Asc1 supports cell-wall integrity near bud sites by a Pkc1 independent mechanism

The Gβ-like protein Bcgbl1 regulates development and pathogenicity of the gray mold Botrytis cinerea via modulating two MAP kinase signaling pathways

The fungal Gβ-like protein has been reported to be involved in a variety of biological processes, such as mycelial growth, differentiation, conidiation, stress responses and infection. However, molecular mechanisms of the Gβ-like protein in regulating fungal development and pathogenicity are largely unknown. Here, we show that the Gβ-like protein gene Bcgbl1 in the gray mold fungus Botrytis cinerea plays a pivotal role in development and pathogenicity by regulating the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases signaling pathways. The Bcgbl1 deletion mutants were defective in mycelial growth, sclerotial formation, conidiation, macroconidial morphogenesis, plant adhesion, and formation of infection cushions and appressorium-like structures, resulting in a complete loss of pathogenicity. Bcgbl1 interacted with BcSte50, the adapter protein of the cascade of MAP kinase (MAPK). Bcgbl1 mutants had reduced phosphorylation levels of two MAPKs, namely Bmp1 and Bmp3, thereby reducing infection. However, deletion of Bcgbl1 did not affect the intracellular cAMP level, and exogenous cAMP could not restore the defects. Moreover, Bcgbl1 mutants exhibited defects in cell wall integrity and oxidative stress tolerance. Transcriptional profiling revealed that Bcgbl1 plays a global role in regulation of gene expression upon hydrophobic surface induction. We further uncovered that three target genes encoding the hydrophobic surface binding proteins (HsbAs) contributed to the adhesion and virulence of B. cinerea. Overall, these findings suggest that Bcgbl1 had multiple functions and provided new insights for deciphering the Bcgbl1-mediated network for regulating development and pathogenicity of B. cinerea.

Communication between RACK1/Asc1 and uS3 (Rps3) is essential for RACK1/Asc1 function in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The receptor for activated c-kinase (RACK1, Asc1 in yeast) is a eukaryotic ribosomal protein located in the head region of the 40S subunit near the mRNA exit channel. This WD-repeat β-propeller protein acts as a signaling molecule and is involved in metabolic regulation, cell cycle progression, and translational control. However, the exact details of the RACK1 recruitment and stable association with the 40S ribosomal subunit remain only partially known. X-ray analyses of the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, ribosome revealed that the RACK1 propeller blade (4-5) interacts with the eukaryote-specific C-terminal domain (CTD) of ribosomal protein S3 (uS3 family). To check the functional significance of this interaction, we generated mutant yeast strains harboring C-terminal deletions of uS3. We found that deletion of the 20 C-terminal residues (interacting with blade 4-5) from the uS3-CTD abrogates RACK1 binding to the ribosome. Strains with truncated uS3-CTD exhibited compromised cellular growth and protein synthesis similar to that of RACK1Δ strain, thus suggesting that the uS3-CTD is crucial not only for the recruitment and association of RACK1 with the ribosome, but also for its intracellular function. We suggest that eukaryote-specific RACK1-uS3 interaction has evolved to act as a link between the ribosome and the cellular signaling pathways.

Capturing the Asc1p/Receptor for Activated C Kinase 1 (RACK1) Microenvironment at the Head Region of the 40S Ribosome with Quantitative BioID in Yeast

The Asc1 protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a scaffold protein at the head region of ribosomal 40S that links mRNA translation to cellular signaling. In this study, proteins that colocalize with Asc1p were identified with proximity-dependent Biotin IDentification (BioID), an in vivo labeling technique described here for the first time for yeast. Biotinylated Asc1p-birA*-proximal proteins were identified and quantitatively verified against controls applying SILAC and mass spectrometry. The mRNA-binding proteins Sro9p and Gis2p appeared together with Scp160p, each providing ribosomes with nuclear transcripts. The cap-binding protein eIF4E (Cdc33p) and the eIF3/a-subunit (Rpg1p) were identified reflecting the encounter of proteins involved in the initiation of mRNA translation at the head region of ribosomal 40S. Unexpectedly, a protein involved in ribosome preservation (the clamping factor Stm1p), the deubiquitylation complex Ubp3p-Bre5p, the RNA polymerase II degradation factor 1 (Def1p), and transcription factors (Spt5p, Mbf1p) colocalize with Asc1p in exponentially growing cells. For Asc1^{R38D, K40E}p, a variant considered to be deficient in binding to ribosomes, BioID revealed its predominant ribosome localization. Glucose depletion replaced most of the Asc1p colocalizing proteins for additional ribosomal proteins, suggesting a ribosome aggregation process during early nutrient limitation, possibly concomitant with ribosomal subunit clamping. Overall, the characterization of the Asc1p microenvironment with BioID confirmed and substantiated our recent findings that the β-propeller broadly contributes to signal transduction influencing phosphorylation of colocalizing proteins (e.g. of Bre5p), and by that might affect nuclear gene transcription and the fate of ribosomes.

RACK1 depletion in the ribosome induces selective translation for non-canonical autophagy

RACK1, which was first demonstrated as a substrate of PKCβ II, functions as a scaffold protein and associates with the 40S small ribosomal subunit. According to previous reports, ribosomal RACK1 was also suggested to control translation depending on the status in translating ribosome. We here show that RACK1 knockdown induces autophagy independent of upstream canonical factors such as Beclin1, Atg7 and Atg5/12 conjugates. We further report that RACK1 knockdown induces the association of mRNAs of LC3 and Bcl-xL with polysomes, indicating increased translation of these proteins. Therefore, we propose that the RACK1 depletion-induced autophagy is distinct from canonical autophagy. Finally, we confirm that cells expressing mutant RACK1 (RACK1^R36D/K38E) defective in ribosome binding showed the same result as RACK1-knockdown cells. Altogether, our data clearly show that the depletion of ribosomal RACK1 alters the capacity of the ribosome to translate specific mRNAs, resulting in selective translation of mRNAs of genes for non-canonical autophagy induction.

MST50 is involved in multiple MAP kinase signaling pathways in Magnaporthe oryzae

Appressorium formation plays a critical role in Magnaporthe oryzae. Mst50 is an adapter protein of the Mst11-Mst7-Pmk1 cascade that is essential for appressorium formation. To further characterize its functions, affinity purification was used to identify Mst50-interacting proteins (MIPs) in this study. Two of the MIPs are Mst11 and Mst7 that are known to interact with Mst50 for Pmk1 activation. Surprisingly, two other MIPs are Mck1 and Mkk2 that are the upstream kinases of the Mps1 pathway. Domain deletion analysis showed that the sterile alpha-motif of Mst50 but not the Ras-association domain was important for its interaction with Mck1 and responses to cell wall and oxidative stresses. The mst50 mutant was reduced in Mps1 activation under stress conditions. MIP11 encodes a RACK1 protein that also interacted with Mck1. Deletion of MIP11 resulted in defects in cell wall integrity, Mps1 phosphorylation and plant infection. Furthermore, Mst50 interacted with histidine kinase Hik1, and the mst50 mutant was reduced in Osm1 phosphorylation. These results indicated that Mst50 is involved in all three MAPK pathways in M. oryzae although its functions differ in each pathway. Several MIPs are conserved hypothetical proteins and may be involved in responses to various signals and crosstalk among signaling pathways.

Asc1p/RACK1 Connects Ribosomes to Eukaryotic Phosphosignaling

WD40 repeat proteins fold into characteristic β-propeller structures and control signaling circuits during cellular adaptation processes within eukaryotes. The RACK1 protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Asc1p, consists exclusively of a single seven-bladed β-propeller that operates from the ribosomal base at the head region of the 40S subunit. Here we show that the R38D K40E ribosomal binding-compromised variant (Asc1DEp) is severely destabilized through mutation of phosphosite T143 to a dephosphorylation-mimicking alanine, probably through proteasomal degradation, leading to asc1^- phenotypes. Phosphosite Y250 contributes to resistance to translational inhibitors but does not influence Asc1DEp stability. Beyond its own phosphorylation at T143, Y250, and other sites, Asc1p heavily influences the phosphorylation of as many as 90 proteins at 120 sites. Many of these proteins are regulators of fundamental processes ranging from mRNA translation to protein transport and turnover, cytoskeleton organization, and cellular signaling. Our data expose Asc1p/RACK1 as a key factor in phosphosignaling and manifest it as a control point at the head of the ribosomal 40S subunit itself regulated through posttranslational modification.

Roles of Rack1 Proteins in Fungal Pathogenesis

Pathogenic fungi cause diseases on various organisms. Despite their differences in life cycles, fungal pathogens use well-conserved proteins and pathways to regulate developmental and infection processes. In this review, we focus on Rack1, a multifaceted scaffolding protein involved in various biological processes. Rack1 is well conserved in eukaryotes and plays important roles in fungi, though limited studies have been conducted. To accelerate the study of Rack1 proteins in fungi, we review the functions of Rack1 proteins in model and pathogenic fungi and summarize recent progress on how Rack1 proteins are involved in fungal pathogenesis.

The ribosomal protein Asc1/RACK1 is required for efficient translation of short mRNAs

Translation is a core cellular process carried out by a highly conserved macromolecular machine, the ribosome. There has been remarkable evolutionary adaptation of this machine through the addition of eukaryote-specific ribosomal proteins whose individual effects on ribosome function are largely unknown. Here we show that eukaryote-specific Asc1/RACK1 is required for efficient translation of mRNAs with short open reading frames that show greater than average translational efficiency in diverse eukaryotes. ASC1 mutants in S. cerevisiae display compromised translation of specific functional groups, including cytoplasmic and mitochondrial ribosomal proteins, and display cellular phenotypes consistent with their gene-specific translation defects. Asc1-sensitive mRNAs are preferentially associated with the translational ‘closed loop’ complex comprised of eIF4E, eIF4G, and Pab1, and depletion of eIF4G mimics the translational defects of ASC1 mutants. Together our results reveal a role for Asc1/RACK1 in a length-dependent initiation mechanism optimized for efficient translation of genes with important housekeeping functions.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.11154.001

Ribosomes are structures within cells that are responsible for making proteins. Molecules called messenger RNAs (or mRNAs), which contain genetic information derived from the DNA of a gene, pass through ribosomes that then “translate” that information to build proteins. Although all living cells contain ribosomes, the protein building blocks that make up the structure of the ribosome are not the same in all species. Furthermore, the exact roles that each building block plays during translation are not known.

The ribosomes of plants, animals, and budding yeast contain the same protein, known as Asc1 in budding yeast and RACK1 in plants and animals. Thompson et al. have now explored the role of Asc1 in yeast cells by measuring translation in the absence of Asc1 using a technique called ribosome footprint profiling. This analysis revealed that cells lacking Asc1 translate fewer short mRNA molecules than normal cells. Short mRNAs encode small proteins that tend to play important ‘housekeeping’ roles in the cell — by forming the structural building blocks of ribosomes, for example.

It has been observed previously that short mRNAs are translated at a higher rate than longer mRNAs on average, although the reasons behind this bias are still mysterious. The findings of Thompson et al. suggest that the ribosome itself may discriminate between short and long mRNAs and that the Asc1 protein is involved in calibrating the ribosome’s preference for short mRNAs.

Cells need differing amounts of small proteins in different growth conditions. It will therefore be interesting to investigate whether mRNA length discrimination can be regulated by Asc1 and/or other components of the ribosome to tune gene expression to the environment.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.11154.002

Potential extra-ribosomal functions of ribosomal proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Ribosomal proteins (RPs), are essential components of the ribosomes, the molecular machines that turn mRNA blueprints into proteins, as they serve to stabilize the structure of the rRNA, thus improving protein biosynthesis. In addition, growing evidence suggests that RPs can function in other cellular roles. In the present review, we summarize several potential extra-ribosomal functions of RPs in ribosomal biogenesis, transcription activity, translation process, DNA repair, replicative life span, adhesive growth, and morphological transformation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, the future in-depth studies are needed to identify these novel secondary functions of RPs in S. cerevisiae.

The Receptor for Activated C Kinase in Plant Signaling: Tale of a Promiscuous Little Molecule

Two decades after the first report of the plant homolog of the Receptor for Activated C Kinase 1 (RACK1) in cultured tobacco BY2 cells, a significant advancement has been made in the elucidation of its cellular and molecular role. The protein is now implicated in many biological functions including protein translation, multiple hormonal responses, developmental processes, pathogen infection resistance, environmental stress responses, and miRNA production. Such multiple functional roles are consistent with the scaffolding nature of the plant RACK1 protein. A significant advance was achieved when the β-propeller structure of the Arabidopsis RACK1A isoform was elucidated, thus revealing that its conserved seven WD repeats also assembled into this typical topology. From its crystal structure, it became apparent that it shares the structural platform for the interaction with ligands identified in other systems such as mammals. Although RACK1 proteins maintain conserved Protein Kinase C binding sites, the lack of a bona fide PKC adds complexity and enigma to the nature of the ligand partners with which RACK1 interacts in plants. Nevertheless, ligands recently identified using the split-ubiquitin based and conventional yeast two-hybrid assays, have revealed that plant RACK1 is involved in several processes that include defense response, drought and salt stress, ribosomal function, cell wall biogenesis, and photosynthesis. The information acquired indicates that, in spite of the high degree of conservation of its structure, the functions of the plant RACK1 homolog appear to be distinct and diverse from those in yeast, mammals, insects, etc. In this review, we take a critical look at the novel information regarding the many functions in which plant RACK1 has been reported to participate, with a special emphasis on the information on its currently identified and missing ligand partners.

Patterns of structural dynamics in RACK1 protein retained throughout evolution: a hydrogen-deuterium exchange study of three orthologs

RACK1 is a member of the WD repeat family of proteins and is involved in multiple fundamental cellular processes. An intriguing feature of RACK1 is its ability to interact with at least 80 different protein partners. Thus, the structural features enabling such interactomic flexibility are of great interest. Several previous studies of the crystal structures of RACK1 orthologs described its detailed architecture and confirmed predictions that RACK1 adopts a seven-bladed β-propeller fold. However, this did not explain its ability to bind to multiple partners. We performed hydrogen-deuterium (H-D) exchange mass spectrometry on three orthologs of RACK1 (human, yeast, and plant) to obtain insights into the dynamic properties of RACK1 in solution. All three variants retained similar patterns of deuterium uptake, with some pronounced differences that can be attributed to RACK1's divergent biological functions. In all cases, the most rigid structural elements were confined to B-C turns and, to some extent, strands B and C, while the remaining regions retained much flexibility. We also compared the average rate constants for H-D exchange in different regions of RACK1 and found that amide protons in some regions exchanged at least 1000-fold faster than in others. We conclude that its evolutionarily retained structural architecture might have allowed RACK1 to accommodate multiple molecular partners. This was exemplified by our additional analysis of yeast RACK1 dimer, which showed stabilization, as well as destabilization, of several interface regions upon dimer formation.

The deoxyhypusine synthase mutant dys1-1 reveals the association of eIF5A and Asc1 with cell wall integrity

The putative eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) is a highly conserved protein among archaea and eukaryotes that has recently been implicated in the elongation step of translation. eIF5A undergoes an essential and conserved posttranslational modification at a specific lysine to generate the residue hypusine. The enzymes deoxyhypusine synthase (Dys1) and deoxyhypusine hydroxylase (Lia1) catalyze this two-step modification process. Although several Saccharomyces cerevisiae eIF5A mutants have importantly contributed to the study of eIF5A function, no conditional mutant of Dys1 has been described so far. In this study, we generated and characterized the dys1-1 mutant, which showed a strong depletion of mutated Dys1 protein, resulting in more than 2-fold decrease in hypusine levels relative to the wild type. The dys1-1 mutant demonstrated a defect in total protein synthesis, a defect in polysome profile indicative of a translation elongation defect and a reduced association of eIF5A with polysomes. The growth phenotype of dys1-1 mutant is severe, growing only in the presence of 1 M sorbitol, an osmotic stabilizer. Although this phenotype is characteristic of Pkc1 cell wall integrity mutants, the sorbitol requirement from dys1-1 is not associated with cell lysis. We observed that the dys1-1 genetically interacts with the sole yeast protein kinase C (Pkc1) and Asc1, a component of the 40S ribosomal subunit. The dys1-1 mutant was synthetically lethal in combination with asc1Δ and overexpression of TIF51A (eIF5A) or DYS1 is toxic for an asc1Δ strain. Moreover, eIF5A is more associated with translating ribosomes in the absence of Asc1 in the cell. Finally, analysis of the sensitivity to cell wall-perturbing compounds revealed a more similar behavior of the dys1-1 and asc1Δ mutants in comparison with the pkc1Δ mutant. These data suggest a correlated role for eIF5A and Asc1 in coordinating the translational control of a subset of mRNAs associated with cell integrity.

RACK1/Asc1p, a ribosomal node in cellular signaling

RACK1/Asc1p and its essential orthologues in higher eukaryotes, such as RACK1 in metazoa, are involved in several distinct cellular signaling processes. The implications of a total deletion have never been assessed in a comprehensive manner. This study reveals the major cellular processes affected in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae Δasc1 deletion background via de novo proteome and transcriptome analysis, as well as subsequent phenotypical characterizations. The deletion of ASC1 reduces iron uptake and causes nitrosative stress, both known indicators for hypoxia, which manifests in a shift of energy metabolism from respiration to fermentation in the Δasc1 strain. Asc1p further impacts cellular metabolism through its regulative role in the MAP kinase signal transduction pathways of invasive/filamentous growth and cell wall integrity. In the Δasc1 mutant strain, aberrations from the expected cellular response, mediated by these pathways, can be observed and are linked to changes in protein abundances of pathway-targeted transcription factors. Evidence of the translational regulation of such transcription factors suggests that ribosomal Asc1p is involved in signal transduction pathways and controls the biosynthesis of the respective final transcriptional regulators.