Analysis and in vivo disruption of the gene coding for calmodulin in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Calmodulin in Paramecium: Focus on Genomic Data

Calcium (Ca²⁺) is a universal second messenger that plays a key role in cellular signaling. However, Ca²⁺ signals are transduced with the help of Ca²⁺-binding proteins, which serve as sensors, transducers, and elicitors. Among the collection of these Ca²⁺-binding proteins, calmodulin (CaM) emerged as the prototypical model in eukaryotic cells. This is a small protein that binds four Ca²⁺ ions and whose functions are multiple, controlling many essential aspects of cell physiology. CaM is universally distributed in eukaryotes, from multicellular organisms, such as human and land plants, to unicellular microorganisms, such as yeasts and ciliates. Here, we review most of the information gathered on CaM in Paramecium, a group of ciliates. We condense the information here by mentioning that mature Paramecium CaM is a 148 amino acid-long protein codified by a single gene, as in other eukaryotic microorganisms. In these ciliates, the protein is notoriously localized and regulates cilia function and can stimulate the activity of some enzymes. When Paramecium CaM is mutated, cells show flawed locomotion and/or exocytosis. We further widen this and additional information in the text, focusing on genomic data.

Splicing of branchpoint-distant exons is promoted by Cactin, Tls1 and the ubiquitin-fold-activated Sde2

Intron diversity facilitates regulated gene expression and alternative splicing. Spliceosomes excise introns after recognizing their splicing signals: the 5'-splice site (5'ss), branchpoint (BP) and 3'-splice site (3'ss). The latter two signals are recognized by U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) and its accessory factors (U2AFs), but longer spacings between them result in weaker splicing. Here, we show that excision of introns with a BP-distant 3'ss (e.g. rap1 intron 2) requires the ubiquitin-fold-activated splicing regulator Sde2 in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. By monitoring splicing-specific ura4 reporters in a collection of S. pombe mutants, Cay1 and Tls1 were identified as additional regulators of this process. The role of Sde2, Cay1 and Tls1 was further confirmed by increasing BP-3'ss spacings in a canonical tho5 intron. We also examined BP-distant exons spliced independently of these factors and observed that RNA secondary structures possibly bridged the gap between the two signals. These proteins may guide the 3'ss towards the spliceosome's catalytic centre by folding the RNA between the BP and 3'ss. Orthologues of Sde2, Cay1 and Tls1, although missing in the intron-poor Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are present in intron-rich eukaryotes, including humans. This type of intron-specific pre-mRNA splicing appears to have evolved for regulated gene expression and alternative splicing of key heterochromatin factors.

Calmodulin and Its Interactive Proteins Participate in Regulating the Explosive Growth of Alexandrium pacificum (Dinoflagellate)

Alexandrium pacificum is a typical dinoflagellate that can cause harmful algal blooms, resulting in negative impacts on ecology and human health. The calcium (Ca2+) signal transduction pathway plays an important role in cell proliferation. Calmodulin (CaM) and CaM-related proteins are the main cellular Ca2+ sensors, and can act as an intermediate in the Ca2+ signal transduction pathway. In this study, the proteins that interacted with CaM of A. pacificum were screened by two-dimensional electrophoresis analysis and far western blots under different growth conditions including lag phase and high phosphorus and manganese induced log phase (HPM). The interactive proteins were then identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Four proteins were identified, including Ca2+/CaM-dependent protein kinase, serine/threonine kinase, annexin, and inositol-3-phosphate synthase, which all showed high expression levels under HPM. The gene expression levels encoding these four proteins were also up-regulated under HPM, as revealed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, suggesting that the identified proteins participate in the Ca2+ transport channel and cell cycle regulation to promote cell division. A network of proteins interacting with CaM and their target proteins involved in the regulation of cell proliferation was raised, which provided new insights into the mechanisms behind the explosive growth of A. pacificum.

Reciprocal stabilization of transcription factor binding integrates two signaling pathways to regulate fission yeast fbp1 transcription

Transcriptional regulation, a pivotal biological process by which cells adapt to environmental fluctuations, is achieved by the binding of transcription factors to target sequences in a sequence-specific manner. However, how transcription factors recognize the correct target from amongst the numerous candidates in a genome has not been fully elucidated. We here show that, in the fission-yeast fbp1 gene, when transcription factors bind to target sequences in close proximity, their binding is reciprocally stabilized, thereby integrating distinct signal transduction pathways. The fbp1 gene is massively induced upon glucose starvation by the activation of two transcription factors, Atf1 and Rst2, mediated via distinct signal transduction pathways. Atf1 and Rst2 bind to the upstream-activating sequence 1 region, carrying two binding sites located 45 bp apart. Their binding is reciprocally stabilized due to the close proximity of the two target sites, which destabilizes the independent binding of Atf1 or Rst2. Tup11/12 (Tup-family co-repressors) suppress independent binding. These data demonstrate a previously unappreciated mechanism by which two transcription-factor binding sites, in close proximity, integrate two independent-signal pathways, thereby behaving as a hub for signal integration.

Topoisomerase activity is linked to altered nucleosome positioning and transcriptional regulation in the fission yeast fbp1 gene

Chromatin structure, including nucleosome positioning, has a fundamental role in transcriptional regulation through influencing protein-DNA interactions. DNA topology is known to influence chromatin structure, and in doing so, can also alter transcription. However, detailed mechanism(s) linking transcriptional regulation events to chromatin structure that is regulated by changes in DNA topology remain to be well defined. Here we demonstrate that nucleosome positioning and transcriptional output from the fission yeast fbp1 and prp3 genes are altered by excess topoisomerase activity. Given that lncRNAs (long noncoding RNAs) are transcribed from the fbp1 upstream region and are important for fbp1 gene expression, we hypothesized that local changes in DNA topological state caused by topoisomerase activity could alter lncRNA and fbp1 transcription. In support of this, we found that topoisomerase overexpression caused destabilization of positioned nucleosomes within the fbp1 promoter region, which was accompanied by aberrant fbp1 transcription. Similarly, the direct recruitment of topoisomerase, but not a catalytically inactive form, to the promoter region of fbp1 caused local changes in nucleosome positioning that was also accompanied by altered fbp1 transcription. These data indicate that changes in DNA topological state induced by topoisomerase activity could lead to altered fbp1 transcription through modulating nucleosome positioning.

Calcium spikes accompany cleavage furrow ingression and cell separation during fission yeast cytokinesis

The role of calcium signaling in cytokinesis has long remained ambiguous. Past studies of embryonic cell division discovered that calcium concentration increases transiently at the division plane just before cleavage furrow ingression, suggesting that these calcium transients could trigger contractile ring constriction. However, such calcium transients have only been found in animal embryos and their function remains controversial. We explored cytokinetic calcium transients in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe by adopting GCaMP, a genetically encoded calcium indicator, to determine the intracellular calcium level of this model organism. We validated GCaMP as a highly sensitive calcium reporter in fission yeast, allowing us to capture calcium transients triggered by osmotic shocks. We identified a correlation between the intracellular calcium level and cell division, consistent with the existence of calcium transients during cytokinesis. Using time-lapse microscopy and quantitative image analysis, we discovered calcium spikes both at the start of cleavage furrow ingression and the end of cell separation. Inhibition of these calcium spikes slowed the furrow ingression and led to frequent lysis of daughter cells. We conclude that like the larger animal embryos, fission yeast triggers calcium transients that may play an important role in cytokinesis (197).

Calcium signaling is involved in diverse cellular processes in fungi

Calcium (Ca²⁺) is a universal signalling molecule of life. The Ca²⁺ signalling is an evolutionarily conserved process from prokaryotes to eukaryotes. Ca²⁺ at high concentration is deleterious to the cell; therefore, cell maintains a low resting level of intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_c). The resting [Ca²⁺]_c is tightly regulated, and a transient increase of the [Ca²⁺]_c initiates a signalling cascade in the cell. Ca²⁺ signalling plays an essential role in various processes, including growth, development, reproduction, tolerance to stress conditions, and virulence in fungi. In this review, we describe the evolutionary aspects of Ca²⁺ signalling and cell functions of major Ca²⁺ signalling proteins in different fungi.

TORC2-Gad8-dependent myosin phosphorylation modulates regulation by calcium

Cells respond to changes in their environment through signaling networks that modulate cytoskeleton and membrane organization to coordinate cell-cycle progression, polarized cell growth and multicellular development. Here, we define a novel regulatory mechanism by which the motor activity and function of the fission yeast type one myosin, Myo1, is modulated by TORC2-signalling-dependent phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of the conserved serine at position 742 (S742) within the neck region changes both the conformation of the neck region and the interactions between Myo1 and its associating calmodulin light chains. S742 phosphorylation thereby couples the calcium and TOR signaling networks that are involved in the modulation of myosin-1 dynamics to co-ordinate actin polymerization and membrane reorganization at sites of endocytosis and polarised cell growth in response to environmental and cell-cycle cues.

Histone Chaperone Asf1 Is Required for the Establishment of Repressive Chromatin in Schizosaccharomyces pombe fbp1 Gene Repression

The arrangement of nucleosomes in chromatin plays a role in transcriptional regulation by restricting the accessibility of transcription factors and RNA polymerase II to cis-acting elements and promoters. For gene activation, the chromatin structure is altered to an open configuration. The mechanism for this process has been extensively analyzed. However, the mechanism by which repressive chromatin is reconstituted to terminate transcription has not been fully elucidated. Here, we investigated the mechanisms by which chromatin is reconstituted in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombefbp1 gene, which is robustly induced upon glucose starvation but tightly repressed under glucose-rich conditions. We found that the chromatin structure in the region upstream from fbp1 is closed by a two-step process. When cells are returned to glucose-rich medium following glucose starvation, changes in the nucleosome pattern alter the chromatin configuration at the transcription factor binding site to an inaccessible state, after which the nucleosome density upstream from fbp1 gradually increases via histone loading. Interestingly, this histone loading was observed in the absence of the Tup family corepressors Tup11 and Tup12. Analysis of strains carrying either gene disruptions or mutations affecting nine fission yeast histone chaperone genes demonstrated that the histone chaperone Asf1 induces nucleosome loading during glucose repression. These data establish a previously unappreciated chromatin reconstitution mechanism in fbp1 repression.

Recruitment and delivery of the fission yeast Rst2 transcription factor via a local genome structure counteracts repression by Tup1-family corepressors

Transcription factors (TFs) determine the transcription activity of target genes and play a central role in controlling the transcription in response to various environmental stresses. Three dimensional genome structures such as local loops play a fundamental role in the regulation of transcription, although the link between such structures and the regulation of TF binding to cis-regulatory elements remains to be elucidated. Here, we show that during transcriptional activation of the fission yeast fbp1 gene, binding of Rst2 (a critical C2H2 zinc-finger TF) is mediated by a local loop structure. During fbp1 activation, Rst2 is first recruited to upstream-activating sequence 1 (UAS1), then it subsequently binds to UAS2 (a critical cis-regulatory site located approximately 600 base pairs downstream of UAS1) through a loop structure that brings UAS1 and UAS2 into spatially close proximity. Tup11/12 (the Tup-family corepressors) suppress direct binding of Rst2 to UAS2, but this suppression is counteracted by the recruitment of Rst2 at UAS1 and following delivery to UAS2 through a loop structure. These data demonstrate a previously unappreciated mechanism for the recruitment and expansion of TF-DNA interactions within a promoter mediated by local three-dimensional genome structures and for timely TF-binding via counteractive regulation by the Tup-family corepressors.

Interplay between chromatin modulators and histone acetylation regulates the formation of accessible chromatin in the upstream regulatory region of fission yeast fbp1

Numerous noncoding RNA transcripts are detected in eukaryotic cells. Noncoding RNAs transcribed across gene promoters are involved in the regulation of mRNA transcription via chromatin modulation. This function of noncoding RNA transcription was first demonstrated for the fission yeast fbp1 gene, where a cascade of noncoding RNA transcription events induces chromatin remodeling to facilitate transcription factor binding. We recently demonstrated that the noncoding RNAs from the fbp1 upstream region facilitate binding of the transcription activator Atf1 and thereby promote histone acetylation. Histone acetylation by histone acetyl transferases (HATs) and ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers (ADCRs) are implicated in chromatin remodeling, but the interplay between HATs and ADCRs in this process has not been fully elucidated. Here, we examine the roles played by two distinct ADCRs, Snf22 and Hrp3, and by the HAT Gcn5 in the transcriptional activation of fbp1. Snf22 and Hrp3 redundantly promote disassembly of chromatin in the fbp1 upstream region. Gcn5 critically contributes to nucleosome eviction in the absence of either Snf22 or Hrp3, presumably by recruiting Hrp3 in snf22∆ cells and Snf22 in hrp3∆ cells. Conversely, Gcn5-dependent histone H3 acetylation is impaired in snf22∆/hrp3∆ cells, suggesting that both redundant ADCRs induce recruitment of Gcn5 to the chromatin array in the fbp1 upstream region. These results reveal a previously unappreciated interplay between ADCRs and histone acetylation in which histone acetylation facilitates recruitment of ADCRs, while ADCRs are required for histone acetylation.

The exocytic Rabs Ypt3 and Ypt2 regulate the early step of biogenesis of the spore plasma membrane in fission yeast

Two Rabs, Ypt3 and Ypt2, regulating the trafficking of Golgi-derived secretory vesicles have key roles in biogenesis of the spore plasma membrane in fission yeast. During sporulation, the Rabs and secretory vesicles relocalize at the meiotic spindle pole body, where spore plasma membrane formation subsequently initiates.

During fission yeast sporulation, a membrane compartment called the forespore membrane (FSM) is newly formed on the spindle pole body (SPB). The FSM expands by membrane vesicle fusion, encapsulates the daughter nucleus resulting from meiosis, and eventually matures into the plasma membrane of the spore. Although many of the genes involved in FSM formation have been identified, its molecular mechanism is not fully understood. Here a genetic screen for sporulation-deficient mutations identified Ypt3, a Rab-family small GTPase known to function in the exocytic pathway. The ypt3-ki8 mutant showed defects in both the initiation of FSM biogenesis and FSM expansion. We also show that a mutation in Ypt2, another Rab protein that may function in the same pathway as Ypt3, compromises the initiation of FSM formation. As meiosis proceeds, both GFP-Ypt3 and GFP-Ypt2 are observed at the SPB and then relocalize to the FSM. Their localizations at the SPB precede FSM formation and depend on the meiotic SPB component Spo13, a putative GDP/GTP exchange factor for Ypt2. Given that Spo13 is essential for initiating FSM formation, these results suggest that two exocytic Rabs, Ypt3 and Ypt2, regulate the initiation of FSM formation on the SPB in concert with Spo13.

Antagonistic controls of chromatin and mRNA start site selection by Tup family corepressors and the CCAAT-binding factor

The Tup family corepressors contribute to critical cellular responses, such as the stress response and differentiation, presumably by inducing repressive chromatin, though the precise repression mechanism remains to be elucidated. The Schizosaccharomyces pombe fission yeast Tup family corepressors Tup11 and Tup12 (Tup11/12), which are orthologs of Tup1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae budding yeast and Groucho in Drosophila, negatively control chromatin and the transcriptional activity of some stress-responsive genes. Here, we demonstrate that Tup11/12 repress transcription of a gluconeogenesis gene, fbp1⁺, by three distinct mechanisms. First, Tup11/12 inhibit chromatin remodeling in the fbp1⁺ promoter region where the Atf1 and Rst2 transcriptional activators bind. Second, they repress the formation of an open chromatin configuration at the fbp1⁺ TATA box. Third, they repress mRNA transcription per se by regulating basic transcription factors. These inhibitory actions of Tup11/12 are antagonized by three different types of transcriptional activators: CREB/ATF-type Atf1, C₂H₂zinc finger-type Rst2, and CBF/NF-Y-type Php5 proteins. We also found that impaired chromatin remodeling and fbp1⁺ mRNA transcription in php5Δ strains are rescued by the double deletions of tup11⁺ and tup12⁺, although the distribution of the transcription start sites becomes broader than that in wild-type cells. These data reveal a new mechanism of precise determination of the mRNA start site by Tup family corepressors and CBF/NF-Y proteins.

The many faces of calmodulin in cell proliferation, programmed cell death, autophagy, and cancer

Calmodulin (CaM) is a ubiquitous Ca(2+) receptor protein mediating a large number of signaling processes in all eukaryotic cells. CaM plays a central role in regulating a myriad of cellular functions via interaction with multiple target proteins. This review focuses on the action of CaM and CaM-dependent signaling systems in the control of vertebrate cell proliferation, programmed cell death and autophagy. The significance of CaM and interconnected CaM-regulated systems for the physiology of cancer cells including tumor stem cells, and processes required for tumor progression such as growth, tumor-associated angiogenesis and metastasis are highlighted. Furthermore, the potential targeting of CaM-dependent signaling processes for therapeutic use is discussed.

The fission yeast pleckstrin homology domain protein Spo7 is essential for initiation of forespore membrane assembly and spore morphogenesis

Sporulation in fission yeast represents a unique mode of cell division in which a new cell is formed within the cytoplasm of a mother cell. This event is accompanied by formation of the forespore membrane (FSM), which becomes the plasma membrane of spores. At prophase II, the spindle pole body (SPB) forms an outer plaque, from which formation of the FSM is initiated. Several components of the SPB play an indispensable role in SPB modification, and therefore in sporulation. In this paper, we report the identification of a novel SPB component, Spo7, which has a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. We found that Spo7 was essential for initiation of FSM assembly, but not for SPB modification. Spo7 directly bound to Meu14, a component of the leading edge of the FSM, and was essential for proper localization of Meu14. The PH domain of Spo7 had affinity for phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI3P). spo7 mutants lacking the PH domain showed aberrant spore morphology, similar to that of meu14 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (pik3) mutants. Our study suggests that Spo7 coordinates formation of the leading edge and initiation of FSM assembly, thereby accomplishing accurate formation of the FSM.

Schizosaccharomyces pombe calmodulin, Cam1, plays a crucial role in sporulation by recruiting and stabilizing the spindle pole body components responsible for assembly of the forespore membrane

Calmodulin in Schizosaccharomyces pombe is encoded by the cam1(+) gene, which is indispensable for both vegetative growth and sporulation. Here, we report how Cam1 functions in spore formation. We found that Cam1 preferentially localized to the spindle pole body (SPB) during meiosis and sporulation. Formation of the forespore membrane, a precursor of the plasma membrane in spores, was blocked in a missense cam1 mutant, which was viable but unable to sporulate. Three SPB proteins necessary for the onset of forespore membrane formation, Spo2, Spo13, and Spo15, were unable to localize to the SPB in the cam1 mutant although five core SPB components that were tested were present. Recruitment of Spo2 and Spo13 is known to require the presence of Spo15 in the SPB. Notably, Spo15 was unstable in the cam1 mutant, and as a result, SPB localization of Spo2 and Spo13 was lost. Overexpression of Spo15 partially alleviated the sporulation defect in the cam1 mutant. These results indicate that calmodulin plays an essential role in forespore membrane formation by stably maintaining Spo15, and thus Spo2 and Spo13, at the SPB in meiotic cells.

Schizosaccharomyces pombe cell division cycle under limited glucose requires Ssp1 kinase, the putative CaMKK, and Sds23, a PP2A-related phosphatase inhibitor

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK) is required for diverse cellular functions, and similar kinases exist in fungi. Although mammalian CaMK kinase (CaMKK) activates CaMK and also evolutionarily-conserved AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), CaMKK is yet to be established in yeast. We here report that the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe Ssp1 kinase, which controls G2/M transition and response to stress, is the putative CaMKK. Ssp1 has a CaM binding domain (CBD) and associates with 14-3-3 proteins as mammalian CaMKK does. Temperature-sensitive ssp1 mutants isolated are defective in the tolerance to limited glucose, and this tolerance requires the conserved stretch present between the kinase domain and CBD. Sds23, multi-copy suppressor for mutants defective in type 1 phosphatase and APC/cyclosome, also suppresses the ssp1 phenotype, and is required for the tolerance to limited glucose. We demonstrate that Sds23 binds to type 2A protein phosphatases (PP2A) and PP2A-related phosphatase Ppe1, and that Sds23 inhibits Ppe1 phosphatase activity. Ssp1 and Ppe1 thus seem to antagonize in utilizing limited glucose. We also show that Ppk9 and Ssp2 are the catalytic subunits of AMPK and AMPK-related kinases, respectively, which bind to common beta-(Amk2) and gamma-(Cbs2) subunits.

Stepwise chromatin remodelling by a cascade of transcription initiation of non-coding RNAs

Recent transcriptome analyses using high-density tiling arrays and data from large-scale analyses of full-length complementary DNA libraries by the FANTOM3 consortium demonstrate that many transcripts are non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). These transcriptome analyses indicate that many of the non-coding regions, previously thought to be functionally inert, are actually transcriptionally active regions with various features. Furthermore, most relatively large ( approximately several kilobases) polyadenylated messenger RNA transcripts are transcribed from regions harbouring little coding potential. However, the function of such ncRNAs is mostly unknown and has been a matter of debate. Here we show that RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcription of ncRNAs is required for chromatin remodelling at the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe fbp1(+) locus during transcriptional activation. The chromatin at fbp1(+) is progressively converted to an open configuration, as several species of ncRNAs are transcribed through fbp1(+). This is coupled with the translocation of RNAPII through the region upstream of the eventual fbp1(+) transcriptional start site. Insertion of a transcription terminator into this upstream region abolishes both the cascade of transcription of ncRNAs and the progressive chromatin alteration. Our results demonstrate that transcription through the promoter region is required to make DNA sequences accessible to transcriptional activators and to RNAPII.

Distinct chromatin modulators regulate the formation of accessible and repressive chromatin at the fission yeast recombination hotspot ade6-M26

Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling factors (ADCRs) regulate transcription and recombination via alteration of local chromatin configuration. The ade6-M26 allele of Schizosaccharomyces pombe creates a meiotic recombination hotspot that requires a cAMP-responsive element (CRE)-like sequence M26, the Atf1/Pcr1 heterodimeric ATF/CREB transcription factor, the Gcn5 HAT, and the Snf22 SWI2/SNF2 family ADCR. Chromatin alteration occurs meiotically around M26, leading to the activation of meiotic recombination. We newly report the roles of other chromatin remodeling factors that function positively and negatively in chromatin alteration at M26: two CHD-1 family ADCRs (Hrp1 and Hrp3), a Spt-Ada-Gcn5 acetyltransferase component (Ada2), and a member of Moz-Ybf2/Sas3-Sas2-Tip60 family (Mst2). Ada2, Mst2, and Hrp3 are required for the full activation of chromatin changes around M26 and meiotic recombination. Acetylation of histone H3 around M26 is remarkably reduced in gcn5Delta, ada2Delta and snf22Delta, suggesting cooperative functions of these HAT complexes and Snf22. Conversely, Hrp1, another CHD-1 family ADCR, maintains repressive chromatin configuration at ade6-M26. Interestingly, transcriptional initiation site is shifted to a site around M26 from the original initiation sites, in couple with the histone acetylation and meiotic chromatin alteration induced around 3' region of M26, suggesting a collaboration between these chromatin modulators and the transcriptional machinery to form accessible chromatin. These HATs and ADCRs are also required for the regulation of transcription and chromatin structure around M26 in response to osmotic stress. Thus, we propose that multiple chromatin modulators regulate chromatin structure reversibly and participate in the regulation of both meiotic recombination and stress-induced transcription around CRE-like sequences.

Calmodulin-binding proteins in the model organism Dictyostelium: a complete & critical review

Calmodulin is an essential protein in the model organism Dictyostelium discoideum. As in other organisms, this small, calcium-regulated protein mediates a diversity of cellular events including chemotaxis, spore germination, and fertilization. Calmodulin works in a calcium-dependent or -independent manner by binding to and regulating the activity of target proteins called calmodulin-binding proteins. Profiling suggests that Dictyostelium has 60 or more calmodulin-binding proteins with specific subcellular localizations. In spite of the central importance of calmodulin, the study of these target proteins is still in its infancy. Here we critically review the history and state of the art of research into all of the identified and presumptive calmodulin-binding proteins of Dictyostelium detailing what is known about each one with suggestions for future research. Two individual calmodulin-binding proteins, the classic enzyme calcineurin A (CNA; protein phosphatase 2B) and the nuclear protein nucleomorphin (NumA), which is a regulator of nuclear number, have been particularly well studied. Research on the role of calmodulin in the function and regulation of the various myosins of Dictyostelium, especially during motility and chemotaxis, suggests that this is an area in which future active study would be particularly valuable. A general, hypothetical model for the role of calmodulin in myosin regulation is proposed.

Reciprocal nuclear shuttling of two antagonizing Zn finger proteins modulates Tup family corepressor function to repress chromatin remodeling

The Schizosaccharomyces pombe global corepressors Tup11 and Tup12, which are orthologs of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Tup1, are involved in glucose-dependent transcriptional repression and chromatin alteration of the fbp1+ gene. The fbp1+ promoter contains two regulatory elements, UAS1 and UAS2, one of which (UAS2) serves as a binding site for two antagonizing C2H2 Zn finger transcription factors, the Rst2 activator and the Scr1 repressor. In this study, we analyzed the role of Tup proteins and Scr1 in chromatin remodeling at fbp1+ during glucose repression. We found that Scr1, cooperating with Tup11 and Tup12, functions to maintain the chromatin of the fbp1+ promoter in a transcriptionally inactive state under glucose-rich conditions. Consistent with this notion, Scr1 is quickly exported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm at the initial stage of derepression, immediately after glucose starvation, at which time Rst2 is known to be imported into the nucleus. In addition, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed a switching of Scr1 to Rst2 bound at UAS2 during glucose derepression. On the other hand, Tup11 and Tup12 persist in the nucleus and bind to the fbp1+ promoter under both derepressed and repressed conditions. These observations suggest that Tup1-like proteins recruited to the fbp1+ promoter are controlled by either of two antagonizing C2H2 Zn finger proteins. We propose that the actions of Tup11 and Tup12 are regulated by reciprocal nuclear shuttling of the two antagonizing Zn finger proteins in response to the extracellular glucose concentration. This notion provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of the Tup family corepressors in gene regulation.

Calmodulin concentrates at the apex of growing hyphae and localizes to the Spitzenkörper in Aspergillus nidulans

The calmodulin (CaM) localization pattern in the growing hyphal tip of Aspergillus nidulans was studied with the functional GFP::CaM fusion protein. A faint tip-high gradient of CaM was found in the growing hyphal tip, with CaM highly localized in the region corresponding to the Spitzenkörper forming a bright granule. The position of highly concentrated CaM in the extreme apex seemed to determine the orientation of the hypha. The normal pattern of CaM localization was also shown to be dependent on the integrated actin cytoskeleton. When the growth of the hyphal tip ceased, CaM failed to localize in the bright granule and was evenly distributed in the hyphal tip. These findings suggest that CaM may play an important role in establishing and maintaining apical organization, morphogenesis, and growth in Aspergillus nidulans.

The cation-transporting P-type ATPase Cta4 is required for assembly of the forespore membrane in fission yeast

A novel sporulation-deficient mutant, sev4-L5, was isolated in a genetic screen of a collection of temperature-sensitive mutants of Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The wild-type sev4 gene was identified as cta4+, which encodes a putative cation-transporting P-type ATPase. The sev4-L5 allele harbored a single missense mutation that caused replacement of Gly615 with a glutamate at the putative ATP-binding site. Similar to cta4-null mutants, sev4-L5 exhibited defects in growth at high and low temperatures, and sensitivity to high and extremely low concentrations of Ca2+. The cta4+ mRNA level was considerably enhanced during meiosis. When sev4-L5 cells were incubated in sporulation medium at the permissive temperature, meiotic nuclear divisions proceeded with normal kinetics, but spores were not formed. Structural alteration of the spindle pole body, which is prerequisite to construction of the forespore membrane in wild type, was incomplete. Consequently, formation of the forespore membrane was severely impaired. These observations show that perturbation of Ca2+ homeostasis by mutation of cta4/sev4 blocks sporulation mainly by interfering with forespore membrane assembly.

Localization of Type I Myosin and F-actin to the Leading Edge Region of the Forespore Membrane in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Myo1, a heavy chain of type I myosin of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, is essential for sporulation. Here we have analyzed the expression, localization and cellular function of the type I myosin light chain calmodulin, Cam2, encoded by cam2(+). Transcription of cam2(+) was constitutive and markedly enhanced in meiosis. The cam2 null mutant was viable and completed sporulation normally at 28 degrees C, but formed four-spored asci poorly at 34 degrees C. In those sporulation-defective cells, the forespore membrane was formed abnormally. A Cam2-GFP fusion protein accumulated at the cell poles in interphase cells and at the medial septation site in postmitotic cells, colocalizing with Myo1 and F-actin patches. During the mating process, a single Cam2-GFP dot was detected at the tip of the mating projection. During meiosis-I, the Cam2-GFP dots dispersed into the cell periphery and the cytoplasm. At metaphase-II, intense Cam2-GFP signals appeared near Meu14 rings which were formed at the leading edge of expanding forespore membranes. This localization of Cam2 was dependent upon Myo1; and sporulation defect of cam2Delta at 34 degrees C was alleviated by overexpressing Myo1DeltaIQ. These results suggest a close relationship between Cam2 and Myo1. In addition, both F-actin and Myo1 localized with Cam2 in the leading edge region. In summary, type I myosin and F-actin accumulate at the leading edge area of the forespore membrane and may play a pivotal role in its assembly.

Calcium- and calcineurin-independent roles for calmodulin in Cryptococcus neoformans morphogenesis and high-temperature growth

The function of calcium as a signaling molecule is conserved in eukaryotes from fungi to humans. Previous studies have identified the calcium-activated phosphatase calcineurin as a critical factor in governing growth of the human pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans at mammalian body temperature. Here, we employed insertional mutagenesis to identify new genes required for growth at 37 degrees C. One insertion mutant, cam1-ts, that displayed a growth defect at 37 degrees C and hypersensitivity to the calcineurin inhibitor FK506 at 25 degrees C was isolated. Both phenotypes were linked to the dominant marker in genetic crosses, and molecular analysis revealed that the insertion occurred in the 3' untranslated region of the gene encoding the calcineurin activator calmodulin (CAM1) and impairs growth at 37 degrees C by significantly reducing calmodulin mRNA abundance. The CAM1 gene was demonstrated to be essential using genetic analysis of a CAM1/cam1Delta diploid strain. In the absence of calcineurin function, the cam1-ts mutant displayed a severe morphological defect with impaired bud formation. Expression of a calmodulin-independent calcineurin mutant did not suppress the growth defect of the cam1-ts mutant at 37 degrees C, indicating that calmodulin promotes growth at high temperature via calcineurin-dependent and -independent pathways. In addition, a Ca2+-binding-defective allele of CAM1 complemented the 37 degrees C growth defect, FK506 hypersensitivity, and morphogenesis defect of the cam1-ts mutant. Our findings reveal that calmodulin performs Ca2+- and calcineurin-independent and -dependent roles in controlling C. neoformans morphogenesis and high-temperature growth.

Calmodulin's flexibility allows for promiscuity in its interactions with target proteins and peptides

The small bilobal calcium regulatory protein calmodulin (CaM) activates numerous target enzymes in response to transient changes in intracellular calcium concentrations. Binding of calcium to the two helix-loop-helix calcium-binding motifs in each of the globular domains induces conformational changes that expose a methionine-rich hydrophobic patch on the surface of each domain of the protein, which it uses to bind to peptide sequences in its target enzymes. Although these CaM-binding domains typically have little sequence identity, the positions of several bulky hydrophobic residues are often conserved, allowing for classification of CaM-binding domains into recognition motifs, such as the 1-14 and 1-10 motifs. For calcium-independent binding of CaM, a third motif known as the IQ motif is also common. Many CaM-peptide complexes have globular conformations, where CaM's central linker connecting the two domains unwinds, allowing the protein to wrap around a single predominantly alpha-helical target peptide sequence. However, novel structures have recently been reported where the conformation of CaM is highly dissimilar to these globular complexes, in some instances with less than a full compliment of bound calcium ions, as well as novel stoichiometries. Furthermore, many divergent CaM isoforms from yeast and plant species have been discovered with unique calcium-binding and enzymatic activation characteristics compared to the single CaM isoform found in mammals.

Fission yeast Tup1-like repressors repress chromatin remodeling at the fbp1+ promoter and the ade6-M26 recombination hotspot

Chromatin remodeling plays crucial roles in the regulation of gene expression and recombination. Transcription of the fission yeast fbp1(+) gene and recombination at the meiotic recombination hotspot ade6-M26 (M26) are both regulated by cAMP responsive element (CRE)-like sequences and the CREB/ATF-type transcription factor Atf1*Pcr1. The Tup11 and Tup12 proteins, the fission yeast counterparts of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Tup1 corepressor, are involved in glucose repression of the fbp1(+) transcription. We have analyzed roles of the Tup1-like corepressors in chromatin regulation around the fbp1(+) promoter and the M26 hotspot. We found that the chromatin structure around two regulatory elements for fbp1(+) was remodeled under derepressed conditions in concert with the robust activation of fbp1(+) transcription. Strains with tup11delta tup12delta double deletions grown in repressed conditions exhibited the chromatin state associated with wild-type cells grown in derepressed conditions. Interestingly, deletion of rst2(+), encoding a transcription factor controlled by the cAMP-dependent kinase, alleviated the tup11delta tup12delta defects in chromatin regulation but not in transcription repression. The chromatin at the M26 site in mitotic cultures of a tup11delta tup12delta mutant resembled that of wild-type meiotic cells. These observations suggest that these fission yeast Tup1-like corepressors repress chromatin remodeling at CRE-related sequences and that Rst2 antagonizes this function.

Coping with stress: calmodulin and calcineurin in model and pathogenic fungi

Calcium signaling via calmodulin and calcineurin is critical for the regulation of stress responses in fungi. The functions of calmodulin and calcineurin are largely conserved among pathogenic fungi and model fungi, however, the mechanisms of action have diverged. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an excellent model for understanding the framework of calcium-mediated signal transduction pathways, and considerable progress has been made in understanding the details of how Ca(2+)-calmodulin and calcineurin control adaptation to environmental stress. Studies using the divergent human pathogenic fungi Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans reveal that calcineurin is critical for virulence, yet it acts via distinct mechanisms in each fungus. These differences in function may reflect the requirements of each pathogen to survive inside the host, and illustrate that studies must be conducted in each organism in order to elucidate the details of the molecular mechanisms of calmodulin and calcineurin-mediated signaling pathways.

Functional analysis of the single calmodulin gene in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans by RNA interference and 4-D microscopy

Calmodulin (CaM), a small calcium-binding protein, is the key mediator of numerous calcium-induced changes in cellular activity. Its ligands include enzymes, cytoskeletal proteins and ion channels, identified in large part by biochemical and cell biological approaches. Thus far it has been difficult to assess the function of CaM genetically, because of the maternal supply in Drosophila and the presence of at least three nonallelic genes in vertebrates. Here we use the unique possibility offered by the C. elegans model system to inactivate the single CaM gene (cmd-1) through RNA interference (RNAi). We show that the RNAi microinjection approach results in a severe embryonic lethal phenotype. Embryos show disturbed morphogenesis, aberrant cell migration patterns, a striking hyperproliferation of cells and multiple defects in apoptosis. Finally, we show that RNAi delivery by the feeding protocol does not allow the efficient silencing of the CaM gene obtained by microinjection. General differences between the two delivery methods are discussed.

Cmk2, a novel serine/threonine kinase in fission yeast

The cmk2 gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe encodes a 504 amino acid protein kinase with sequence homology with the calmodulin-dependent protein kinase family. The cmk2(+) gene is not essential for cell viability but overexpression of cmk2(+) blocks the cell cycle at G2 phase and this inhibition is cdc2-dependent. The Cmk2 is a cytoplasmic protein expressed in a cell cycle-dependent manner, peaking at the G1/S boundary. Overexpression of Cmk2 suppresses fission yeast DNA replication checkpoint defects but not DNA damage checkpoint defects, suggesting that the G2 cell cycle arrest mediated by high levels of Cmk2 provides sufficient time to correct DNA replication alterations.

Calcium binding is required for calmodulin function in Aspergillus nidulans

To explore the structural basis for the essential role of calmodulin (CaM) in Aspergillus nidulans, we have compared the biochemical and in vivo properties of A. nidulans CaM (AnCaM) with those of heterologous CaMs. Neither Saccharomyces cerevisiae CaM (ScCaM) nor a Ca2+ binding mutant of A. nidulans CaM (1234) interacts appreciably with A. nidulans CaM binding proteins by an overlay assay or activates two essential CaMKs, CMKA and CMKB. In contrast, although vertebrate CaM (VCaM) binds a spectrum of proteins similar to that for AnCaM, it is unable to fully activate CMKA and CMKB, displaying a higher K(CaM) and reduced Vmax for both enzymes. In correlation with the biochemical analysis, neither ScCaM nor 1234 can support A. nidulans growth in the absence of the endogenous protein, whereas VCaM only partially complements the absence of wild-type CaM. Analysis of VCaM and AnCaM chimeras demonstrates that amino acid variations in both N- and C-terminal domains contribute to the inability of VCaM to activate CMKB, but differences in the N terminus are largely responsible for the reduced activity towards CMKA. In vivo, the chimeric molecules support growth equivalently, but only to levels intermediate between those of VCaM and AnCaM, suggesting that the reduced ability to activate the CaMKs is not solely responsible for the inability of VCaM to complement the absence of the wild-type protein. Thus, not only is Ca2+ binding required for CaM function in A. nidulans, but the essential in vivo functions of A. nidulans CaM are uniquely sensitive to the subtle amino acid variations present in vertebrate CaM.

Genetic analysis of calmodulin and its targets in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Calmodulin, a small, ubiquitous Ca2+-binding protein, regulates a wide variety of proteins and processes in all eukaryotes. CMD1, the single gene encoding calmodulin in S. cerevisiae, is essential, and this review discusses studies that identified many of calmodulin's physiological targets and their functions in yeast cells. Calmodulin performs essential roles in mitosis, through its regulation of Nuf1p/Spc110p, a component of the spindle pole body, and in bud growth, by binding Myo2p, an unconventional class V myosin required for polarized secretion. Surprisingly, mutant calmodulins that fail to bind Ca2+ can perform these essential functions. Calmodulin is also required for endocytosis in yeast and participates in Ca2+-dependent, stress-activated signaling pathways through its regulation of a protein phosphatase, calcineurin, and the protein kinases, Cmk1p and Cmk2p. Thus, calmodulin performs important physiological functions in yeast cells in both its Ca2+-bound and Ca2+-free form.

Calmodulin protects cells from death under normal growth conditions and mitogenic starvation but plays a mediating role in cell death upon B-cell receptor stimulation

Calmodulin (CaM) is the main intracellular Ca2+ sensor protein responsible for mediating Ca2+ triggered processes. Chicken DT40 lymphoma B cells express CaM from the two genes, CaMI and CaMII. Here we report the phenotypes of DT40 cells with the CaMII gene knocked out. The disruption of the CaMII gene causes the intracellular CaM level to decrease by 60%. CaMII-/- cells grow more slowly and die more frequently as compared to wild type (wt) cells but do not exhibit significant differences in their cell cycle profile. Both phenotypes are more pronounced at reduced serum concentrations. Upon stimulation of the B-cell receptor (BCR), the resting Ca2+ levels remain elevated after the initial transient in CaMII-/- cells. Despite higher Ca2+ resting levels, the CaMII-/- cells are partially protected from BCR induced apoptosis indicating that CaM plays a dual role in apoptotic processes.

Functional analysis of the C-terminal cytoplasmic region of the M-factor receptor in fission yeast

BACKGROUND

Yeast mating-pheromone receptors facilitate the study of G protein-coupled signal transduction. To date, molecular dissection of the budding yeast alpha-factor receptor has been done extensively, but little analysis has been performed with pheromone receptors of fission yeast, another genetically tractable yeast species.

RESULTS

We analysed the fission yeast M-factor receptor Map3p. Truncation of the C-terminal 54 amino acids made Map3p dominant-negative over the wild-type. This form, called Map3-dn9p, was competent in the induction of pheromone-dependent gene expression, although it could not direct proper conjugation. Map3-dn9p failed both to provoke the orientated projection of conjugation tubes and to induce adaptation to the pheromone signal associated with endocytosis of the receptor. Deletion and substitution analyses suggested that the integrity of the C-terminal region, rather than a specific subgroup of amino acid residues therein, was vital for the respective Map3p activities. Ubiquitination of the C-terminus was not absolutely essential for Map3p function.

CONCLUSIONS

The C-terminal region of Map3p is dispensable for the pheromone signalling per se, but is pivotal for adaptation and pheromone-induced conjugation tube formation, as is true with the budding yeast alpha-factor receptor. However, the mechanisms which induce adaptation appear to differ between fission and budding yeast concerning the necessity of ubiquitination.

Androcam, a Drosophila calmodulin-related protein, is expressed specifically in the testis and decorates loop kl-3 of the Y chromosome

The Drosophila genome encodes a protein that is 68% identical to Drosophila calmodulin (Cam). We show here that this Cam-related gene is specifically expressed in the germ-line of the testis, leading to the name Androcam (Acam). Early in spermatogenesis Acam accumulates on one of the chromatin loops of the Y chromosome, kl-3. This association with kl-3 may indicate an RNA processing-related role for Acam and/or could reflect an unusual storage/assembly function hypothesized for the Y loops. After meiosis Acam is detectable in developing sperm tail cytoplasm, where at least some of the protein is not tightly associated with tubulin. Late in spermiogenesis, some Acam staining overlaps the periphery of the investment cones, actin-containing structures hypothesized to support the motor function for cytoplasmic stripping of the tail. Acam cannot be detected in mature sperm by immunolocalization, but immunoblotting established that Acam is present in sperm stored in mated females, suggesting epitope masking during final maturation. Proteins more related to Acam than Cam are present in the testes of other Drosophila species and a mammalian species, the mouse.

Cloning of a calmodulin kinase I homologue from Schizosaccharomyces pombe

By using (35)S-labeled calmodulin (CaM), we have isolated a full-length cDNA clone expressing the Schizosaccharomyces pombe homologue of calmodulin kinase I (CaMK-I), a gene we have named cmk1. It has been previously been shown in mammals that CaMK-I is a member of a CaM-dependent protein kinase cascade that ultimately regulates transcription factors such as ATF and cAMP-response element-binding protein. The cmk1 cDNA encodes a 335-amino acid protein with significant homology to mammalian CaMK-I, including a conserved sequence for phosphorylation by CaM kinase kinase. We have expressed the cmk1 cDNA in bacteria and yeast, and we have shown that it is a CaM-dependent protein kinase. A truncation mutant of cmk1 (d320) failed to bind CaM, indicating that the CaM-binding domain is at the extreme C terminus of the protein. The mRNA for cmk1 is expressed in a cell cycle-dependent manner, peaking at or near the G(1)/S boundary. Overexpression of wild-type cmk1 in S. pombe caused no apparent effects on growth and division. However, mutation of a predicted regulatory site (Thr-192) to aspartic acid resulted in hyperactivation of CMK1 activity in the presence of CaM and causes cell cycle arrest in vivo. Arrest is also accompanied by morphological defects. These results suggest the presence of a CaM-dependent protein kinase cascade in yeast and indicate that cmk1 may be important in cell cycle progression, a process known to be dependent on CaM in eukaryotic cells.

Selenoprotein W accumulates primarily in primate skeletal muscle, heart, brain and tongue

The human selenoprotein W coding region with the selenocysteine codon (TGA) changed to a cysteine codon (TGT) was fused to six histidine codons (at its 3' end), cloned into a prokaryotic expression vector (pTrc99a), and the corresponding mutated selenoprotein W was expressed in bacteria. The protein was purified by Ni-NTA agarose column and reverse phase HPLC. Polyclonal antibodies raised against this protein were used in Western blots to determine tissue distribution of selenoprotein W from rhesus monkeys fed a commercial chow. Selenoprotein W was found in several tissues with highest amounts in skeletal muscle and heart (muscle 6 fold greater than liver) and lowest levels in liver, but selenium concentrations were highest in kidneys (10 fold greater than muscle) and lowest in skeletal muscle. Northern blots using a human selenoprotein W cDNA probe indicated that mRNA levels were highest in monkey skeletal muscle and heart (2-2.5 fold greater than in liver), which is similar to the pattern found with a human multiple tissue Northern blot. However, as in the monkey, selenium concentrations were highest in human kidney and lowest in skeletal muscle and heart. Thus, selenoprotein W protein levels correlated with selenoprotein W mRNA levels but not with tissue selenium concentrations.

Cloning of aSchizosaccharomyces pombehomologue of elongation factor 1 alpha by two-hybrid selection of calmodulin-binding proteins

This study reports the cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1alpha) from the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The cDNA was cloned from an Schizosaccharomyces pombe expression library by a two-hybrid selection for clones encoding calmodulin (CaM)-binding proteins. The predicted protein is highly homologous to mammalian EF1alpha, indicating a strong tendency towards conservation of the primary amino acid sequence. The protein was expressed as a glutathione S-transferase fusion in both bacteria and in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The bacterial protein was shown by solution assay to compete with CaM kinase II for CaM. The CaM binding domain was localized to the C-terminus of the protein by this method. Expression of full-length EF1alpha in vivo caused an increase in cell cycle length and a decreased rate of growth as evidenced by a lack of elongated cells in slowly dividing cultures. This effect appears to involve CaM binding because a truncation mutant version of EF1alpha lacking the CaM binding domain did not cause cell cycle delay.Key words: calmodulin, two-hybrid selection, calmodulin-binding protein, yeast, cell proliferation.

Immunocytochemical localization of a calmodulinlike protein in Bacillus subtilis cells

To determine possible functions of the calmodulinlike protein of Bacillus subtilis, the time course of its expression during sporulation and its cellular localization were studied. The protein was expressed in a constitutive manner from the end of logarithmic growth through 8 h of sporulation as determined by antibody cross-reactivity immunoblots and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). In partially purified extracts, the immunopositive protein comigrated upon electrophoresis with a protein which selectively bound [(45)Ca]CaCl(2), ruthenium red, and Stains-all. Previous studies showed increased extractability of the calmodulinlike protein from B. subtilis cells when urea and 2-mercaptoethanol were used in breakage buffers, implying that the protein might be partially associated with the membrane fraction. This was confirmed by demonstrating that isolated membrane vesicles of B. subtilis also gave positive immunological tests with Western blotting and ELISAs. To more precisely locate the protein in cells, thin sections of late-log-phase cells, sporulating cells, and free spores were reacted first with bovine brain anticalmodulin specific antibodies and then with gold-conjugated secondary antibodies; the thin sections were examined by transmission electron microscopy. The calmodulinlike protein was found almost exclusively associated with the cell envelope of these fixed, sectioned cells. A possible function of the calmodulinlike protein in sensing calcium ions or regulating calcium ion transport is suggested.

Apocalmodulin

Intracellular Ca2+ is normally maintained at submicromolar levels but increases during many forms of cellular stimulation. This increased Ca2+ binds to receptor proteins such as calmodulin (CaM) and alters the cell's metabolism and physiology. Calcium-CaM binds to target proteins and alters their function in such a way as to transduce the Ca2+ signal. Calcium-free or apocalmodulin (ApoCaM) binds to other proteins and has other specific effects. Apocalmodulin has roles in the cell that apparently do not require the ability to bind Ca2+ at all, and these roles appear to be essential for life. Apocalmodulin differs from Ca2+-CaM in its tertiary structure. It binds target proteins differently, utilizing different binding motifs such as the IQ motif and noncontiguous binding sites. Other kinds of binding potentially await discovery. The ApoCaM-binding proteins are a diverse group of at least 15 proteins including enzymes, actin-binding proteins, as well as cytoskeletal and other membrane proteins, including receptors and ion channels. Much of the cellular CaM is bound in a Ca2+-independent manner to membrane structures within the cell, and the proportion bound changes with cell growth and density, suggesting it may be a storage form. Apocalmodulin remains tightly bound to other proteins as subunits and probably hastens the response of these proteins to Ca2+. The overall picture that emerges is that CaM cycles between its Ca2+-bound and Ca2+-free states and in each state binds to different proteins and performs essential functions. Although much of the research focus has been on the roles of Ca2+-CaM, the roles of ApoCaM are equally vital but less well understood.

Molecular genetic analysis of U2AF59 in Schizosaccharomyces pombe: differential sensitivity of introns to mutational inactivation

The large subunit of the mammalian U2AF heterodimer (U2AF65) is essential for splicing in vitro. To expand our understanding of how this protein functions in vivo, we have created a null allele of the gene encoding the Schizosaccharomyces pombe ortholog, U2AF59, and employed it in a variety of genetic complementation assays. First, analysis of an extensive series of double amino acid substitutions indicates that this splicing factor is surprisingly refractory to mutations. Second, despite extensive structural conservation, we find that metazoan large subunit orthologs cannot substitute in vivo for fission yeast U2AF59. Third, because the activity of U2AF65 in vitro involves binding to the 3' polypyrimidine tract, we examined the splicing of introns containing or lacking this feature in a U2AF59 mutant described here as well as a previously isolated temperature-sensitive mutant (Potashkin et al., 1993, Science 262:573-575). Our data indicate that all four introns tested, including two that lack extensive runs of pyrimidines between the branchpoint and 3' splice site, show splicing defects upon shifting to the nonpermissive condition. In all cases, splicing is blocked prior to the first transesterification reaction in the mutants, consistent with the role inferred for human U2AF65 based on in vitro experiments.

cut11(+): A gene required for cell cycle-dependent spindle pole body anchoring in the nuclear envelope and bipolar spindle formation in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The "cut" mutants of Schizosaccharomyces pombe are defective in spindle formation and/or chromosome segregation, but they proceed through the cell cycle, resulting in lethality. Analysis of temperature-sensitive alleles of cut11(+) suggests that this gene is required for the formation of a functional bipolar spindle. Defective spindle structure was revealed with fluorescent probes for tubulin and DNA. Three-dimensional reconstruction of mutant spindles by serial sectioning and electron microscopy showed that the spindle pole bodies (SPBs) either failed to complete normal duplication or were free floating in the nucleoplasm. Localization of Cut11p tagged with the green fluorescent protein showed punctate nuclear envelope staining throughout the cell cycle and SPBs staining from early prophase to mid anaphase. This SPB localization correlates with the time in the cell cycle when SPBs are inserted into the nuclear envelope. Immunoelectron microscopy confirmed the localization of Cut11p to mitotic SPBs and nuclear pore complexes. Cloning and sequencing showed that cut11(+) encodes a novel protein with seven putative membrane-spanning domains and homology to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene NDC1. These data suggest that Cut11p associates with nuclear pore complexes and mitotic SPBs as an anchor in the nuclear envelope; this role is essential for mitosis.

Identification of functional connections between calmodulin and the yeast actin cytoskeleton

One of four intragenic complementing groups of temperature-sensitive yeast calmodulin mutations, cmd1A, results in a characteristic functional defect in actin organization. We report here that among the complementing mutations, a representative cmd1A mutation (cmd1-226: F92A) is synthetically lethal with a mutation in MYO2 that encodes a class V unconventional myosin with calmodulin-binding domains. Gel overlay assay shows that a mutant calmodulin with the F92A alteration has severely reduced binding affinity to a GST-Myo2p fusion protein. Random replacement and site-directed mutagenesis at position 92 of calmodulin indicate that hydrophobic and aromatic residues are allowed at this position, suggesting an importance of hydrophobic interaction between calmodulin and Myo2p. To analyze other components involved in actin organization through calmodulin, we isolated and characterized mutations that show synthetic lethal interaction with cmd1-226; these "cax" mutants fell into five complementation groups. Interestingly, all the mutations themselves affect actin organization. Unlike cax2, cax3, cax4, and cax5 mutations, cax1 shows allele-specific synthetic lethality with the cmd1A allele. CAX1 is identical to ANP1/GEM3/MCD2, which is involved in protein glycosylation. CAX4 is identical to the ORF YGR036c, and CAX5 is identical to MNN10/SLC2/BED1. We discuss possible roles for Cax proteins in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton.

Identification and characterization of the KlCMD1 gene encoding Kluyveromyces lactis calmodulin

The KlCMD1 gene was isolated from a Kluyveromyces lactis genomic library as a suppressor of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae temperature-sensitive mutant spc110-124, an allele previously shown to be suppressed by elevated copy number of the S. cerevisiae calmodulin gene CMD1. The KlCMD1 gene encodes a polypeptide which is 95% identical to S. cerevisiae calmodulin and 55% identical to calmodulin from Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Complementation of a S. cerevisiae cdm1 deletion mutant by KlCMD1 demonstrates that this gene encodes a functional calmodulin homologue. Multiple sequence alignment of calmodulins from yeast and multicellular eukaryotes shows that the K. lactis and S. cerevisiae calmodulins are considerably more closely related to each other than to other calmodulins, most of which have four functional Ca2+-binding EF hand domains. Thus like its S. cerevisiae counterpart Cmd1p, the KlCMD1 product is predicted to form only three Ca2+-binding motifs.

Role of Ca++/calmodulin binding proteins in Aspergillus nidulans cell cycle regulation

The goal of this review is to summarise the current knowledge concerning the targets of Ca++/calmodulin that are essential for cell cycle progression in lower eukaryotes. Emphasis is placed on Aspergillus nidulans since this is the only organism to date shown to posses essential Ca++ dependent calmodulin activated enzymes. Two such enzymes are the calmodulin activated protein phosphatase, calcineurin and the calmodulin dependent protein kinase. These proteins, each the product of a unique gene, are required for progression of quiescent spores into the proliferative cycle and also for execution of the nuclear division cycle in exponentially growing germlings.