles, with the main goal of recycling those materials during periods of starvation. The molecular bases of autophagy have been widely described in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and the specific roles of Atg proteins in the process were first characterized in this model system. Important contributions have been made in Schizosaccharomyces pombe highlighting the evolutionary similarity and, at the same time, diversity of Atg components in autophagy. However, little is known regarding signals, pathways and role of autophagy in this distant yeast. Here, we undertake a global approach to investigate the signals, the pathways and the consequences of autophagy activation. We demonstrate that not only nitrogen but several nutritional deprivations including lack of carbon, sulfur, phosphorus or leucine sources, trigger autophagy, and that the TORC1, TORC2 and MAP kinase Sty1 pathways control the onset of autophagy. Furthermore, we identify an unexpected phenotype of autophagy-defective mutants, namely their inability to survive in the absence of leucine when biosynthesis of this amino acid is impaired.Abbreviations: ATG: autophagy-related; cAMP: cyclic adenosine monophosphate; cDNA: complementary deoxyribonucleic acid; GFP: green fluorescence protein; Gluc: glucose; Leu: leucine; MAP: mitogen-activated protein; MM: minimal medium; PI: propidium iodine; PKA: protein kinase A; RNA: ribonucleic acid; RT-qPCR: real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction; S. cerevisiae: Saccharomyces cerevisiae; S. pombe: Schizosaccharomyces pombe; TCA: trichloroacetic acid; TOR: target of rapamycin; TORC1: target of rapamycin complex 1; TORC2: target of rapamycin complex 2; YE5S: yeast extract 5 amino acid supplemented.

TORC2 inhibition of α-arrestin Aly3 mediates cell surface persistence of S. pombe Ght5 glucose transporter in low glucose

In the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the high-affinity hexose transporter, Ght5, must be transcriptionally upregulated and localized to the cell surface for cell division under limited glucose. Although cell-surface localization of Ght5 depends on Target of rapamycin complex 2 (TORC2), the molecular mechanisms by which TORC2 ensures proper localization of Ght5 remain unknown. We performed genetic screening for gene mutations that restore Ght5 localization on the cell surface in TORC2-deficient mutant cells, and identified a gene encoding an uncharacterized α-arrestin-like protein, Aly3/SPCC584.15c. α-arrestins are thought to recruit a ubiquitin ligase to membrane-associated proteins. Consistently, Ght5 is ubiquitylated in TORC2-deficient cells, and this ubiquitylation is dependent on Aly3. TORC2 supposedly enables cell-surface localization of Ght5 by preventing Aly3-dependent ubiquitylation and subsequent ubiquitylation-dependent translocation of Ght5 to vacuoles. Surprisingly, nitrogen starvation, but not glucose depletion, triggers Aly3-dependent transport of Ght5 to vacuoles in S. pombe, unlike budding yeast hexose transporters, vacuolar transport of which is initiated upon changes in hexose concentration. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms controlling the subcellular localization of hexose transporters in response to extracellular stimuli.

Cross-talk between autophagy and sporulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Unicellular organisms, like yeast, have developed mechanisms to overcome environmental stress conditions like nutrient starvation. Autophagy and sporulation are two such mechanisms employed by yeast cells. Autophagy is a well-conserved, catabolic process that degrades excess and unwanted cytoplasmic materials and provides building blocks during starvation conditions. Thus, autophagy maintains cellular homeostasis at basal conditions and acts as a survival mechanism during stress conditions. Sporulation is an essential process that, like autophagy, is triggered due to stress conditions in yeast. It involves the formation of ascospores that protect the yeast cells during extreme conditions and germinate when the conditions are favorable. Studies show that autophagy is required for the sporulation process in yeast. However, the exact mechanism of action is not clear. Furthermore, several of the core autophagy gene knockouts do not sporulate and at what stage of sporulation they are involved is not clear. Besides, many overlapping proteins function in both sporulation and autophagy and it is unclear how the pathway-specific roles of these proteins are determined. All these observations suggest that the two processes cross-talk. Individually, some key features from both the processes remain to be studied with respect to the source of membrane for autophagosomes, prospore membrane (PSM) formation, and closure of the membranes. Therefore, it becomes crucial to study the cross-talk between autophagy and sporulation. In this review, the cross-talk between the two pathways, the common protein machineries have been discussed.

Crosstalk between the mTOR and DNA Damage Response Pathways in Fission Yeast

Cells have developed response systems to constantly monitor environmental changes and accordingly adjust growth, differentiation, and cellular stress programs. The evolutionarily conserved, nutrient-responsive, mechanistic target of rapamycin signaling (mTOR) pathway coordinates basic anabolic and catabolic cellular processes such as gene transcription, protein translation, autophagy, and metabolism, and is directly implicated in cellular and organismal aging as well as age-related diseases. mTOR mediates these processes in response to a broad range of inputs such as oxygen, amino acids, hormones, and energy levels, as well as stresses, including DNA damage. Here, we briefly summarize data relating to the interplays of the mTOR pathway with DNA damage response pathways in fission yeast, a favorite model in cell biology, and how these interactions shape cell decisions, growth, and cell-cycle progression. We, especially, comment on the roles of caffeine-mediated DNA-damage override. Understanding the biology of nutrient response, DNA damage and related pharmacological treatments can lead to the design of interventions towards improved cellular and organismal fitness, health, and survival.

TOR Complex 2- independent mutations in the regulatory PIF pocket of Gad8AKT1/SGK1 define separate branches of the stress response mechanisms in fission yeast

The Target of rapamycin (TOR) protein kinase forms part of TOR complex 1 (TORC1) and TOR complex 2 (TORC2), two multi-subunit protein complexes that regulate growth, proliferation, survival and developmental processes by phosphorylation and activation of AGC-family kinases. In the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, TORC2 and its target, the AGC kinase Gad8 (an orthologue of human AKT or SGK1) are required for viability under stress conditions and for developmental processes in response to starvation cues. In this study, we describe the isolation of gad8 mutant alleles that bypass the requirement for TORC2 and reveal a separation of function of TORC2 and Gad8 under stress conditions. In particular, osmotic and nutritional stress responses appear to form a separate branch from genotoxic stress responses downstream of TORC2-Gad8. Interestingly, TORC2-independent mutations map into the regulatory PIF pocket of Gad8, a highly conserved motif in AGC kinases that regulates substrate binding in PDK1 (phosphoinositide dependent kinase-1) and kinase activity in several AGC kinases. Gad8 activation is thought to require a two-step mechanism, in which phosphorylation by TORC2 allows further phosphorylation and activation by Ksg1 (an orthologue of PDK1). We focus on the Gad8-K263C mutation and demonstrate that it renders the Gad8 kinase activity independent of TORC2 in vitro and independent of the phosphorylation sites of TORC2 in vivo. Molecular dynamics simulations of Gad8-K263C revealed abnormal high flexibility at T387, the phosphorylation site for Ksg1, suggesting a mechanism for the TORC2-independent Gad8 activity. Significantly, the K263 residue is highly conserved in the family of AGC-kinases, which may suggest a general way of keeping their activity in check when acting downstream of TOR complexes.

Protein kinases catalyze the transfer of phosphate from high-energy, phosphate-donating molecules, such as ATP, to their substrates. This process is pivotal for regulation of almost any aspect of cellular biology. Many human diseases are associated with aberrant functions of protein kinases due to mutations. Accordingly, there is a growing number of kinase inhibitors that have been approved for clinical use. A better understanding of how protein kinases become active and how their activity is relayed to regulate their cellular functions is much needed for rational design of kinase inhibitors and for their optimal use in the clinic. The AGC-family of protein kinases play key roles in regulating cellular growth, proliferation and survival. In human cells, as well as in the fission yeast, our cellular model system, a subgroup of the AGC kinases is activated by the TOR protein kinases. Here we report the isolation of mutations in the AGC kinase Gad8 (AKT or SGK1 in human) that bypass the requirement for activation by TOR. Analyses of how these mutations affect cellular growth revealed separate branches of stress response mechanisms downstream of Gad8, while computer simulation methods suggested a molecular mechanism that keeps the activity of Gad8 in check.

Novel Links between TORC1 and Traditional Non-Coding RNA, tRNA

Target of rapamycin (TOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that modulates cell growth and metabolism in response to environmental changes. Transfer RNA (tRNA) is an abundant and ubiquitous small non-coding RNA that is essential in the translation of mRNAs. Beyond its canonical role, it has been revealed that tRNAs have more diverse functions. TOR complex 1 (TORC1), which is one of the two TOR complexes, regulates tRNA synthesis by controlling RNA polymerase III. In addition to tRNA synthesis regulation, recent studies have revealed hidden connections between TORC1 and tRNA, which are both essential players in eukaryotic cellular activities. Here, we review the accumulating findings on the regulatory links between TORC1 and tRNA-particularly those links in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Modulation of TOR complex 2 signaling by the stress-activated MAPK pathway in fission yeast

Sin1 is a substrate-binding subunit of target of rapamycin complex 2 (TORC2), an evolutionarily conserved protein kinase complex. In fission yeast, Sin1 has also been identified as a protein that interacts with Spc1 (also known as Sty1) in the stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) pathway. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between TORC2 and Spc1 signaling. We found that the common docking (CD) domain of Spc1 interacts with a cluster of basic amino acid residues in Sin1. Although diminished TORC2 activity in the absence of the functional Spc1 cascade suggests positive regulation of TORC2 by Spc1, such regulation appears to be independent of the Sin1-Spc1 interaction. Hyperosmotic stress transiently inhibits TORC2, and its swift recovery is dependent on Spc1, the transcription factor Atf1, and the glycelrol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase Gpd1, whose expression is induced upon osmostress by the Spc1-Atf1 pathway. Thus, cellular adaptation to osmostress seems important for TORC2 reactivation, though Spc1 and Atf1 contribute to TORC2 activation also in the absence of osmostress. These results indicate coordinated actions of the SAPK and TORC2 pathways, both of which are essential for fission yeast cells to survive environmental stress.

The TOR Pathway Plays Pleiotropic Roles in Growth and Stress Responses of the Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans

The target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway is an evolutionarily conserved signal transduction system that governs a plethora of eukaryotic biological processes, but its role in Cryptococcus neoformans remains elusive. In this study, we investigated the TOR pathway by functionally characterizing two Tor-like kinases, Tor1 and Tlk1, in C. neoformans We successfully deleted TLK1, but not TOR1TLK1 deletion did not result in any evident in vitro phenotypes, suggesting that Tlk1 is dispensable for the growth of C. neoformans We demonstrated that Tor1, but not Tlk1, is essential and the target of rapamycin by constructing and analyzing conditionally regulated strains and sporulation analysis of heterozygous mutants in the diploid strain background. To further analyze the Tor1 function, we constructed constitutive TOR1 overexpression strains. Tor1 negatively regulated thermotolerance and the DNA damage response, which are two important virulence factors of C. neoformansTOR1 overexpression reduced Mpk1 phosphorylation, which is required for cell wall integrity and thermoresistance, and Rad53 phosphorylation, which governs the DNA damage response pathway. Tor1 is localized to the cytoplasm, but enriched in the vacuole membrane. Phosphoproteomics and transcriptomics revealed that Tor1 regulates a variety of biological processes, including metabolic processes, cytoskeleton organization, ribosome biogenesis, and stress response. TOR inhibition by rapamycin caused actin depolarization in a Tor1-dependent manner. Finally, screening rapamycin-sensitive and -resistant kinase and transcription factor mutants revealed that the TOR pathway may crosstalk with a number of stress signaling pathways. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that a single Tor1 kinase plays pleiotropic roles in C. neoformans.

The RHEB-mTOR axis regulates expression of Tf2 transposons in fission yeast

The human TSC2 gene, mutations in which predispose individuals to the disease tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), encodes a GTPase-activating protein for the GTPase RHEB. Loss of TSC2 results in constitutive activation of RHEB and its target mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). We have previously reported that fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) Tf2 retrotransposons (hereafter Tf2s) are abnormally induced upon nitrogen starvation in cells lacking the tsc2⁺ gene (Δtsc2), a homolog of the human TSC2 gene, and in cells with a dominant-active mutation in the fission yeast RHEB GTPase (rhb1-DA4). We report here that induction of Tf2s in these mutants is suppressed upon overexpression of the cgs2⁺ gene, which encodes a cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase, or upon deletion of components in the glucose/cAMP signaling pathway, namely Cyr1, Pka1, Tor1 and the stress-activated transcription factor Atf1. The results suggest that the glucose/cAMP signaling pathway is downregulated when cells are starved for nitrogen. We also show that Tf2 proteins are degraded via autophagy, which is under control of Tor2, a homolog of human mTOR. It appears that failure in the two processes, downregulation of the glucose/cAMP signaling pathway and induction of autophagy, allows abnormal induction of Tf2s upon nitrogen starvation in Δtsc2 and rhb1-DA4 cells.

TOR complex 2 in fission yeast is required for chromatin-mediated gene silencing and assembly of heterochromatic domains at subtelomeres

The conserved serine/threonine protein kinase target of rapamycin (TOR) is a major regulator of eukaryotic cellular and organismal growth and a valuable target for drug therapy. TOR forms the core of two evolutionary conserved complexes, TOR complex 1 (TORC1) and TORC2. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, TORC2 responds to glucose levels and, by activating the protein kinase Gad8 (an orthologue of human AKT), is required for well-regulated cell cycle progression, starvation responses, and cell survival. Here, we report that TORC2-Gad8 is also required for gene silencing and the formation of heterochromatin at the S. pombe mating-type locus and at subtelomeric regions. Deletion of TORC2-Gad8 resulted in loss of the heterochromatic modification of histone 3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me2) and an increase in euchromatic modifications, including histone 3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) and histone 4 lysine 16 acetylation (H4K16Ac). Accumulation of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) at subtelomeric genes in TORC2-Gad8 mutant cells indicated a defect in silencing at the transcriptional level. Moreover, a concurrent decrease in histone 4 lysine 20 dimethylation (H4K20me2) suggested elevated histone turnover. Loss of gene silencing in cells lacking TORC2-Gad8 is partially suppressed by loss of the anti-silencer Epe1 and fully suppressed by loss of the Pol II-associated Paf1 complex, two chromatin regulators that have been implicated in heterochromatin stability and spreading. Taken together, our findings suggest that TORC2-Gad8 signaling contributes to epigenetic stability at subtelomeric regions and the mating-type locus in S. pombe.

tRNA production links nutrient conditions to the onset of sexual differentiation through the TORC1 pathway

Target of rapamycin (TOR) kinase controls cell growth and metabolism in response to nutrient availability. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, TOR complex 1 (TORC1) promotes vegetative growth and inhibits sexual differentiation in the presence of ample nutrients. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of mutants with similar phenotypes as TORC1 mutants, in that they initiate sexual differentiation even in nutrient-rich conditions. In most mutants identified, TORC1 activity is downregulated and the mutated genes are involved in tRNA expression or modification. Expression of tRNA precursors decreases when cells undergo sexual differentiation. Furthermore, overexpression of tRNA precursors prevents TORC1 downregulation upon nitrogen starvation and represses the initiation of sexual differentiation. Based on these observations, we propose that tRNA precursors operate in the S. pombe TORC1 pathway to switch growth mode from vegetative to reproductive.

Phosphorylation of the RNA-binding protein Zfs1 modulates sexual differentiation in fission yeast

Sexual differentiation in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe promotes cell cycle arrest and extensive changes in gene expression, resulting in cell-to-cell fusion, the exchange of hereditary material and specialized cell division. These events are detrimental to the cell if they are triggered in inappropriate conditions, and therefore the decision to differentiate must be precisely controlled. Here, we investigated the role of the RNA-binding protein Zfs1 in this process by identifying its targets and characterizing novel post-translational regulatory mechanisms. We found that Zfs1 negatively regulates the G1 cyclin Puc1, and deregulated Puc1 levels inhibit differentiation in the zfs1Δ mutant. We also found that Zfs1 undergoes phosphorylation, which is stimulated upon nitrogen depletion or inhibition of the TOR pathway. Phosphorylation of Zfs1 modulates accumulation of Puc1 and plays an important role in the response of the cell to sexual differentiation signals. We propose that Zfs1 functions as an integrator of nutrient information to modulate sexual differentiation, contributing to the establishment of the differentiation-activating threshold.

TORC1 and TORC2 converge to regulate the SAGA co-activator in response to nutrient availability

Gene expression regulation is essential for cells to adapt to changes in their environment. Co-activator complexes have well-established roles in transcriptional regulation, but less is known about how they sense and respond to signaling cues. We have previously shown that, in fission yeast, one such co-activator, the SAGA complex, controls gene expression and the switch from proliferation to differentiation in response to nutrient availability. Here, using a combination of genetic, biochemical, and proteomic approaches, we show that SAGA responds to nutrients through the differential phosphorylation of its Taf12 component, downstream of both the TORC1 and TORC2 pathways. Taf12 phosphorylation increases early upon starvation and is controlled by the opposing activities of the PP2A phosphatase, which is activated by TORC1, and the TORC2-activated Gad8^AKT kinase. Mutational analyses suggest that Taf12 phosphorylation prevents cells from committing to differentiation until starvation reaches a critical level. Overall, our work reveals that SAGA is a direct target of nutrient-sensing pathways and has uncovered a mechanism by which TORC1 and TORC2 converge to control gene expression and cell fate decisions.

Target of Rapamycin (TOR) Regulates Growth in Response to Nutritional Signals

All organisms can respond to the availability of nutrients by regulating their metabolism, growth, and cell division. Central to the regulation of growth in response to nutrient availability is the target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling that is composed of two structurally distinct complexes: TOR complex 1 (TORC1) and TOR complex 2 (TORC2). The TOR genes were first identified in yeast as target of rapamycin, a natural product of a soil bacterium, which proved beneficial as an immunosuppressive and anticancer drug and is currently being tested for a handful of other pathological conditions including diabetes, neurodegeneration, and age-related diseases. Studies of the TOR pathway unraveled a complex growth-regulating network. TOR regulates nutrient uptake, transcription, protein synthesis and degradation, as well as metabolic pathways, in a coordinated manner that ensures that cells grow or cease growth in response to nutrient availability. The identification of specific signals and mechanisms that stimulate TOR signaling is an active and exciting field of research that has already identified nitrogen and amino acids as key regulators of TORC1 activity. The signals, as well as the cellular functions of TORC2, are far less well understood. Additional open questions in the field concern the relationships between TORC1 and TORC2, as well as the links with other nutrient-responsive pathways. Here I review the main features of TORC1 and TORC2, with a particular focus on yeasts as model organisms.

Coupling TOR to the Cell Cycle by the Greatwall-Endosulfine-PP2A-B55 Pathway

Cell growth and division are two processes tightly coupled in proliferating cells. While Target of Rapamycin (TOR) is the master regulator of growth, the cell cycle is dictated by the activity of the cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). A long-standing question in cell biology is how these processes may be connected. Recent work has highlighted that regulating the phosphatases that revert CDK phosphorylations is as important as regulating the CDKs for cell cycle progression. At mitosis, maintaining a low level of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A)-B55 activity is essential for CDK substrates to achieve the correct level of phosphorylation. The conserved Greatwall–Endosulfine pathway has been shown to be required for PP2A-B55 inhibition at mitosis in yeasts and multicellular organisms. Interestingly, in yeasts, the Greatwall–Endosulfine pathway is negatively regulated by TOR Complex 1 (TORC1). Moreover, Greatwall–Endosulfine activation upon TORC1 inhibition has been shown to regulate the progression of the cell cycle at different points: the G1 phase in budding yeast, the G2/M transition and the differentiation response in fission yeast, and the entry into quiescence in both budding and fission yeasts. In this review, we discuss the recent findings on how the Greatwall–Endosulfine pathway may provide a connection between cell growth and the cell cycle machinery.

TORC1-Dependent Phosphorylation Targets in Fission Yeast

Target of rapamycin (TOR) kinase controls cell metabolism and growth in response to environmental cues such as nutrients, growth factors, and stress. TOR kinase is widely conserved across eukaryotes. As in other organisms, the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe has two types of TOR complex, namely TOR complex 1 (TORC1) and TORC2. It is interesting that the two TOR complexes in S. pombe have opposite roles in sexual differentiation, which is induced by nutrient starvation. TORC1, which contains Tor2 as a catalytic subunit, promotes vegetative growth and represses sexual differentiation in nutrient-rich conditions, while TORC2 is required for the initiation of sexual differentiation. Multiple targets of TORC1 have been identified. Some of these, such as S6 kinase and an autophagy regulator Atg13, are known targets in other organisms. In addition, there is a novel group of TORC1 targets involved in the regulation of sexual differentiation. Here, we review recent findings on phosphorylation targets of TORC1 in S. pombe. Furthermore, we briefly report a novel S. pombe target of TORC1.

The TOR Signaling Pathway in Spatial and Temporal Control of Cell Size and Growth

Cell size is amenable by genetic and environmental factors. The highly conserved nutrient-responsive Target of Rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathway regulates cellular metabolic status and growth in response to numerous inputs. Timing and duration of TOR pathway activity is pivotal for both cell mass built up as well as cell cycle progression and is controlled and fine-tuned by the abundance and quality of nutrients, hormonal signals, growth factors, stress, and oxygen. TOR kinases function within two functionally and structurally discrete multiprotein complexes, TORC1 and TORC2, that are implicated in temporal and spatial control of cell size and growth respectively; however, recent data indicate that such functional distinctions are much more complex. Here, we briefly review roles of the two complexes in cellular growth and cytoarchitecture in various experimental model systems.

Genome-wide screen for cell growth regulators in fission yeast

Cellular growth control is important for all living organisms, but experimental investigation into this problem is difficult because of the complex range of growth regulatory mechanisms. Here, we have used the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe to identify potential master regulators of growth. At the restrictive temperature, the S. pombe pat1^ts mei4Δ strain enters the meiotic developmental program, but arrests in meiotic G2 phase as mei4⁺ is essential for meiotic progression. These cells do not grow, even in an abundance of nutrients. To identify regulators of growth that can reverse this growth arrest, we introduced an ORFeome plasmid library into the pat1^tsmei4Δ strain. Overexpression of eight genes promoted cell growth; two of these were core RNA polymerase subunits, and one was sck2⁺ , an S6 kinase thought to contribute to TORC1 signalling. Sck2 had the greatest effect on cell growth, and we also show that it significantly increases the cellular transcription rate. These findings indicate, for the first time, that global transcriptional control mediated through S6 kinase signalling is central to cellular growth control.

Substrate specificity of TOR complex 2 is determined by a ubiquitin-fold domain of the Sin1 subunit

The target of rapamycin (TOR) protein kinase forms multi-subunit TOR complex 1 (TORC1) and TOR complex 2 (TORC2), which exhibit distinct substrate specificities. Sin1 is one of the TORC2-specific subunit essential for phosphorylation and activation of certain AGC-family kinases. Here, we show that Sin1 is dispensable for the catalytic activity of TORC2, but its conserved region in the middle (Sin1CRIM) forms a discrete domain that specifically binds the TORC2 substrate kinases. Sin1CRIM fused to a different TORC2 subunit can recruit the TORC2 substrate Gad8 for phosphorylation even in the sin1 null mutant of fission yeast. The solution structure of Sin1CRIM shows a ubiquitin-like fold with a characteristic acidic loop, which is essential for interaction with the TORC2 substrates. The specific substrate-recognition function is conserved in human Sin1CRIM, which may represent a potential target for novel anticancer drugs that prevent activation of the mTORC2 substrates such as AKT.

CK2 phospho-independent assembly of the Tel2-associated stress-signaling complexes in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

An evolutionarily conserved protein Tel2 regulates a variety of stress signals. In mammals, TEL2 associates with TTI1 and TTI2 to form the Triple T (TTT: TEL2-TTI1-TTI2) complex as well as with all the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-like kinases (PIKKs) and the R2TP (Ruvbl1-Ruvbl2-Tah1-Pih1 in budding yeast)/prefoldin-like complex that associates with HSP90. The phosphorylation of TEL2 by casein kinase 2 (CK2) enables direct binding of PIHD1 (mammalian Pih1) to TEL2 and is important for the stability and the functions of PIKKs. However, the regulatory mechanisms of Tel2 in fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe remain largely unknown. Here, we report that S. pombe Tel2 is phosphorylated by CK2 at Ser490 and Thr493. Tel2 forms the TTT complex with Tti1 and Tti2 and also associates with PIKKs, Rvb2, and Hsp90 in vivo; however, the phosphorylation of Tel2 affects neither the stability of the Tel2-associated proteins nor their association with Tel2. Thus, Tel2 stably associates with its binding partners irrespective of its phosphorylation. Furthermore, the Tel2 phosphorylation by CK2 is not required for the various stress responses to which PIKKs are pivotal. Our results suggest that the Tel2-containing protein complexes are conserved among eukaryotes, but the molecular regulation of their formation has been altered during evolution.

TOR complex 2 localises to the cytokinetic actomyosin ring and controls the fidelity of cytokinesis

The timing of cell division is controlled by the coupled regulation of growth and division. The target of rapamycin (TOR) signalling network synchronises these processes with the environmental setting. Here, we describe a novel interaction of the fission yeast TOR complex 2 (TORC2) with the cytokinetic actomyosin ring (CAR), and a novel role for TORC2 in regulating the timing and fidelity of cytokinesis. Disruption of TORC2 or its localisation results in defects in CAR morphology and constriction. We provide evidence that the myosin II protein Myp2 and the myosin V protein Myo51 play roles in recruiting TORC2 to the CAR. We show that Myp2 and TORC2 are co-dependent upon each other for their normal localisation to the cytokinetic machinery. We go on to show that TORC2-dependent phosphorylation of actin-capping protein 1 (Acp1, a known regulator of cytokinesis) controls CAR stability, modulates Acp1-Acp2 (the equivalent of the mammalian CAPZA-CAPZB) heterodimer formation and is essential for survival upon stress. Thus, TORC2 localisation to the CAR, and TORC2-dependent Acp1 phosphorylation contributes to timely control and the fidelity of cytokinesis and cell division.

Fission Yeast SCYL1/2 Homologue Ppk32: A Novel Regulator of TOR Signalling That Governs Survival during Brefeldin A Induced Stress to Protein Trafficking

Target of Rapamycin (TOR) signalling allows eukaryotic cells to adjust cell growth in response to changes in their nutritional and environmental context. The two distinct TOR complexes (TORC1/2) localise to the cell’s internal membrane compartments; the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Golgi apparatus and lysosomes/vacuoles. Here, we show that Ppk32, a SCYL family pseudo-kinase, is a novel regulator of TOR signalling. The absence of ppk32 expression confers resistance to TOR inhibition. Ppk32 inhibition of TORC1 is critical for cell survival following Brefeldin A (BFA) induced stress. Treatment of wild type cells with either the TORC1 specific inhibitor rapamycin or the general TOR inhibitor Torin1 confirmed that a reduction in TORC1 activity promoted recovery from BFA induced stress. Phosphorylation of Ppk32 on two residues that are conserved within the SCYL pseudo-kinase family are required for this TOR inhibition. Phosphorylation on these sites controls Ppk32 protein levels and sensitivity to BFA. BFA induced ER stress does not account for the response to BFA that we report here, however BFA is also known to induce Golgi stress and impair traffic to lysosomes. In summary, Ppk32 reduce TOR signalling in response to BFA induced stress to support cell survival.

The Target of Rapamycin (TOR) pathway plays a central role coordinating cell growth and cell division in response to the different cellular environments. This is achieved by TOR controlling various metabolic processes, cell growth and cell division, and in part by the localisation of TOR protein complexes to specific internal endomembranes and compartments. Here, we report a novel role for the SCYL family pseudo-kinase, Ppk32 in restraining TOR signalling when cells experience stresses, which specifically affect endomembranes and compartments where TOR complexes are localised. Cells exposed to endomembrane stress (induced by Brefeldin A), displayed increased cell survival when simultaneously treated with the TOR complex 1 (TORC1) inhibitor, rapamycin, presumably because the reduction in TORC1 signalling slows cellular processes to allow cells sufficient time to recover and adapt to this stress. Importantly cancer, neuro-degeneration and neurological diseases are all associated with stress to the endomembrane protein trafficking system. Our findings suggest that therapeutic rapamycin treatment to reduce TOR signalling and block proliferation of cancer cells, which are inherently experiencing such stress, may have the unintended consequence of enhancing cell survival. It is notable, therefore, that our reported mechanisms to reduce Ppk32 protein levels, likely to be conserved in humans, may represent a way to increase TOR signalling and thus increase cell death of cancer types with inherent stress to these internal membrane systems.

Gad8 Protein Is Found in the Nucleus Where It Interacts with the MluI Cell Cycle Box-binding Factor (MBF) Transcriptional Complex to Regulate the Response to DNA Replication Stress

The target of rapamycin (TOR) kinase is found at the core of two evolutionarily conserved complexes known as TOR complexes 1 and 2 (TORC1 and TORC2). In fission yeast, TORC2 is dispensable for proliferation under optimal growth conditions but is required for starvation and stress responses. We have previously reported that loss of function of TORC2 renders cells highly sensitive to DNA replication stress; however, the mechanism underlying this sensitivity is unknown. TORC2 has one known direct substrate, the kinase Gad8, which is related to AKT in human cells. Here we show that both TORC2 and its substrate Gad8 are found in the nucleus and are bound to the chromatin. We also demonstrate that Gad8 physically interacts with the MluI cell cycle box-binding factor (MBF) transcription complex that regulates the G1/S progression and the response to DNA stress. In mutant cells lacking TORC2 or Gad8, the binding of the MBF complex to its cognate promoters is compromised, and the induction of MBF target genes in response to DNA replication stress is reduced. Consistently, the protein levels of Cdt2 and Cig2, two MBF target genes, are reduced in the absence of TORC2-Gad8 signaling. Taken together, our findings highlight critical functions of TORC2 in the nucleus and suggest a role in surviving DNA replication stress via transcriptional regulation of MBF target genes.

Glucose restriction induces transient G2 cell cycle arrest extending cellular chronological lifespan

While glucose is the fundamental source of energy in most eukaryotes, it is not always abundantly available in natural environments, including within the human body. Eukaryotic cells are therefore thought to possess adaptive mechanisms to survive glucose-limited conditions, which remain unclear. Here, we report a novel mechanism regulating cell cycle progression in response to abrupt changes in extracellular glucose concentration. Upon reduction of glucose in the medium, wild-type fission yeast cells undergo transient arrest specifically at G2 phase. This cell cycle arrest is dependent on the Wee1 tyrosine kinase inhibiting the key cell cycle regulator, CDK1/Cdc2. Mutant cells lacking Wee1 are not arrested at G2 upon glucose limitation and lose viability faster than the wild-type cells under glucose-depleted quiescent conditions, suggesting that this cell cycle arrest is required for extension of chronological lifespan. Our findings indicate the presence of a novel cell cycle checkpoint monitoring glucose availability, which may be a good molecular target for cancer therapy.

Identifying novel protein phenotype annotations by hybridizing protein-protein interactions and protein sequence similarities

Studies of protein phenotypes represent a central challenge of modern genetics in the post-genome era because effective and accurate investigation of protein phenotypes is one of the most critical procedures to identify functional biological processes in microscale, which involves the analysis of multifactorial traits and has greatly contributed to the development of modern biology in the post genome era. Therefore, we have developed a novel computational method that identifies novel proteins associated with certain phenotypes in yeast based on the protein-protein interaction network. Unlike some existing network-based computational methods that identify the phenotype of a query protein based on its direct neighbors in the local network, the proposed method identifies novel candidate proteins for a certain phenotype by considering all annotated proteins with this phenotype on the global network using a shortest path (SP) algorithm. The identified proteins are further filtered using both a permutation test and their interactions and sequence similarities to annotated proteins. We compared our method with another widely used method called random walk with restart (RWR). The biological functions of proteins for each phenotype identified by our SP method and the RWR method were analyzed and compared. The results confirmed a large proportion of our novel protein phenotype annotation, and the RWR method showed a higher false positive rate than the SP method. Our method is equally effective for the prediction of proteins involving in all the eleven clustered yeast phenotypes with a quite low false positive rate. Considering the universality and generalizability of our supporting materials and computing strategies, our method can further be applied to study other organisms and the new functions we predicted can provide pertinent instructions for the further experimental verifications.

Fission yeast Ryh1 GTPase activates TOR Complex 2 in response to glucose

The Target Of Rapamycin (TOR) is an evolutionarily conserved protein kinase that forms 2 distinct protein complexes referred to as TOR complex 1 (TORC1) and 2 (TORC2). Recent extensive studies have demonstrated that TORC1 is under the control of the small GTPases Rheb and Rag that funnel multiple input signals including those derived from nutritional sources; however, information is scarce as to the regulation of TORC2. A previous study using the model system provided by the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe identified Ryh1, a Rab-family GTPase, as an activator of TORC2. Here, we show that the nucleotide-binding state of Ryh1 is regulated in response to glucose, mediating this major nutrient signal to TORC2. In glucose-rich growth media, the GTP-bound form of Ryh1 induces TORC2-dependent phosphorylation of Gad8, a downstream target of TORC2 in fission yeast. Upon glucose deprivation, Ryh1 becomes inactive, which turns off the TORC2-Gad8 pathway. During glucose starvation, however, Gad8 phosphorylation by TORC2 gradually recovers independently of Ryh1, implying an additional TORC2 activator that is regulated negatively by glucose. The paired positive and negative regulatory mechanisms may allow fine-tuning of the TORC2-Gad8 pathway, which is essential for growth under glucose-limited environment.

TORC1 Regulates Developmental Responses to Nitrogen Stress via Regulation of the GATA Transcription Factor Gaf1

The TOR (target of rapamycin [sirolimus]) is a universally conserved kinase that couples nutrient availability to cell growth. TOR complex 1 (TORC1) in Schizosaccharomyces pombe positively regulates growth in response to nitrogen availability while suppressing cellular responses to nitrogen stress. Here we report the identification of the GATA transcription factor Gaf1 as a positive regulator of the nitrogen stress-induced gene isp7⁺, via three canonical GATA motifs. We show that under nitrogen-rich conditions, TORC1 positively regulates the phosphorylation and cytoplasmic retention of Gaf1 via the PP2A-like phosphatase Ppe1. Under nitrogen stress conditions when TORC1 is inactivated, Gaf1 becomes dephosphorylated and enters the nucleus. Gaf1 was recently shown to negatively regulate the transcription induction of ste11⁺, a major regulator of sexual development. Our findings support a model of a two-faceted role of Gaf1 during nitrogen stress. Gaf1 positively regulates genes that are induced early in the response to nitrogen stress, while inhibiting later responses, such as sexual development. Taking these results together, we identify Gaf1 as a novel target for TORC1 signaling and a step-like mechanism to modulate the nitrogen stress response.

TOR complex 1 (TORC1) is an evolutionary conserved protein complex that positively regulates growth and proliferation, while inhibiting starvation responses. In fission yeast, the activity of TORC1 is downregulated in response to nitrogen starvation, and cells reprogram their transcriptional profile and prepare for sexual development. We identify Gaf1, a GATA-like transcription factor that regulates transcription and sexual development in response to starvation, as a downstream target for TORC1 signaling. Under nitrogen-rich conditions, TORC1 positively regulates the phosphorylation and cytoplasmic retention of Gaf1 via the PP2A-like phosphatase Ppe1. Under nitrogen stress conditions when TORC1 is inactivated, Gaf1 becomes dephosphorylated and enters the nucleus. Budding yeast TORC1 regulates GATA transcription factors via the phosphatase Sit4, a structural homologue of Ppe1. Thus, the TORC1-GATA transcription module appears to be conserved in evolution and may also be found in higher eukaryotes.

Rab small GTPase emerges as a regulator of TOR complex 2

In diverse eukaryotic species from yeast to human, TOR (Target Of Rapamycin) protein kinase operates in signaling pathways that link extracellular stimuli to the control of cell growth and metabolism. TOR kinase functions in two distinct protein complexes, TOR complex 1 (TORC1) and 2 (TORC2). While TORC1 is known to be under the control of the Ras-like small GTPase Rheb, our knowledge about TORC2 regulation is very limited. We thus set out to identify TORC2 activators through genetic approaches in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Here we briefly review our study that has identified a Rab-family GTPase, Ryh1 and its GEF (guanine nucleotide exchange factor) as positive regulators of TORC2 signaling in S. pombe. Considering the evolutionary conservation of the TOR pathways, it is conceivable that Rabfamily GTPases also play a role in the regulation of human TORC2 in cellular proliferation and insulin signaling.

Regulation of entry into gametogenesis by Ste11: the endless game

Sexual reproduction is a fundamental aspect of eukaryotic cells, and a conserved feature of gametogenesis is its dependency on a master regulator. The ste11 gene was isolated more than 20 years ago by the Yamamoto laboratory as a suppressor of the uncontrolled meiosis driven by a pat1 mutant. Numerous studies from this laboratory and others have established the role of the Ste11 transcription factor as the master regulator of the switch between proliferation and differentiation in fission yeast. The transcriptional and post-transcriptional controls of ste11 expression are intricate, but most are not redundant. Whereas the transcriptional controls ensure that the gene is transcribed at a high level only when nutrients are rare, the post-transcriptional controls restrict the ability of Ste11 to function as a transcription factor to the G1-phase of the cell cycle from where the differentiation programme is initiated. Several feedback loops ensure that the cell fate decision is irreversible. The complete panel of molecular mechanisms operating to warrant the timely expression of the ste11 gene and its encoded protein basically mirrors the advances in the understanding of the numerous ways by which gene expression can be modulated.

TORC2-a new player in genome stability

The inhibition of the central growth regulatory kinase TOR, which participates in two complexes, TORC1 and TORC2, has been a focus of metabolic and cancer studies for many years. Most studies have dealt with TORC1, the canonical target of rapamycin, and the role of this complex in autophagy, protein synthesis, and cell growth control. Recent work on TORC2 in budding and fission yeast species points to a conserved role of this lesser-known TOR complex in the survival of DNA damage. In budding yeast, TORC2 controls lipid biosynthesis and actin cytoskeleton through downstream AGC kinases, which are now, surprisingly, implicated in the survival of oxidative DNA damage. Preliminary data from mTORC2 modulation in cancer cells suggest that an extension to human chemotherapy is worth exploring.

Rapid regulation of nuclear proteins by rapamycin-induced translocation in fission yeast

Genetic analysis of protein function requires a rapid means of inactivating the gene under study. Typically, this exploits temperature-sensitive mutations or promoter shut-off techniques. We report the adaptation to Schizosaccharomyces pombe of the anchor-away technique, originally designed in budding yeast by Laemmli lab. This method relies on a rapamycin-mediated interaction between the FRB- and FKBP12-binding domains to relocalize nuclear proteins of interest to the cytoplasm. We demonstrate a rapid nuclear depletion of abundant proteins as proof of principle.

S. pombe TORC1 activates the ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation of the meiotic regulator Mei2 in cooperation with Pat1 kinase

Target of rapamycin (TOR) kinase regulates cell metabolism and growth, acting as a subunit of two multi-protein complexes, TORC1 and TORC2. Known TORC substrates are either kinases or general factors involved in growth control. Here, we show that fission yeast TORC1, which promotes vegetative growth and suppresses sexual development, can phosphorylate Mei2 (a specific factor involved in switching the cell fate) in vitro. Alanine substitutions at the nine Mei2 phosphorylation sites stabilize the protein and promote mating and meiosis in vivo. We found that Mei2 is polyubiquitylated in vivo in a TORC1-dependent manner. Based on these data, we propose that TORC1 contributes to the suppression of sexual development by phosphorylating Mei2, in addition to controlling the cellular metabolic status.

Isp7 is a novel regulator of amino acid uptake in the TOR signaling pathway

TOR proteins reside in two distinct complexes, TOR complexes 1 and 2 (TORC1 and TORC2), that are central for the regulation of cellular growth, proliferation, and survival. TOR is also the target for the immunosuppressive and anticancer drug rapamycin. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, disruption of the TSC complex, mutations in which can lead to the tuberous sclerosis syndrome in humans, results in a rapamycin-sensitive phenotype under poor nitrogen conditions. We show here that the sensitivity to rapamycin is mediated via inhibition of TORC1 and suppressed by overexpression of isp7(+), a member of the family of 2-oxoglutarate-Fe(II)-dependent oxygenase genes. The transcript level of isp7(+) is negatively regulated by TORC1 but positively regulated by TORC2. Yet we find extensive similarity between the transcriptome of cells disrupted for isp7(+) and cells mutated in the catalytic subunit of TORC1. Moreover, Isp7 regulates amino acid permease expression in a fashion similar to that of TORC1 and opposite that of TORC2. Overexpression of isp7(+) induces TORC1-dependent phosphorylation of ribosomal protein Rps6 while inhibiting TORC2-dependent phosphorylation and activation of the AGC-like kinase Gad8. Taken together, our findings suggest a central role for Isp7 in amino acid homeostasis and the presence of isp7(+)-dependent regulatory loops that affect both TORC1 and TORC2.

Deletion of the fission yeast homologue of human insulinase reveals a TORC1-dependent pathway mediating resistance to proteotoxic stress

Insulin Degrading Enzyme (IDE) is a protease conserved through evolution with a role in diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. The reason underlying its ubiquitous expression including cells lacking identified IDE substrates remains unknown. Here we show that the fission yeast IDE homologue (Iph1) modulates cellular sensitivity to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in a manner dependent on TORC1 (Target of Rapamycin Complex 1). Reduced sensitivity to tunicamycin was associated with a smaller number of cells undergoing apoptosis. Wild type levels of tunicamycin sensitivity were restored in iph1 null cells when the TORC1 complex was inhibited by rapamycin or by heat inactivation of the Tor2 kinase. Although Iph1 cleaved hallmark IDE substrates including insulin efficiently, its role in the ER stress response was independent of its catalytic activity since expression of inactive Iph1 restored normal sensitivity. Importantly, wild type as well as inactive human IDE complemented gene-invalidated yeast cells when expressed at the genomic locus under the control of iph1⁺ promoter. These results suggest that IDE has a previously unknown function unrelated to substrate cleavage, which links sensitivity to ER stress to a pro-survival role of the TORC1 pathway.

TORC2 is required to maintain genome stability during S phase in fission yeast

DNA damage can occur due to environmental insults or intrinsic metabolic processes and is a major threat to genome stability. The DNA damage response is composed of a series of well coordinated cellular processes that include activation of the DNA damage checkpoint, transient cell cycle arrest, DNA damage repair, and reentry into the cell cycle. Here we demonstrate that mutant cells defective for TOR complex 2 (TORC2) or the downstream AGC-like kinase, Gad8, are highly sensitive to chronic replication stress but are insensitive to ionizing radiation. We show that in response to replication stress, TORC2 is dispensable for Chk1-mediated cell cycle arrest but is required for the return to cell cycle progression. Rad52 is a DNA repair and recombination protein that forms foci at DNA damage sites and stalled replication forks. TORC2 mutant cells show increased spontaneous nuclear Rad52 foci, particularly during S phase, suggesting that TORC2 protects cells from DNA damage that occurs during normal DNA replication. Consistently, the viability of TORC2-Gad8 mutant cells is dependent on the presence of the homologous recombination pathway and other proteins that are required for replication restart following fork replication stalling. Our findings indicate that TORC2 is required for genome integrity. This may be relevant for the growing amount of evidence implicating TORC2 in cancer development.

New roles of the fission yeast eIF2α kinases Hri1 and Gcn2 in response to nutritional stress

In fission yeast, three distinct eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) kinases (Hri1, Hri2 and Gcn2), regulate protein synthesis in response to various environmental stresses. Thus, Gcn2 is activated early after exposure to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), whereas Hri2 is the primary activated eIF2α kinase in response to heat shock. The function of Hri1 is still not completely understood. It is also known that the mitogen-activated protein kinase Sty1 negatively regulates Gcn2 and Hri2 activities under oxidative stress. In this study, we demonstrate that Hri1 is mainly activated, and its expression upregulated, during transition from exponential growth to the stationary phase in response to nutritional limitation. Accordingly, both Hri1 and Gcn2, but not Hri2, are activated upon nitrogen source deprivation. In contrast, Hri2 is stimulated early during glucose starvation. We also found that Gcn2 is implicated in nitrogen starvation-induced growth arrest in the cell cycle G1 phase as well as in the non-selective protein degradation process caused upon this particular cellular stress. Moreover, Gcn2, but not Hri1 or Hri2, is essential for survival of cells growing in minimal medium, upon oxidative stress or glucose limitation. We further show that eIF2α phosphorylation at serine 52 by the eIF2α kinases is necessary for efficient cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase, for the consequent protein degradation and for sexual differentiation, under nitrogen starvation. Therefore, the eIF2α kinase signalling pathway modulates G1 phase cell cycle arrest, cell survival and mating under nutritional stress in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Fission yeast Any1, β-arrestin-like protein, is involved in TSC-Rheb signaling and the regulation of amino acid transporters

Rheb GTPase and the Tsc1-Tsc2 protein complex, which serves as a GTPase-activating protein for Rheb, play critical roles in the regulation of cell growth in response to extracellular conditions. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Rheb and Tsc1-Tsc2 regulate cell cycle progression, the onset of meiosis, and the uptake of amino acids. In cells lacking Tsc2 (Δtsc2), the amino acid transporter Aat1, which is normally expressed on the plasma membrane under starvation conditions, is confined to the Golgi. Here, we show that the loss of either pub1+, encoding an E3 ubiquitin ligase, or any1+, encoding a β-arrestin-like protein, allows constitutive expression of Aat1 on the plasma membrane in Δtsc2 cells, suggesting that Pub1 and Any1 are required for localization of Aat1 to the Golgi. Subsequent analysis revealed that in the Golgi, Pub1 and Any1 form a complex that ubiquitinates Aat1. Physical interaction of Pub1 and Any1 is more stable in Δtsc2 than in wild-type cells and is independent of Tor2 activity. These results indicate that the TSC-Rheb signaling pathway regulates localization of amino acid transporters via Pub1 and Any1 in Tor2-independent manner. Our study demonstrates that unlike budding yeast in which Rsp5 and ARTs, a pair of proteins analogous to Pub1 and Any1, respectively, primarily act to reduce expression of the transporters on PM when nutrients are abundant, the primary role of fission yeast Pub1 and Any1 is to store the transporter in the Golgi under nutrient-rich conditions.

Fission yeast TOR signaling is essential for the down-regulation of a hyperactivated stress-response MAP kinase under salt stress

TOR (target of rapamycin) signaling regulates cell growth and division in response to environmental stimuli such as the availability of nutrients and various forms of stress. The vegetative growth of fission yeast cells, unlike other eukaryotic cells, is not inhibited by treatment with rapamycin. We found that certain mutations including pmc1Δ (Ca(2+)-ATPase), cps9-193 (small GTPase, Ryh1) and cps1-12 (1,3-β-D-glucan synthase, Bgs1) confer a rapamycin-sensitive phenotype to cells under salt stress with potassium chloride (>0.5 M). Cytometric analysis revealed that the mutant cells were unable to enter the mitotic cell cycle when treated with the drug under salt stress. Gene cloning and overexpression experiments revealed that the sensitivity to rapamycin was suppressed by the ectopic expression of tyrosine phosphatases, Pyp1 and Pyp2, which are negative regulators of Spc1/Sty1 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). The level of tyrosine phosphorylation on Spc1 was higher and sustained substantially longer in these mutants than in the wild type under salt stress. The hyperphosphorylation was significantly suppressed by overexpression of pyp1 (+) with concomitant resumption of the mutant cells' growth. In fission yeast, TOR signaling has been thought to stimulate the stress-response pathway, because mutations of TORC2 components such as Tor1, Sin1 and Ste20 result in similar sensitive phenotypes to environmental stress. The present study, however, strongly suggests that TOR signaling is required for the down-regulation of a hyperactivated Spc1 for reentry into the mitotic cell cycle. This finding may shed light on our understanding of a new stress-responsive mechanism in TOR signaling in higher organisms.