Calcium signaling is involved in dynein-dependent microtubule organization

The microtubule cytoskeleton supports cellular morphogenesis and polar growth, but the underlying mechanisms are not understood. In a screen for morphology mutants defective in microtubule organization in the fungus Ustilago maydis, we identified eca1 that encodes a sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic calcium ATPase. Eca1 resides in the endoplasmic reticulum and restores growth of a yeast mutant defective in calcium homeostasis. Deletion of eca1 resulted in elevated cytosolic calcium levels and a severe growth and morphology defect. While F-actin and myosin V distribution is unaffected, Deltaeca1 mutants contain longer and disorganized microtubules that show increased rescue and reduced catastrophe frequencies. Morphology can be restored by inhibition of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinases or destabilizing microtubules, indicating that calcium-dependent alterations in dynamic instability are a major cause of the growth defect. Interestingly, dynein mutants show virtually identical changes in microtubule dynamics and dynein-dependent ER motility was drastically decreased in Deltaeca1. This indicates a connection between calcium signaling, dynein, and microtubule organization in morphogenesis of U. maydis.

Development of a transformation system for the multinuclear yeast Dipodascus (Endomyces) magnusii

We have developed the first system for genetic transformation of the multinuclear yeast Dipodascus magnusii. The system is based on a dominant selectable marker and an autonomously replicating sequence. We have constructed a plasmid vector which contains a marker conferring resistance to zeocin and the segment of non-transcribed spacer of D. magnusii ribosomal DNA which supports the autonomous replication of plasmid DNA in yeast cells. Plasmid DNA has been transferred into D. magnusii cells by electroporation.

Enrichment of yeast protein tyrosine kinase activity by substrate affinity chromatography

The direct biochemical analysis of protein tyrosine kinases from yeast has been difficult due to their very low activity in crude cell lysates. Here we present a procedure for the enrichment and partial purification of protein tyrosine kinases from Saccharomyces cerevisiae based on single-step substrate affinity chromatography using a synthetic random co-polymer of glutamic acid and tyrosine. Fractionation of cell lysates on a poly-glutamic acid:tyrosine (4:1)-Sepharose affinity column resulted in a 4000-fold increase in tyrosine kinase activity. Active fractions contain at least six potential protein kinases as judged by in situ phosphorylation assay and Western blot analysis using anti-phosphotyrosine. We propose that this protocol may also be useful for the initial identification and purification of tyrosine kinases from other organisms exhibiting low levels of this enzymatic activity in cell lysates.