Eisosomes are metabolically regulated storage compartments for APC-type nutrient transporters

ER-plasma membrane contact sites deliver ER lipids and proteins for rapid cell surface expansion

As a consequence of hypoosmotic shock, yeast cells swell rapidly and increase the surface area by ∼20% in 20 s. Approximately, 35% of this surface increase is mediated by the ER-plasma membrane contact sites, specifically the tricalbins, which are required for the delivery of both lipids and the GPI-anchored protein Crh2 from the cortical ER to the plasma membrane. Therefore, we propose a new function for the tricalbins: mediating the fusion of the ER to the plasma membrane at contact sites. This proposed fusion is triggered by calcium influx via the stretch-gated channel Cch1 and is supported by the anoctamin Ist2.

Nitrogen limitation-induced adaptive response and lipogenesis in the Antarctic yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa M94C9

The extremotolerant red yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa displays resilience to diverse environmental stressors, including cold, osmolarity, salinity, and oligotrophic conditions. Particularly, this yeast exhibits a remarkable ability to accumulate lipids and carotenoids in response to stress conditions. However, research into lipid biosynthesis has been hampered by limited genetic tools and a scarcity of studies on adaptive responses to nutrient stressors stimulating lipogenesis. This study investigated the impact of nitrogen stress on the adaptive response in Antarctic yeast R. mucilaginosa M94C9. Varied nitrogen availability reveals a nitrogen-dependent modulation of biomass and lipid droplet production, accompanied by significant ultrastructural changes to withstand nitrogen starvation. In silico analysis identifies open reading frames of genes encoding key lipogenesis enzymes, including acetyl-CoA carboxylase (Acc1), fatty acid synthases 1 and 2 (Fas1/Fas2), and acyl-CoA diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1 (Dga1). Further investigation into the expression profiles of RmACC1, RmFAS1, RmFAS2, and RmDGA1 genes under nitrogen stress revealed that the prolonged up-regulation of the RmDGA1 gene is a molecular indicator of lipogenesis. Subsequent fatty acid profiling unveiled an accumulation of oleic and palmitic acids under nitrogen limitation during the stationary phase. This investigation enhances our understanding of nitrogen stress adaptation and lipid biosynthesis, offering valuable insights into R. mucilaginosa M94C9 for potential industrial applications in the future.

Cryo-EM architecture of a near-native stretch-sensitive membrane microdomain

Biological membranes are partitioned into functional zones termed membrane microdomains, which contain specific lipids and proteins1-3. The composition and organization of membrane microdomains remain controversial because few techniques are available that allow the visualization of lipids in situ without disrupting their native behaviour3,4. The yeast eisosome, composed of the BAR-domain proteins Pil1 and Lsp1 (hereafter, Pil1/Lsp1), scaffolds a membrane compartment that senses and responds to mechanical stress by flattening and releasing sequestered factors5-9. Here we isolated near-native eisosomes as helical tubules made up of a lattice of Pil1/Lsp1 bound to plasma membrane lipids, and solved their structures by helical reconstruction. Our structures reveal a striking organization of membrane lipids, and, using in vitro reconstitutions and molecular dynamics simulations, we confirmed the positioning of individual PI(4,5)P2, phosphatidylserine and sterol molecules sequestered beneath the Pil1/Lsp1 coat. Three-dimensional variability analysis of the native-source eisosomes revealed a dynamic stretching of the Pil1/Lsp1 lattice that affects the sequestration of these lipids. Collectively, our results support a mechanism in which stretching of the Pil1/Lsp1 lattice liberates lipids that would otherwise be anchored by the Pil1/Lsp1 coat, and thus provide mechanistic insight into how eisosome BAR-domain proteins create a mechanosensitive membrane microdomain.

The joint action of yeast eisosomes and membraneless organelles in response to ethanol stress

Elevated ethanol concentrations in yeast affect the plasma membrane. The plasma membrane in yeast has many lipid-protein complexes, such as Pma1 (MCP), Can1 (MCC), and the eisosome complex. We investigated the response of eisosomes, MCPs, and membraneless structures to ethanol stress. We found a correlation between ethanol stress and proton flux with quick acidification of the medium. Moreover, ethanol stress influences the symporter expression in stressed cells. We also suggest that acute stress from ethanol leads to increases in eisosome size and SG number: we hypothesized that eisosomes may protect APC symporters and accumulate an mRNA decay protein in ethanol-stressed cells. Our findings suggest that the joint action of these factors may provide a protective effect on cells under ethanol stress.

Riboproteome remodeling during quiescence exit in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The quiescent state is the prevalent mode of cellular life in most cells. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a useful model for studying the molecular basis of the cell cycle, quiescence, and aging. Previous studies indicate that heterogeneous ribosomes show a specialized translation function to adjust the cellular proteome upon a specific stimulus. Using nano LC-MS/MS, we identified 69 of the 79 ribosomal proteins (RPs) that constitute the eukaryotic 80S ribosome during quiescence. Our study shows that the riboproteome is composed of 444 accessory proteins comprising cellular functions such as translation, protein folding, amino acid and glucose metabolism, cellular responses to oxidative stress, and protein degradation. Furthermore, the stoichiometry of both RPs and accessory proteins on ribosome particles is different depending on growth conditions and among monosome and polysome fractions. Deficiency of different RPs resulted in defects of translational capacity, suggesting that ribosome composition can result in changes in translational activity during quiescence.

Ferroptosis-protective membrane domains in quiescence

Quiescence is a common cellular state, required for stem cell maintenance and microorganismal survival under stress conditions or starvation. However, the mechanisms promoting quiescence maintenance remain poorly known. Plasma membrane components segregate into distinct microdomains, yet the role of this compartmentalization in quiescence remains unexplored. Here, we show that flavodoxin-like proteins (FLPs), ubiquinone reductases of the yeast eisosome membrane compartment, protect quiescent cells from lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis. Eisosomes and FLPs expand specifically in respiratory-active quiescent cells, and mutants lacking either show accelerated aging and defective quiescence maintenance and accumulate peroxidized phospholipids with monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). FLPs are essential for the extramitochondrial regeneration of the lipophilic antioxidant ubiquinol. FLPs, alongside the Gpx1/2/3 glutathione peroxidases, prevent iron-driven, PUFA-dependent ferroptotic cell death. Our work describes ferroptosis-protective mechanisms in yeast and introduces plasma membrane compartmentalization as an important factor in the long-term survival of quiescent cells.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate regulates iron transport via PI3P-binding CgPil1 protein

Iron homeostasis, which is pivotal to virulence, is regulated by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase CgVps34 in the human fungal pathogen Candida glabrata. Here, we identify CgPil1 as a phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI3P)-binding protein and unveil its role in retaining the high-affinity iron transporter CgFtr1 at the plasma membrane (PM), with PI3P negatively regulating CgFtr1-CgPil1 interaction. PI3P production and its PM localization are elevated in the high-iron environment. Surplus iron also leads to intracellular distribution and vacuolar delivery of CgPil1 and CgFtr1, respectively, from the PM. Loss of CgPil1 or CgFtr1 ubiquitination at lysines 391 and 401 results in CgFtr1 trafficking to the endoplasmic reticulum and a decrease in vacuole-localized CgFtr1. The E3-ubiquitin ligase CgRsp5 interacts with CgFtr1 and forms distinct CgRsp5-CgFtr1 puncta at the PM, with high iron resulting in their internalization. Finally, PI3P controls retrograde transport of many PM proteins. Altogether, we establish PI3P as a key regulator of membrane transport in C. glabrata.

The phosphatase Glc7 controls the eisosomal response to starvation via post-translational modification of Pil1

The yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) plasma membrane (PM) is organised into specific subdomains that regulate surface membrane proteins. Surface transporters actively uptake nutrients in particular regions of the PM where they are also susceptible to substrate-induced endocytosis. However, transporters also diffuse into distinct subdomains termed eisosomes, where they are protected from endocytosis. Although most nutrient transporter populations are downregulated in the vacuole following glucose starvation, a small pool is retained in eisosomes to provide efficient recovery from starvation. We find the core eisosome subunit Pil1, a Bin, Amphiphysin and Rvs (BAR) domain protein required for eisosome biogenesis, is phosphorylated primarily by the kinase Pkh2. In response to acute glucose starvation, Pil1 is rapidly dephosphorylated. Enzyme localisation and activity screens suggest that the phosphatase Glc7 is the primary enzyme responsible for Pil1 dephosphorylation. Defects in Pil1 phosphorylation, achieved by depletion of GLC7 or expression of phospho-ablative or phospho-mimetic mutants, correlate with reduced retention of transporters in eisosomes and inefficient starvation recovery. We propose that precise post-translational control of Pil1 modulates nutrient transporter retention within eisosomes, depending on extracellular nutrient levels, to maximise recovery following starvation.

The cytoplasmic tail of the mechanosensitive channel Pkd2 regulates its internalization and clustering in eisosomes

Polycystins are a family of conserved ion channels, mutations of which lead to one of the most common human genetic disorders, namely, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Schizosacchromyces pombe possesses an essential polycystin homologue, Pkd2, which directs Ca2+ influx on the cell surface in response to membrane tension, but its structure remains unsolved. Here, we analyzed the structure-function relationship of Pkd2 based on its AlphaFold-predicted structure. Pkd2 consists of three domains, the extracellular lipid-binding domain (LBD), nine-helix transmembrane domain (TMD) and C-terminal cytoplasmic domain (CCD). Our genetic and microscopy data revealed that LBD and TMD are essential for targeting Pkd2 to the plasma membrane from the endoplasmic reticulum. In comparison, CCD ensures the polarized distribution of Pkd2 by promoting its internalization and preventing its clustering in the eisosome, a caveolae-like membrane compartment. The domains of Pkd2 and their functions are conserved in other fission yeast species. We conclude that both extracellular and cytoplasmic domains of Pkd2 are crucial for its intracellular trafficking and function. We propose that mechanosensitive channels can be desensitized through either internalization or clustering in low-tension membrane compartments.

Genome-Wide Characterization of Light-Regulated Gene Expression in Botrytis cinerea Reveals Underlying Complex Photobiology

Botrytis cinerea is a necrotrophic fungus characterized mainly by its wide host range of infected plants. The deletion of the white-collar-1 gene (bcwcl1), which encodes for a blue-light receptor/transcription factor, causes a decrease in virulence, particularly when assays are conducted in the presence of light or photocycles. However, despite ample characterization, the extent of the light-modulated transcriptional responses regulated by BcWCL1 remains unknown. In this study, pathogen and pathogen:host RNA-seq analyses, conducted during non-infective in vitro plate growth and when infecting Arabidopsis thaliana leaves, respectively, informed on the global gene expression patterns after a 60 min light pulse on the wild-type B05.10 or ∆bcwcl1 B. cinerea strains. The results revealed a complex fungal photobiology, where the mutant did not react to the light pulse during its interaction with the plant. Indeed, when infecting Arabidopsis, no photoreceptor-encoding genes were upregulated upon the light pulse in the ∆bcwcl1 mutant. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in B. cinerea under non-infecting conditions were predominantly related to decreased energy production in response to the light pulse. In contrast, DEGs during infection significantly differ in the B05.10 strain and the ∆bcwcl1 mutant. Upon illumination at 24 h post-infection in planta, a decrease in the B. cinerea virulence-associated transcripts was observed. Accordingly, after a light pulse, biological functions associated with plant defense appear enriched among light-repressed genes in fungus-infected plants. Taken together, our results show the main transcriptomic differences between wild-type B. cinerea B05.10 and ∆bcwcl1 after a 60 min light pulse when growing saprophytically on a Petri dish and necrotrophically over A. thaliana.

Complementation of an Eisosomal Yeast pil1 Mutant and Characteristics of Eisosomal Distribution in Hyphae of Neurospora crassa Germinating from Two Different Spore Types

Eisosomes are plasma-membrane-associated protein complexes of fungi and algae involved in various cellular processes. The eisosome composition of the budding yeast is well described, but there is a limited number of studies only about eisosomes in filamentous fungi. In our study, we examined the Neurospora crassa LSP-1 protein (NcLSP1). By complementing a Saccharomyces cerevisiae Δpil1 mutant strain with nclsp1, we show the functional homology of the NcLSP1 to yeast PIL1 rather than to yeast LSP1 and hereby confirm that the NcLSP1 is an eisosomal core protein and suitable eisosomal marker. The subsequent cloning and expression of the nclsp1::trfp reporter gene construct in N. crassa allowed for a systematical investigation of the characteristics of eisosome formation and distribution in different developmental stages. In N. crassa, the hyphae germinating from sexual and asexual spores are morphologically identical and have been historically recognized as the same type of cells. Here, we demonstrate the structural differences on the cellular level between the hyphae germinating from sexual and asexual spores.

Eisosome disruption by noncoding RNA deletion increases protein secretion in yeast

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) regulate many aspects of gene expression. We investigated how ncRNAs affected protein secretion in yeast by large-scale screening for improved endogenous invertase secretion in ncRNA deletion strains with deletion of stable unannotated transcripts (SUTs), cryptic unstable transcripts (CUTs), tRNAs, or snRNAs. We identified three candidate ncRNAs, SUT418, SUT390, and SUT125, that improved endogenous invertase secretion when deleted. As SUTs can affect expression of nearby genes, we quantified adjacent gene transcription and found that the PIL1 gene was down-regulated in the SUT125 deletion strain. Pil1 is a core component of eisosomes, nonmobile invaginations found throughout the plasma membrane. PIL1 knockout alone, or in combination with eisosome components LSP1 or SUR7, resulted in further increased secretion of invertase. Secretion of heterologous GFP was also increased upon PIL1 deletion, but this increase was signal sequence dependent. To reveal the potential for increased biopharmaceutical production, secretion of monoclonal antibody Pexelizumab scFv peptide was increased by PIL1 deletion. Global analysis of secreted proteins revealed that approximately 20% of secreted proteins, especially serine-enriched secreted proteins, including invertase, were increased upon eisosome disruption. Eisosomes are enriched with APC transporters and sphingolipids, which are essential components for secretory vesicle formation and protein sorting. Sphingolipid and serine biosynthesis pathways were up-regulated upon PIL1 deletion. We propose that increased secretion of endogenous and heterologous proteins upon PIL1 deletion resulted from sphingolipid redistribution in the plasma membrane and up-regulated sphingolipid biosynthesis. Overall, a new pathway to improve protein secretion in yeast via eisosome disruption has been identified.

Eisosome protein Pil1 regulates mitochondrial morphology, mitophagy, and cell death in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mitochondrial morphology and dynamics maintain mitochondrial integrity by regulating its size, shape, distribution, and connectivity, thereby modulating various cellular processes. Several studies have established a functional link between mitochondrial dynamics, mitophagy, and cell death, but further investigation is needed to identify specific proteins involved in mitochondrial dynamics. Any alteration in the integrity of mitochondria has severe ramifications that include disorders like cancer and neurodegeneration. In this study, we used budding yeast as a model organism and found that Pil1, the major component of the eisosome complex, also localizes to the periphery of mitochondria. Interestingly, the absence of Pil1 causes the branched tubular morphology of mitochondria to be abnormally fused or aggregated, whereas its overexpression leads to mitochondrial fragmentation. Most importantly, pil1Δ cells are defective in mitophagy and bulk autophagy, resulting in elevated levels of reactive oxygen species and protein aggregates. In addition, we show that pil1Δ cells are more prone to cell death. Yeast two-hybrid analysis and co-immunoprecipitations show the interaction of Pil1 with two major proteins in mitochondrial fission, Fis1 and Dnm1. Additionally, our data suggest that the role of Pil1 in maintaining mitochondrial shape is dependent on Fis1 and Dnm1, but it functions independently in mitophagy and cell death pathways. Together, our data suggest that Pil1, an eisosome protein, is a novel regulator of mitochondrial morphology, mitophagy, and cell death.

Microdomain Protein Nce102 Is a Local Sensor of Plasma Membrane Sphingolipid Balance

Sphingolipids are essential building blocks of eukaryotic membranes and important signaling molecules that are regulated tightly in response to environmental and physiological inputs. While their biosynthetic pathway has been well-described, the mechanisms that facilitate the perception of sphingolipid levels at the plasma membrane remain to be uncovered. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Nce102 protein has been proposed to function as a sphingolipid sensor as it changes its plasma membrane distribution in response to sphingolipid biosynthesis inhibition. We show that Nce102 redistributes specifically in regions of increased sphingolipid demand, e.g., membranes of nascent buds. Furthermore, we report that the production of Nce102 increases following sphingolipid biosynthesis inhibition and that Nce102 is internalized when excess sphingolipid precursors are supplied. This finding suggests that the total amount of Nce102 in the plasma membrane is a measure of the current need for sphingolipids, whereas its local distribution marks sites of high sphingolipid demand. The physiological role of Nce102 in the regulation of sphingolipid synthesis is demonstrated by mass spectrometry analysis showing reduced levels of hydroxylated complex sphingolipids in response to heat stress in the nce102Δ deletion mutant. We also demonstrate that Nce102 behaves analogously in the widespread human fungal pathogen Candida albicans, suggesting a conserved principle of local sphingolipid control across species. IMPORTANCE Microorganisms are challenged constantly by their rapidly changing environment. To survive, they have developed diverse mechanisms to quickly perceive stressful situations and adapt to them appropriately. The primary site of both stress sensing and adaptation is the plasma membrane. We identified the yeast protein Nce102 as a marker of local sphingolipid levels and fluidity in the plasma membrane. Nce102 is an important structural and functional component of the membrane compartment Can1 (MCC), a plasma membrane microdomain stabilized by a large cytosolic hemitubular protein scaffold, the eisosome. The MCC/eisosomes are widely conserved among fungi and unicellular algae. To determine if Nce102 carries out similar functions in other organisms, we analyzed the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans and found that Nce102 responds to sphingolipid levels also in this organism, which has potential applications for the development of novel therapeutic approaches. The presented study represents a valuable model for how organisms regulate plasma membrane sphingolipids.

Substrate-induced differential degradation and partitioning of the two tryptophan permeases Tat1 and Tat2 into eisosomes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Tryptophan is a relatively rare amino acid whose influx is strictly controlled to meet cellular demands. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has two tryptophan permeases, namely Tat1 (low-affinity type) and Tat2 (high-affinity type). These permeases are differentially regulated through ubiquitination based on inducible conditions and dependence on arrestin-related trafficking adaptors, although the physiological significance of their degradation remain unclear. Here, we demonstrated that Tat2 was rapidly degraded in an Rsp5-Bul1-dependent manner upon the addition of tryptophan, phenylalanine, or tyrosine, whereas Tat1 was unaffected. The expression of the ubiquitination-deficient variant Tat2^5K>R led to a reduction in cell yield at 4 μg/mL tryptophan, suggesting the occurrence of an uncontrolled, excessive consumption of tryptophan at low tryptophan concentrations. Eisosomes are membrane furrows that are thought to be storage compartments for some nutrient permeases. Tryptophan addition caused rapid Tat2 dissociation from eisosomes, whereas Tat1 distribution was unaffected. The 5 K > R mutation had no marked effect on Tat2 dissociation, suggesting that dissociation is independent of ubiquitination. Interestingly, the D74R mutation, which was created within the N-terminal acidic patch, stabilized Tat2 while reducing the degree of partitioning into eisosomes. Moreover, the hyperactive I285V mutation in Tat2, which increases V_max/K_m for tryptophan import by 2-fold, reduced the degree of segregation into eisosomes. Our findings illustrate the coordinated activity of Tat1 and Tat2 in the regulation of tryptophan transport at various tryptophan concentrations and suggest the positive role of substrates in inducing a conformational transition in Tat2, resulting in its dissociation from eisosomes and subsequent ubiquitination-dependent degradation.

Erg25 Controls Host-Cholesterol Uptake Mediated by Aus1p-Associated Sterol-Rich Membrane Domains in Candida glabrata

The uptake of cholesterol from the host is closely linked to the proliferation of pathogenic fungi and protozoa during infection. For some pathogenic fungi, cholesterol uptake is an important strategy for decreasing susceptibility to antifungals that inhibit ergosterol biosynthesis. In this study, we show that Candida glabrata ERG25, which encodes an enzyme that demethylates 4,4-dimethylzymosterol, is required for cholesterol uptake from host serum. Based on the screening of C. glabrata conditional knockdown mutants for each gene involved in ergosterol biosynthesis, ERG25 knockdown was found to decrease lethality of infected mice. ERG25 knockdown impairs the plasma membrane localization of the sterol importer Aus1p, suggesting that the accumulated 4,4-dimethylzymosterol destabilizes the lipid domain with which Aus1p functionally associates. ERG25 knockdown further influences the structure of the membrane compartment of Can1p (MCC)/eisosomes (ergosterol-rich lipid domains), but not the localization of the membrane proteins Pma1p and Hxt1p, which localize to sterol-poor domains. In the sterol-rich lipid domain, Aus1p-contining domain was mostly independent of MCC/eisosomes, and the nature of these domains was also different: Ausp1-contining domain was a dynamic network-like domain, whereas the MCC/eisosomes was a static dot-like domain. However, deletion of MCC/eisosomes was observed to influence the localization of Aus1p after Aus1p was transported from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) through the Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane. These findings suggest that ERG25 plays a key role in stabilizing sterol-rich lipid domains, constituting a promising candidate target for antifungal therapy.

Mitochondrial energy metabolism regulates the nutrient import activity and endocytosis of APC transporters

Nutrient import by APC-type transporters is predicted to have a high energy demand because it depends on the plasma membrane proton gradient established by the ATP-driven proton pump Pma1. We show that Pma1 is indeed a major energy consumer and its activity is tightly linked to the cellular ATP levels. The low Pma1 activity caused by acute loss of respiration resulted in a dramatic drop in cytoplasmic pH, which triggered the downregulation of the major proton importers, the APC transporters. This regulatory system is likely the reason for the observed rapid endocytosis of APC transporters during many environmental stresses. Furthermore, we show the importance of respiration in providing ATP to maintain a strong proton gradient for efficient nutrient uptake.

The Bul1/2 Alpha-Arrestins Promote Ubiquitylation and Endocytosis of the Can1 Permease upon Cycloheximide-Induced TORC1-Hyperactivation

Selective endocytosis followed by degradation is a major mechanism for downregulating plasma membrane transporters in response to specific environmental cues. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, this endocytosis is promoted by ubiquitylation catalyzed by the Rsp5 ubiquitin-ligase, targeted to transporters via adaptors of the alpha-arrestin family. However, the molecular mechanisms of this targeting and their control according to conditions remain incompletely understood. In this work, we dissect the molecular mechanisms eliciting the endocytosis of Can1, the arginine permease, in response to cycloheximide-induced TORC1 hyperactivation. We show that cycloheximide promotes Rsp5-dependent Can1 ubiquitylation and endocytosis in a manner dependent on the Bul1/2 alpha-arrestins. Also crucial for this downregulation is a short acidic patch sequence in the N-terminus of Can1 likely acting as a binding site for Bul1/2. The previously reported inhibition by cycloheximide of transporter recycling, from the trans-Golgi network to the plasma membrane, seems to additionally contribute to efficient Can1 downregulation. Our results also indicate that, contrary to the previously described substrate-transport elicited Can1 endocytosis mediated by the Art1 alpha-arrestin, Bul1/2-mediated Can1 ubiquitylation occurs independently of the conformation of the transporter. This study provides further insights into how distinct alpha-arrestins control the ubiquitin-dependent downregulation of a specific amino acid transporter under different conditions.

Fur4-mediated uracil-scavenging to screen for surface protein regulators

Cell surface membrane proteins perform diverse and critical functions and are spatially and temporally regulated by membrane trafficking pathways. Although perturbations in these pathways underlie many pathologies, our understanding of these pathways at a mechanistic level remains incomplete. Using yeast as a model, we have developed an assay that reports on the surface activity of the uracil permease Fur4 in uracil auxotroph strains grown in the presence of limited uracil. This assay was used to screen a library of haploid deletion strains and identified mutants with both diminished and enhanced comparative growth in restricted uracil media. Factors identified, including various multisubunit complexes, were enriched for membrane trafficking and transcriptional functions, in addition to various uncharacterized genes. Bioinformatic analysis of expression profiles from many strains lacking transcription factors required for efficient uracil-scavenging validated particular hits from the screen, in addition to implicating essential genes not tested in the screen. Finally, we performed a secondary mating factor secretion screen to functionally categorize factors implicated in uracil-scavenging.

Endocytosis of nutrient transporters in fungi: The ART of connecting signaling and trafficking

Plasma membrane transporters play pivotal roles in the import of nutrients, including sugars, amino acids, nucleobases, carboxylic acids, and metal ions, that surround fungal cells. The selective removal of these transporters by endocytosis is one of the most important regulatory mechanisms that ensures a rapid adaptation of cells to the changing environment (e.g., nutrient fluctuations or different stresses). At the heart of this mechanism lies a network of proteins that includes the arrestin‐related trafficking adaptors (ARTs) which link the ubiquitin ligase Rsp5 to nutrient transporters and endocytic factors. Transporter conformational changes, as well as dynamic interactions between its cytosolic termini/loops and with lipids of the plasma membrane, are also critical during the endocytic process. Here, we review the current knowledge and recent findings on the molecular mechanisms involved in nutrient transporter endocytosis, both in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and in some species of the filamentous fungus Aspergillus. We elaborate on the physiological importance of tightly regulated endocytosis for cellular fitness under dynamic conditions found in nature and highlight how further understanding and engineering of this process is essential to maximize titer, rate and yield (TRY)-values of engineered cell factories in industrial biotechnological processes.

The cytoskeleton influences the formation and distribution of eisosomes in Neurospora crassa

Eisosomes are stable protein complexes at the plasma membrane, with punctate distributional patterns. Their formation and how their locations are determined remain unclear. The current study discovered that the formation and distribution of eisosomes are influenced by the cytoskeleton. Disassembly of either the F-actin or the microtubules leads to eisosome localization at hyphal tips of germinated macroconidia in Neurospora crassa, and treatment with a high concentration of the microtubule-inhibitor benomyl results in the production of filamentous eisosome patterns. The defect in the cytoskeleton caused by the disassembly of microtubules or F-actin leads to an increased formation of eisosomes.

The α-arrestin family of ubiquitin ligase adaptors links metabolism with selective endocytosis

The regulation of nutrient uptake into cells is important, as it allows to either increase biomass for cell growth or to preserve homoeostasis. A key strategy to adjust cellular nutrient uptake is the reconfiguration of the nutrient transporter repertoire at the plasma membrane by the addition of nutrient transporters through the secretory pathway and by their endocytic removal. In this review, we focus on the mechanisms that regulate selective nutrient transporter endocytosis, which is mediated by the α-arrestin protein family. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, 14 different α-arrestins (also named arrestin-related trafficking adaptors, ARTs) function as adaptors for the ubiquitin ligase Rsp5. They instruct Rsp5 to ubiquitinate subsets of nutrient transporters to orchestrate their endocytosis. The ART proteins are under multilevel control of the major nutrient sensing systems, including amino acid sensing by the general amino acid control and target of rapamycin pathways, and energy sensing by 5'-adenosine-monophosphate-dependent kinase. The function of the six human α-arrestins is comparably under-characterised. Here, we summarise the current knowledge about the function, regulation and substrates of yeast ARTs and human α-arrestins, and highlight emerging communalities and general principles.

A glucose-starvation response governs endocytic trafficking and eisosomal retention of surface cargoes in budding yeast

Eukaryotic cells adapt their metabolism to the extracellular environment. Downregulation of surface cargo proteins in response to nutrient stress reduces the burden of anabolic processes whilst elevating catabolic production in the lysosome. We show that glucose starvation in yeast triggers a transcriptional response that increases internalisation from the plasma membrane. Nuclear export of the Mig1 transcriptional repressor in response to glucose starvation increases levels of the Yap1801 and Yap1802 clathrin adaptors, which is sufficient to increase cargo internalisation. Beyond this, we show that glucose starvation results in Mig1-independent transcriptional upregulation of various eisosomal factors. These factors serve to sequester a portion of nutrient transporters at existing eisosomes, through the presence of Ygr130c and biochemical and biophysical changes in Pil1, allowing cells to persist throughout the starvation period and maximise nutrient uptake upon return to replete conditions. This provides a physiological benefit for cells to rapidly recover from glucose starvation. Collectively, this remodelling of the surface protein landscape during glucose starvation calibrates metabolism to available nutrients.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Physical, genetic and functional interactions between the eisosome protein Pil1 and the MBOAT O-acyltransferase Gup1

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae MBOAT O-acyltransferase Gup1 is involved in many processes, including cell wall and membrane composition and integrity, and acetic acid-induced cell death. Gup1 was previously shown to interact physically with the mitochondrial membrane VDAC (Voltage-Dependent Anion Channel) protein Por1 and the ammonium transceptor Mep2. By co-immunoprecipitation, the eisosome core component Pil1 was identified as a novel physical interaction partner of Gup1. The expression of PIL1 and Pil1 protein levels were found to be unaffected by GUP1 deletion. In ∆gup1 cells, Pil1 was distributed in dots (likely representing eisosomes) in the membrane, identically to wt cells. However, ∆gup1 cells presented 50% less Pil1-GFP dots/eisosomes, suggesting that Gup1 is important for eisosome formation. The two proteins also interact genetically in the maintenance of cell wall integrity, and during arsenite and acetic acid exposure. We show that Δgup1 Δpil1 cells take up more arsenite than wt and are extremely sensitive to arsenite and to acetic acid treatments. The latter causes a severe apoptotic wt-like cell death phenotype, epistatically reverting the ∆gup1 necrotic type of death. Gup1 and Pil1 are thus physically, genetically and functionally connected.

Plasma Membrane MCC/Eisosome Domains Promote Stress Resistance in Fungi

There is growing appreciation that the plasma membrane orchestrates a diverse array of functions by segregating different activities into specialized domains that vary in size, stability, and composition. Studies with the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have identified a novel type of plasma membrane domain known as the MCC (membrane compartment of Can1)/eisosomes that correspond to stable furrows in the plasma membrane. MCC/eisosomes maintain proteins at the cell surface, such as nutrient transporters like the Can1 arginine symporter, by protecting them from endocytosis and degradation. Recent studies from several fungal species are now revealing new functional roles for MCC/eisosomes that enable cells to respond to a wide range of stressors, including changes in membrane tension, nutrition, cell wall integrity, oxidation, and copper toxicity. The different MCC/eisosome functions are often intertwined through the roles of these domains in lipid homeostasis, which is important for proper plasma membrane architecture and cell signaling. Therefore, this review will emphasize the emerging models that explain how MCC/eisosomes act as hubs to coordinate cellular responses to stress. The importance of MCC/eisosomes is underscored by their roles in virulence for fungal pathogens of plants, animals, and humans, which also highlights the potential of these domains to act as novel therapeutic targets.

Fungal plasma membrane domains

The plasma membrane (PM) performs a plethora of physiological processes, the coordination of which requires spatial and temporal organization into specialized domains of different sizes, stability, protein/lipid composition and overall architecture. Compartmentalization of the PM has been particularly well studied in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, where five non-overlapping domains have been described: The Membrane Compartments containing the arginine permease Can1 (MCC), the H+-ATPase Pma1 (MCP), the TORC2 kinase (MCT), the sterol transporters Ltc3/4 (MCL), and the cell wall stress mechanosensor Wsc1 (MCW). Additional cortical foci at the fungal PM are the sites where clathrin-dependent endocytosis occurs, the sites where the external pH sensing complex PAL/Rim localizes, and sterol-rich domains found in apically grown regions of fungal membranes. In this review, we summarize knowledge from several fungal species regarding the organization of the lateral PM segregation. We discuss the mechanisms of formation of these domains, and the mechanisms of partitioning of proteins there. Finally, we discuss the physiological roles of the best-known membrane compartments, including the regulation of membrane and cell wall homeostasis, apical growth of fungal cells and the newly emerging role of MCCs as starvation-protective membrane domains.

A Snf1-related nutrient-responsive kinase antagonizes endocytosis in yeast

Endocytosis is regulated in response to changing environmental conditions to adjust plasma membrane (PM) protein composition for optimal cell growth. Protein networks involved in cargo capture and sorting, membrane sculpting and deformation, and vesicle scission have been well-characterized, but less is known about the networks that sense extracellular cues and relay signals to trigger endocytosis of specific cargo. Hal4 and Hal5 are yeast Snf1-related kinases that were previously reported to regulate nutrient transporter stability by an unknown mechanism. Here we demonstrate that loss of Hal4 and Hal5 activates endocytosis of many different kinds of PM proteins, including Art1-mediated and Art1-independent endocytic events. Acute inhibition of Hal5 in the absence of Hal4 triggers rapid endocytosis, suggesting that Hal kinases function in a nutrient-sensing relay upstream of the endocytic response. Interestingly, Hal5 localizes to the PM, but shifts away from the cell surface in response to stimulation with specific nutrients. We propose that Hal5 functions as a nutrient-responsive regulator of PM protein stability, antagonizing endocytosis and promoting stability of endocytic cargos at the PM in nutrient-limiting conditions.

Cellular homeostasis, a fundamental requirement for all living organisms, is maintained in part through evolutionarily conserved mechanisms that regulate the abundance and activity of ion and nutrient transporters at the cell surface. These mechanisms often incorporate signaling networks that sense changes in the environment and relay signals to alter protein composition at the plasma membrane, often by inducing endocytosis of specific transporters in order to adjust and optimize transport activities at the cell surface. Here, we investigate two kinases in yeast–Hal4 and Hal5 –that are related to the yeast and human AMP sensing kinases. Loss of both Hal4 and Hal5 was previously reported to result in destabilization of ion and nutrient transporters by an unknown mechanism. Our data indicates that Hal kinases function broadly in the regulation of many different classes of endocytic cargo. Hal5 localizes to the plasma membrane in a manner that is responsive to nutrient availability and acute loss of Hal5 activity triggers rapid internalization of endocytic cargo. By uncovering a role for Hal5 as a nutrient-responsive regulator of endocytosis, this research sheds light on how signaling molecules regulate membrane trafficking events to coordinate adaptive growth responses.

Regulation of nutrient transporters by metabolic and environmental stresses

The yeast plasma membrane is a selective barrier between an erratic environment and the cell's metabolism. Nutrient transporters are the gatekeepers that control the import of molecules feeding into the metabolic pathways. Nutrient import adjusts rapidly to changes in metabolism and the environment, which is accomplished by regulating the surface expression of transporters. Recent studies indicate that the lipid environment in which transporters function regulates ubiquitination efficiency and endocytosis of these proteins. Changes in the lipid environment are caused by lateral movements of the transporters between different membrane domains and by the influence of the extracellular environment on the fluidity of the plasma membrane.

Stress granules sense metabolic stress at the plasma membrane and potentiate recovery by storing active Pkc1

As the physical barrier between the cell and the outside environment, the plasma membrane is well-positioned to be the first responder to stress. The membrane is also highly vulnerable to many types of perturbation, including heat, force, osmotic pressure, lipid shortage, and starvation. To determine whether the structural changes in the plasma membrane of Saccharomyces cerevisiae brought about by nutrient stress can be communicated to regulatory networks within the cell, we identified proteins that interact with stress granules (SGs), subcellular structures composed of proteins, and nontranslated RNAs that form when cells are stressed. We found that SG proteins interacted with components of eisosomes, which are subcortical membrane structures with a distinct lipid and protein composition. In response to starvation-triggered phosphorylation of eisosome proteins, eisosomes clustered and recruited SG components, including active Pkc1. The absence of eisosomes impaired SG formation, resulting in delayed recovery from nutrient deprivation. Thus, eisosome clustering is an example of interdomain communication in response to stress and identifies a previously unknown mechanism of SG regulation.

Plasma membrane tension regulates eisosome structure and function

Eisosomes are membrane furrows at the cell surface of yeast that have been shown to function in two seemingly distinct pathways, membrane stress response and regulation of nutrient transporters. We found that many stress conditions affect both of these pathways by changing plasma membrane tension and thus the morphology and composition of eisosomes. For example, alkaline stress causes swelling of the cell and an endocytic response, which together increase membrane tension, thereby flattening the eisosomes. The flattened eisosomes affect membrane stress pathways and release nutrient transporters, which aids in their down-regulation. In contrast, glucose starvation or hyperosmotic shock causes cell shrinking, which results in membrane slack and the deepening of eisosomes. Deepened eisosomes are able to trap nutrient transporters and protect them from rapid endocytosis. Therefore, eisosomes seem to coordinate the regulation of both membrane tension and nutrient transporter stability.

Yeast α-arrestin Art2 is the key regulator of ubiquitylation-dependent endocytosis of plasma membrane vitamin B1 transporters

Endocytosis of membrane proteins in yeast requires α-arrestin-mediated ubiquitylation by the ubiquitin ligase Rsp5. Yet, the diversity of α-arrestin targets studied is restricted to a small subset of plasma membrane (PM) proteins. Here, we performed quantitative proteomics to identify new targets of 12 α-arrestins and gained insight into the diversity of pathways affected by α-arrestins, including the cell wall integrity pathway and PM–endoplasmic reticulum contact sites. We found that Art2 is the main regulator of substrate- and stress-induced ubiquitylation and endocytosis of the thiamine (vitamin B₁) transporters: Thi7, nicotinamide riboside transporter 1 (Nrt1), and Thi72. Genetic screening allowed for the isolation of transport-defective Thi7 mutants, which impaired thiamine-induced endocytosis. Coexpression of inactive mutants with wild-type Thi7 revealed that both transporter conformation and transport activity are important to induce endocytosis. Finally, we provide evidence that Art2 mediated Thi7 endocytosis is regulated by the target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) and requires the Sit4 phosphatase but is not inhibited by the Npr1 kinase.

A combination of proteomics, protein modeling, and molecular biology sheds light on how endocytosis of the plasma membrane vitamin B1 transporter Thi7 in yeast is regulated by the α-arrestin Art2.

Regulation of Amino Acid Transport in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We review the mechanisms responsible for amino acid homeostasis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and other fungi. Amino acid homeostasis is essential for cell growth and survival. Hence, the de novo synthesis reactions, metabolic conversions, and transport of amino acids are tightly regulated. Regulation varies from nitrogen pool sensing to control by individual amino acids and takes place at the gene (transcription), protein (posttranslational modification and allostery), and vesicle (trafficking and endocytosis) levels. The pools of amino acids are controlled via import, export, and compartmentalization. In yeast, the majority of the amino acid transporters belong to the APC (amino acid-polyamine-organocation) superfamily, and the proteins couple the uphill transport of amino acids to the electrochemical proton gradient. Although high-resolution structures of yeast amino acid transporters are not available, homology models have been successfully exploited to determine and engineer the catalytic and regulatory functions of the proteins. This has led to a further understanding of the underlying mechanisms of amino acid sensing and subsequent downregulation of transport. Advances in optical microscopy have revealed a new level of regulation of yeast amino acid transporters, which involves membrane domain partitioning. The significance and the interrelationships of the latest discoveries on amino acid homeostasis are put in context.

Integration Through Separation - The Role of Lateral Membrane Segregation in Nutrient Uptake

Nutrient transporters are prominent and ubiquitous components of the plasma membrane in all cell types. Their expression and regulation are tightly linked to the cells’ needs. Environmental factors such as nutrient starvation or osmotic stress prompt an acute remodeling of transporters and the plasma membrane to efficiently maintain homeostasis in cell metabolism. Lateral confinement of nutrient transporters through dynamic segregation within the plasma membrane has recently emerged as an important phenomenon that facilitates spatiotemporal control of nutrient uptake and metabolic regulation. Here, we review recent studies highlighting the mechanisms connecting the function of amino acid permeases with their endocytic turnover and lateral segregation within the plasma membrane. These findings indicate that actively controlled lateral compartmentalization of plasma membrane components constitutes an important level of regulation during acute cellular adaptations.

Eisosomes at the intersection of TORC1 and TORC2 regulation

Eisosomes are furrows in the yeast plasma membrane that form a membrane domain with distinct lipid and protein composition. Recent studies highlighted the importance of this domain for the regulation of proton-nutrient symporters. The amino acids and other nutrients, which these transporters deliver to the cytoplasm not only feed into metabolic pathways but also activate the metabolic regulator TORC1. Eisosomes have also been shown to harbor the membrane stress sensors Slm1 and Slm2. Membrane tension caused by hypoosmotic shock results in the redistribution of Slm1/2 from eisosomes to TORC2 which in turn regulates lipid synthesis. Therefore, eisosomes function upstream of both TORC1 and TORC2 regulation.

Functional patchworking at the plasma membrane

Lipids and proteins are not evenly distributed within the plasma membrane (PM), but instead segregate laterally into many specialized microdomains whose functional relevance is not clear. In this issue, Busto et al (2018) demonstrate that substrate flux through a nutrient transporter drives the lateral relocation of the transporter between specific microdomains at the yeast PM, suggesting that regulating the lateral plasma membrane compartmentalization for individual proteins could be a general process for cellular response to environmental conditions.