RETINOBLASTOMA RELATED 1 switches mitosis to meiosis in rice

The transition from mitosis to meiosis is a critical event in the reproductive development of all sexually reproducing species. However, the mechanisms that regulate this process in plants remain largely unknown. Here, we find that the rice (Oryza sativa L.) protein RETINOBLASTOMA RELATED 1 (RBR1) is essential to the transition from mitosis to meiosis. Loss of RBR1 function results in hyper-proliferative sporogenous-cell-like cells (SCLs) in the anther locules during early stages of reproductive development. These hyper-proliferative SCLs are unable to initiate meiosis, eventually stagnating and degrading at late developmental stages to form pollen-free anthers. These results suggest that RBR1 acts as a gatekeeper of entry into meiosis. Furthermore, cytokinin content is significantly increased in rbr1 mutants, whereas the expression of type-B response factors, particularly LEPTO1, is significantly reduced. Given the known close association of cytokinins with cell proliferation, these findings imply that hyper-proliferative germ cells in the anther locules may be attributed to elevated cytokinin concentrations and disruptions in the cytokinin pathway. Using a genetic strategy, the association between germ cell hyper-proliferation and disturbed cytokinin signaling in rbr1 has been confirmed. In summary, we reveal a unique role of RBR1 in the initiation of meiosis; our results clearly demonstrate that the RBR1 regulatory module is connected to the cytokinin signaling pathway and switches mitosis to meiosis in rice.

Metarhizium robertsii COH1 functionally complements Schizosaccharomyces pombe Ecl family proteins

The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe ecl family genes respond to various starvation signals and induce appropriate intracellular responses, including the extension of chronological lifespan and induction of sexual differentiation. Herein, we propose that the colonization of hemocoel 1 (COH1) protein of Metarhizium robertsii, an insect-pathogenic fungus, is a functional homolog of S. pombe Ecl1 family proteins.

Live-cell fluorescence imaging and optogenetic control of PKA kinase activity in fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The cAMP-PKA signaling pathway plays a crucial role in sensing and responding to nutrient availability in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. This pathway monitors external glucose levels to control cell growth and sexual differentiation. However, the temporal dynamics of the cAMP-PKA pathway in response to external stimuli remains unclear mainly due to the lack of tools to quantitatively visualize the activity of the pathway. Here, we report the development of the kinase translocation reporter (KTR)-based biosensor spPKA-KTR1.0, which allows us to measure the dynamics of PKA activity in fission yeast cells. The spPKA-KTR1.0 is derived from the transcription factor Rst2, which translocates from the nucleus to the cytoplasm upon PKA activation. We found that spPKA-KTR1.0 translocates between the nucleus and cytoplasm in a cAMP-PKA pathway-dependent manner, indicating that the spPKA-KTR1.0 is a reliable indicator of the PKA activity in fission yeast cells. In addition, we implemented a system that simultaneously visualizes and manipulates the cAMP-PKA signaling dynamics by introducing bPAC, a photoactivatable adenylate cyclase, in combination with spPKA-KTR1.0. This system offers an opportunity for investigating the role of the signaling dynamics of the cAMP-PKA pathway in fission yeast cells with higher temporal resolution.

Regulation of sexual differentiation initiation in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is an excellent model organism to explore cellular events owing to rich tools in genetics, molecular biology, cellular biology, and biochemistry. Schizosaccharomyces pombe proliferates continuously when nutrients are abundant but arrests in G1 phase upon depletion of nutrients such as nitrogen and glucose. When cells of opposite mating types are present, cells conjugate, fuse, undergo meiosis, and finally form 4 spores. This sexual differentiation process in S. pombe has been studied extensively. To execute sexual differentiation, the glucose-sensing cAMP-PKA (cyclic adenosine monophosphate-protein kinase A) pathway, nitrogen-sensing TOR (target of rapamycin) pathway, and SAPK (stress-activating protein kinase) pathway are crucial, and the MAPK (mitogen-activating protein kinase) cascade is essential for pheromone sensing. These signals regulate ste11 at the transcriptional and translational levels, and Ste11 is modified in multiple ways. This review summarizes the initiation of sexual differentiation in S. pombe based on results I have helped to obtain, including the work of many excellent researchers.

ecl family genes: Factors linking starvation and lifespan extension in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the duration of survival in the stationary phase, termed the chronological lifespan (CLS), is affected by various environmental factors and the corresponding gene activities. The ecl family genes were identified in the genomic region encoding non-coding RNA as positive regulators of CLS in S. pombe, and subsequently shown to encode relatively short proteins. Several studies revealed that ecl family genes respond to various nutritional starvation conditions via different mechanisms, and they are additionally involved in stress resistance, autophagy, sexual differentiation, and cell cycle control. Recent studies reported that Ecl family proteins strongly suppress target of rapamycin complex 1, which is a conserved eukaryotic nutrient-sensing kinase complex that also regulates longevity in a variety of organisms. In this review, we introduce the regulatory mechanisms of Ecl family proteins and discuss their emerging findings.

A dominant negative 14-3-3 mutant in Schizosaccharomyces pombe distinguishes the binding proteins involved in sexual differentiation and check point

The homothallic fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe undergoes sexual differentiation when starved, but sam (skips the requirement of starvation for mating) mutants such as those carrying mutations in adenylate cyclase (cyr1) or protein kinase A (pka1) mate without starvation. Here, we identified sam3, a dominant negative allele of rad24, encoding one of two 14-3-3 proteins. Genetic mapping and whole-genome sequencing showed that the sam3 mutation comprises a change in nucleotide at position 959 from guanine to adenine, which switches the amino acid at position 185 from glutamic acid to lysine (E185K). We generated the rad24-E185K integrated mutant and its phenotype was similar to that of the sam3 mutant, including calcium sensitivity and UV non-sensitivity, but the phenotype is different from that of the Δrad24 strain. While the UV-sensitive phenotype was observed in the Δrad24 mutant, it was not observed in the sam3 and rad24-E185K mutants. The expression of the rad24-E185K gene in wild type cells induced spore formation in the nutrient rich medium, confirming rad24-E185K is dominant. This dominant effect of rad24-E185K was also observed in Δras1 and Δbyr2 diploid mutants, indicating that rad24-E185K generate stronger phenotype than rad24 null mutants. Ste11, the key transcription factor for sexual differentiation was expressed in sam3 mutants without starvation and it predominantly localized to the nucleus. The Rad24-E185K mutant protein retained its interaction with Check point kinase1 (Chk1), whereas it reduced interaction with Ste11, an RNA binding protein Mei2, and a MAPKKK Byr2, freeing these proteins from negative regulation by Rad24, that account for the sam phenotype and UV non-sensitive phenotype. Glucose depletion in rad24-E185K or Δpka1 Δrad24 double mutation induced haploid meiosis, leading to the formation of spores in haploid. The position of glutamic acid 185 is conserved in all major 14-3-3s; hence, our finding of a dominant negative allele of 14-3-3 is useful for understanding 14-3-3s in other organisms.

A focus on yeast mating: From pheromone signaling to cell-cell fusion

Cells live in a chemical environment and are able to orient towards chemical cues. Unicellular haploid fungal cells communicate by secreting pheromones to reproduce sexually. In the yeast models Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, pheromonal communication activates similar pathways composed of cognate G-protein-coupled receptors and downstream small GTPase Cdc42 and MAP kinase cascades. Local pheromone release and sensing, at a mobile surface polarity patch, underlie spatial gradient interpretation to form pairs between two cells of distinct mating types. Concentration of secretion at the point of cell-cell contact then leads to local cell wall digestion for cell fusion, forming a diploid zygote that prevents further fusion attempts. A number of asymmetries between mating types may promote efficiency of the system. In this review, we present our current knowledge of pheromone signaling in the two model yeasts, with an emphasis on how cells decode the pheromone signal spatially and ultimately fuse together. Though overall pathway architectures are similar in the two species, their large evolutionary distance allows to explore how conceptually similar solutions to a general biological problem can arise from divergent molecular components.

Pheromone Response and Mating Behavior in Fission Yeast

Most ascomycete fungi, including the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, secrete two peptidyl mating pheromones: C-terminally modified and unmodified peptides. S. pombe has two mating types, plus and minus, which secrete two different pheromones, P-factor (unmodified) and M-factor (modified), respectively. These pheromones are specifically recognized by receptors on the cell surface of cells of opposite mating types, which trigger a pheromone response. Recognition between pheromones and their corresponding receptors is important for mate discrimination; therefore, genetic changes in pheromone or receptor genes affect mate recognition and cause reproductive isolation that limits gene flow between populations. Such genetic variation in recognition via the pheromone/receptor system may drive speciation. Our recent studies reported that two pheromone receptors in S. pombe might have different stringencies in pheromone recognition. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanism of pheromone response and mating behavior, emphasizing pheromone diversification and its impact on reproductive isolation in S. pombe and closely related fission yeast species. We speculate that the "asymmetric" system might allow flexible adaptation to pheromone mutational changes while maintaining stringent recognition of mating partners. The loss of pheromone activity results in the extinction of an organism's lineage. Therefore, genetic changes in pheromones and their receptors may occur gradually and/or coincidently before speciation. Our findings suggest that the M-factor plays an important role in partner discrimination, whereas P-factor communication allows flexible adaptation to create variations in S. pombe. Our inferences provide new insights into the evolutionary mechanisms underlying pheromone diversification.

Sporulation: A response to starvation in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe employs two main strategies to adapt to the environment and survive when starved for nutrients. The strategies employ sporulation via sexual differentiation and extension of the chronological lifespan. When a cell is exposed to nutrient starvation in the presence of a cell of the opposite sex, the cells undergo fusion through conjugation and sporulation through meiosis. S. pombe spores are highly resistant to diverse stresses and may survive for a very long time. In this minireview, among the various sexual differentiation processes induced by starvation, we focused on and summarized the findings of the molecular mechanisms of spore formation in fission yeast. Furthermore, comparative measurements of the chronological lifespan of stationary phase cells and G₀ cells and the survival period of spore cells revealed that the spore cells survived for a long period, indicating the presence of an effective mechanism for survival. Currently, many molecules involved in sporulation and their functions are being discovered; however, our understanding of these is not complete. Further understanding of spores may not only deepen our comprehension of sexual differentiation but may also provide hints for sustaining life.

How to Switch from Mitosis to Meiosis: Regulation of Germline Entry in Plants

One of the major cell fate transitions in eukaryotes is entry into meiosis. While in single-celled yeast this decision is triggered by nutrient starvation, in multicellular eukaryotes, such as plants, it is under developmental control. In contrast to animals, plants have only a short germline and instruct cells to become meiocytes in reproductive organs late in development. This situation argues for a fundamentally different mechanism of how plants recruit meiocytes, and consistently, none of the regulators known to control meiotic entry in yeast and animals are present in plants. In recent years, several factors involved in meiotic entry have been identified, especially in the model plant Arabidopsis, and pieces of a regulatory network of germline control in plants are emerging. However, the corresponding studies also show that the mechanisms of meiotic entry control are diversified in flowering plants, calling for further analyses in different plant species. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Genetics, Volume 55 is November 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Long Non-Coding RNAs in the Control of Gametogenesis: Lessons from Fission Yeast

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) contribute to cell fate decisions by modulating genome expression and stability. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the transition from mitosis to meiosis results in a marked remodeling of gene expression profiles, which ultimately ensures gamete production and inheritance of genetic information to the offspring. This key developmental process involves a set of dedicated lncRNAs that shape cell cycle-dependent transcriptomes through a variety of mechanisms, including epigenetic modifications and the modulation of transcription, post-transcriptional and post-translational regulations, and that contribute to meiosis-specific chromosomal events. In this review, we summarize the biology of these lncRNAs, from their identification to mechanism of action, and discuss their regulatory role in the control of gametogenesis.

Extension of chronological lifespan in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

There are several examples in the nature wherein the mechanism of longevity control of unicellular organisms is evolutionarily conserved with that of higher multicellular organisms. The present microreview focuses on aging and longevity studies, particularly on chronological lifespan (CLS) concerning the unicellular eukaryotic fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. In S. pombe, >30 compounds, 8 types of nutrient restriction, and >80 genes that extend CLS have been reported. Several CLS control mechanisms are known to be involved in nutritional response, energy utilization, stress responses, translation, autophagy, and sexual differentiation. In unicellular organisms, the control of CLS is directly linked to the mechanism by which cells are maintained in limited‐resource environments, and their genetic information is left to posterity. We believe that this important mechanism may have been preserved as a lifespan control mechanism for higher organisms.

Cross-talk between autophagy and sporulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

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

TOR targets an RNA processing network to regulate facultative heterochromatin, developmental gene expression and cell proliferation

Cell proliferation and differentiation require signalling pathways that enforce appropriate and timely gene expression. We find that Tor2, the catalytic subunit of the TORC1 complex in fission yeast, targets a conserved nuclear RNA elimination network, particularly the serine and proline-rich protein Pir1, to control gene expression through RNA decay and facultative heterochromatin assembly. Phosphorylation by Tor2 protects Pir1 from degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system involving the polyubiquitin Ubi4 stress-response protein and the Cul4-Ddb1 E3 ligase. This pathway suppresses widespread and untimely gene expression and is critical for sustaining cell proliferation. Moreover, we find that the dynamic nature of Tor2-mediated control of RNA elimination machinery defines gene expression patterns that coordinate fundamental chromosomal events during gametogenesis, such as meiotic double-strand-break formation and chromosome segregation. These findings have important implications for understanding how the TOR signalling pathway reprogrammes gene expression patterns and contributes to diseases such as cancer.

Transient Breakage of the Nucleocytoplasmic Barrier Controls Spore Maturation via Mobilizing the Proteasome Subunit Rpn11 in the Fission Yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Forespore membrane (FSM) closure is a process of specialized cytokinesis in yeast meiosis. FSM closure begins with the contraction of the FSM opening and finishes with the disassembly of the leading-edge proteins (LEPs) from the FSM opening. Here, we show that the FSM opening starts to contract when the event of virtual nuclear envelope breakdown (vNEBD) occurs in anaphase II of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The occurrence of vNEBD controls the redistribution of the proteasomal subunit Rpn11 from the nucleus to the cytosol. To investigate the importance of Rpn11 re-localization during vNEBD, Rpn11 was sequestered at the inner nuclear membrane by fusion with the transmembrane region of Bqt4 (Rpn11-GFP-INM). Remarkably, in the absence of endogenous rpn11⁺, the cells carrying Rpn11-GFP-INM had abnormal or no spore formation. Live-cell imaging analysis further reveals that the FSM opening failed to contract when vNEBD occurred, and the LEP Meu14 was persistently present at the FSM in the rpn11-gfp-INM cells. The results suggest that the dynamic localization of Rpn11 during vNEBD is essential for spore development.

The S. pombe CDK5 ortholog Pef1 regulates sexual differentiation through control of the TORC1 pathway and autophagy

In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, a general strategy for survival in response to environmental changes is sexual differentiation, which is triggered by TORC1 inactivation. However, mechanisms of TORC1 regulation in fission yeast remain poorly understood. In this study, we found that Pef1, which is an ortholog of mammalian CDK5, regulates the initiation of sexual differentiation through positive regulation of TORC1 activity. Conversely, deletion of pef1 leads to activation of autophagy and subsequent excessive TORC1 reactivation during the early phases of the nitrogen starvation response. This excessive TORC1 reactivation results in the silencing of the Ste11-Mei2 pathway and mating defects. Additionally, we found that pef1 genetically interacts with tsc1 and tsc2 for TORC1 regulation, and physically interacts with three cyclins, Clg1, Pas1 and Psl1. The double deletion of clg1 and pas1 promotes activation of autophagy and TORC1 during nitrogen starvation, similar to what is seen in pef1Δ cells. Overall, our work suggests that Pef1-Clg1 and Pef1-Pas1 complexes regulate initiation of sexual differentiation through control of the TSC-TORC1 pathway and autophagy.

Intraspecies cell-cell communication in yeast

Although yeasts are unicellular microorganisms that can live independently, they can also communicate with other cells, in order to adapt to the environment. Two yeast species, the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, engage in various kinds of intraspecies cell-cell communication using peptides and chemical molecules that they produce, constituting a sort of 'language'. Cell-cell communication is a fundamental biological process, and its ultimate purpose is to promote survival by sexual reproduction and acquisition of nutrients from the environment. This review summarizes what is known about intraspecies cell-cell communication mediated by molecules including mating pheromones, volatile gases, aromatic alcohols and oxylipins in laboratory strains of S. cerevisiae and S. pombe.

Factors extending the chronological lifespan of yeast: Ecl1 family genes

Ecl1 family genes are conserved among yeast, in which their overexpression extends chronological lifespan. Ecl1 family genes were first identified in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe; at the time, they were considered noncoding RNA owing to their short coding sequence of fewer than 300 base pairs. Schizosaccharomyces pombe carries three Ecl1 family genes, ecl1+, ecl2+ and ecl3+, whereas Saccharomyces cerevisiae has one, ECL1. Their overexpression extends chronological lifespan, increases oxidative stress resistance and induces sexual development in fission yeast. A recent study indicated that Ecl1 family genes play a significant role in responding to environmental zinc or sulfur depletion. In this review, we focus on Ecl1 family genes in fission yeast and describe the relationship between nutritional depletion and cellular output, as the latter depends on Ecl1 family genes. Furthermore, we present the roles and functions of Ecl1 family genes characterized to date.

Computational modelling of meiotic entry and commitment

In response to developmental and environmental conditions, cells exit the mitotic cell cycle and enter the meiosis program to generate haploid gametes from diploid germ cells. Once cells decide to enter the meiosis program they become irreversibly committed to the completion of meiosis irrespective of the presence of cue signals. How meiotic entry and commitment occur due to the dynamics of the regulatory network is not well understood. Therefore, we constructed a mathematical model of the regulatory network that controls the transition from mitosis to meiosis in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Upon nitrogen starvation, yeast cells exit mitosis and undergo conjugation and meiotic entry. The model includes the regulation of Mei2, an RNA binding protein required for conjugation and meiotic entry, by multiple feedback loops involving Pat1, a kinase that keeps cells in mitosis, and Ste11, a transcription activator required for the sexual differentiation. The model accounts for various experimental observations and demonstrates that the activation of Mei2 is bistable, which ensures the irreversible commitment to meiosis. Further, we show by integrating the meiosis-specific regulation with a cell cycle model, the dynamics of cell cycle exit, G1 arrest and entry into meiosis under nitrogen starvation.

Creation of Stable Heterothallic Strains of Komagataella phaffii Enables Dissection of Mating Gene Regulation

The methylotrophic yeast Komagataella phaffii (Pichia pastoris) is homothallic and has been reported to switch mating type by an ancient inversion mechanism. Two mating-type (MAT) loci include homologs of the MATa and MATα transcription factor genes, with the expression from one locus downregulated by telomere position effects. However, not much is known about mating gene regulation, since the mixture of mating types complicates detailed investigations. In this study, we developed K. phaffii strains with stable mating types by deletion of the inverted-repeat region required for mating-type switching. These heterothallic strains retain their ability to mate with cells of the opposite mating type and were used to further elucidate mating gene regulation. Functional analysis of MAT mutant strains revealed the essential role of MATa2 and MATα1 in diploid cell formation. Disruption of MATa1 or MATα2 did not affect mating; however, in diploid cells, both genes are required for sporulation and the repression of shmoo formation. The heterothallic strains generated in this study allowed the first detailed characterization of mating gene regulation in K. phaffii They will be a valuable tool for further studies investigating cell-type-specific behavior and will enable in-depth genetic analyses and strain hybridization in this industrially relevant yeast species.

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

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

An Evolutionary Perspective on Yeast Mating-Type Switching

Cell differentiation in yeast species is controlled by a reversible, programmed DNA-rearrangement process called mating-type switching. Switching is achieved by two functionally similar but structurally distinct processes in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. In both species, haploid cells possess one active and two silent copies of the mating-type locus (a three-cassette structure), the active locus is cleaved, and synthesis-dependent strand annealing is used to replace it with a copy of a silent locus encoding the opposite mating-type information. Each species has its own set of components responsible for regulating these processes. In this review, we summarize knowledge about the function and evolution of mating-type switching components in these species, including mechanisms of heterochromatin formation, MAT locus cleavage, donor bias, lineage tracking, and environmental regulation of switching. We compare switching in these well-studied species to others such as Kluyveromyces lactis and the methylotrophic yeasts Ogataea polymorpha and Komagataella phaffii. We focus on some key questions: Which cells switch mating type? What molecular apparatus is required for switching? Where did it come from? And what is the evolutionary purpose of switching?

TORC1-Dependent Phosphorylation Targets in Fission Yeast

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

Promoter nucleosome dynamics regulated by signalling through the CTD code

The phosphorylation of the RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain (CTD) plays a key role in delineating transcribed regions within chromatin by recruiting histone methylases and deacetylases. Using genome-wide nucleosome mapping, we show that CTD S2 phosphorylation controls nucleosome dynamics in the promoter of a subset of 324 genes, including the regulators of cell differentiation ste11 and metabolic adaptation inv1. Mechanistic studies on these genes indicate that during gene activation a local increase of phospho-S2 CTD nearby the promoter impairs the phospho-S5 CTD-dependent recruitment of Set1 and the subsequent recruitment of specific HDACs, which leads to nucleosome depletion and efficient transcription. The early increase of phospho-S2 results from the phosphorylation of the CTD S2 kinase Lsk1 by MAP kinase in response to cellular signalling. The artificial tethering of the Lsk1 kinase at the ste11 promoter is sufficient to activate transcription. Therefore, signalling through the CTD code regulates promoter nucleosomes dynamics.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09008.001

The process of activating genes—known as gene expression—involves a number of steps. During the first step, the gene's DNA is copied or ‘transcribed’ to produce a molecule of messenger RNA. However, most of the DNA in a cell is wrapped around proteins called histones to make structures known as nucleosomes, and the DNA has to be unpacked to allow the enzymes that make messenger RNA to access it.

Cells regulate how the DNA is packed by attaching chemical groups to the histone proteins. Adding acetyl groups to histones usually causes the nucleosomes to unwrap and creates loosely packed DNA that helps with gene expression. On the other hand, the addition of methyl groups has the opposite effect.

RNA polymerase II is the enzyme that carries out transcription of messenger RNAs in all eukaryotic cells—that is, the cells of organisms like plants, animals, and fungi. Like all enzymes, RNA polymerase II is made of smaller building blocks called amino acids. One end of the RNA polymerase II enzyme, called the C-terminal domain (or CTD), contains a unique sequence of amino acids that serves as a scaffold to recruit other proteins involved in transcription and histone modifications. Different amino acids in this region of RNA polymerase II can be modified by the addition of phosphate groups. The pattern of these modifications is often thought of as a code and can influence which other proteins get recruited.

It remains poorly understood how RNA polymerase II regulates nucleosomes to allow transcription to occur. Materne, Anandhakumar et al. have now addressed this issue by engineering mutant yeast cells in which phosphate groups cannot be added to specific amino acids in the RNA polymerase II enzyme. Most genes were expressed as normal in these yeast cells, but a few hundred genes were not expressed.

Materne, Anandhakumar et al. then used a technique called MNase-Seq to map the position of nucleosomes across the genome and found that there were more nucleosomes near to start of these down-regulated genes. Further experiments showed that the addition of phosphate groups onto the RNA polymerase II is required to deplete the nucleosomes at the start of a gene called ste11, which allows transcription to occur.

Materne, Anandhakumar et al. also found that artificially tethering the enzyme that adds phosphate groups to the C-terminal domain to the start of the ste11 gene was sufficient to oust nucleosomes and activate transcription by RNA polymerase II.

Future work will address if this newly discovered mechanism is implicated in the activation of specific patterns of gene expression during the development of more complex organisms.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09008.002

Heterochromatin assembly and transcriptome repression by Set1 in coordination with a class II histone deacetylase

Histone modifiers play essential roles in controlling transcription and organizing eukaryotic genomes into functional domains. Here, we show that Set1, the catalytic subunit of the highly conserved Set1C/COMPASS complex responsible for histone H3K4 methylation (H3K4me), behaves as a repressor of the transcriptome largely independent of Set1C and H3K4me in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Intriguingly, while Set1 is enriched at highly expressed and repressed loci, Set1 binding levels do not generally correlate with the levels of transcription. We show that Set1 is recruited by the ATF/CREB homolog Atf1 to heterochromatic loci and promoters of stress-response genes. Moreover, we demonstrate that Set1 coordinates with the class II histone deacetylase Clr3 in heterochromatin assembly at prominent chromosomal landmarks and repression of the transcriptome that includes Tf2 retrotransposons, noncoding RNAs, and regulators of development and stress-responses. Our study delineates a molecular framework for elucidating the functional links between transcriptome control and chromatin organization.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04506.001

Genes can be turned on or off at different times in an organism's life. In humans, yeast and other eukaryotes, this is mainly controlled by the way DNA is packaged with proteins—known as histones—in a structure called chromatin. Genes that are switched on, or only temporarily switched off, are associated with areas of the genome where the chromatin is loosely packed. In contrast, genes that remain switched off for long periods of time are found in regions—known as heterochromatin—where the chromatin is tightly packed.

There are many enzymes that can modify histones to change the structure of chromatin. One enzyme—called Set1—adds a methyl tag to chromatin, which is known to be associated with genes being switched on. However, Lorenz et al. found that Set1 also has other roles in modifying chromatin in the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

The experiments found that Set1 helps to keep genes switched off and that this role is largely independent of its ability to add the methyl tag to chromatin. Set1 is recruited to many sites across the genome by another protein called Atf1, which is involved in the cell's response to environmental stresses. Lorenz et al. believe that this helps to put these genes in a ‘poised’ off state so that they are ready to be switched on rapidly if needed.

Set1 also works with another protein that removes acetyl tags—which encourage chromatin to be less tightly packed—from histones. Together, both proteins contribute to the assembly of heterochromatin and keep genes involved in development and stress responses switched off when they are not required.

Collectively, these experiments reveal unexpected and important insights into how Set1—which plays critical roles in many aspects of human health including aging and cancer—works in cells.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04506.002

Regulation of entry into gametogenesis by Ste11: the endless game

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

Long noncoding RNA-based chromatin control of germ cell differentiation: a yeast perspective

Germ cell differentiation, the cellular process by which a diploid progenitor cell produces by meiotic divisions haploid cells, is conserved from the unicellular yeasts to mammals. Over the recent years, yeast germ cell differentiation process has proven to be a powerful biological system to identify and study several long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that play a central role in regulating cellular differentiation by acting directly on chromatin. Remarkably, in the well-studied budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the lncRNA-based chromatin regulations of germ cell differentiation are quite different. In this review, we present an overview of these regulations by focusing on the mechanisms and their respective functions both in S. cerevisiae and in S. pombe. Part of these lncRNA-based chromatin regulations may be conserved in other eukaryotes and play critical roles either in the context of germ cell differentiation or, more generally, in the development of multicellular organisms.

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

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

A novel factor Iss10 regulates Mmi1-mediated selective elimination of meiotic transcripts

A number of meiosis-specific transcripts are selectively eliminated during the mitotic cell cycle in fission yeast. Mmi1, an RNA-binding protein, plays a crucial role in this selective elimination. Mmi1 recognizes a specific region, namely, the determinant of selective removal (DSR) on meiotic transcripts and induces nuclear exosome-mediated elimination. During meiosis, Mmi1 is sequestered by a chromosome-associated dot structure, Mei2 dot, allowing meiosis-specific transcripts to be stably expressed. Red1, a zinc-finger protein, is also known to participate in the Mmi1/DSR elimination system, although its molecular function has remained elusive. To uncover the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying the Mmi1/DSR elimination system, we sought to identify factors that interact genetically with Mmi1. Here, we show that one of the identified factors, Iss10, is involved in the Mmi1/DSR system by regulating the interaction between Mmi1 and Red1. In cells lacking Iss10, association of Red1 with Mmi1 is severely impaired, and target transcripts of Mmi1 are ectopically expressed in the mitotic cycle. During meiosis, Iss10 is downregulated, resulting in dissociation of Red1 from Mmi1 and subsequent suppression of Mmi1 activity.

Mate and fuse: how yeast cells do it

Many cells are able to orient themselves in a non-uniform environment by responding to localized cues. This leads to a polarized cellular response, where the cell can either grow or move towards the cue source. Fungal haploid cells secrete pheromones to signal mating, and respond by growing a mating projection towards a potential mate. Upon contact of the two partner cells, these fuse to form a diploid zygote. In this review, we present our current knowledge on the processes of mating signalling, pheromone-dependent polarized growth and cell fusion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, two highly divergent ascomycete yeast models. While the global architecture of the mating response is very similar between these two species, they differ significantly both in their mating physiologies and in the molecular connections between pheromone perception and downstream responses. The use of both yeast models helps enlighten both conserved solutions and species-specific adaptations to a general biological problem.

Role of the fission yeast cell integrity MAPK pathway in response to glucose limitation

Background

Glucose is a signaling molecule which regulates multiple events in eukaryotic organisms and the most preferred carbon source in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The ability of this yeast to grow in the absence of glucose becomes strongly limited due to lack of enzymes of the glyoxylate cycle that support diauxic growth. The stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) pathway and its effectors, Sty1 MAPK and transcription factor Atf1, play a critical role in the adaptation of fission yeast to grow on alternative non-fermentable carbon sources by inducing the expression of fbp1⁺ gene, coding for the gluconeogenic enzyme fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. The cell integrity Pmk1 pathway is another MAPK cascade that regulates various processes in fission yeast, including cell wall construction, cytokinesis, and ionic homeostasis. Pmk1 pathway also becomes strongly activated in response to glucose deprivation but its role during glucose exhaustion and ensuing adaptation to respiratory metabolism is currently unknown.

Results

We found that Pmk1 activation in the absence of glucose takes place only after complete depletion of this carbon source and that such activation is not related to an endogenous oxidative stress. Notably, Pmk1 MAPK activation relies on de novo protein synthesis, is independent on known upstream activators of the pathway like Rho2 GTPase, and involves PKC ortholog Pck2. Also, the Glucose/cAMP pathway is required operative for full activation of the Pmk1 signaling cascade. Mutants lacking Pmk1 displayed a partial growth defect in respiratory media which was not observed in the presence of glucose. This phenotype was accompanied by a decreased and delayed expression of transcription factor Atf1 and target genes fbp1⁺ and pyp2⁺. Intriguingly, the kinetics of Sty1 activation in Pmk1-less cells was clearly altered during growth adaptation to non-fermentable carbon sources.

Conclusions

Unknown upstream elements mediate Pck2-dependent signal transduction of glucose withdrawal to the cell integrity MAPK pathway. This signaling cascade reinforces the adaptive response of fission yeast to such nutritional stress by enhancing the activity of the SAPK pathway.