TOR complex 1 includes a novel component, Tco89p (YPL180w), and cooperates with Ssd1p to maintain cellular integrity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Tor1p and Tor2p kinases, targets of the therapeutically important antibiotic rapamycin, function as components of two distinct protein complexes in yeast, termed TOR complex 1 (TORC1) and TORC2. TORC1 is responsible for a wide range of rapamycin-sensitive cellular activities and contains, in addition to Tor1p or Tor2p, two highly conserved proteins, Lst8p and Kog1p. By identifying proteins that co-purify with Tor1p, Tor2p, Lst8p, and Kog1p, we have characterized a comprehensive set of protein-protein interactions that define further the composition of TORC1 as well as TORC2. In particular, we have identified Tco89p (YPL180w) and Bit61p (YJL058c) as novel components of TORC1 and TORC2, respectively. Deletion of TOR1 or TCO89 results in two specific and distinct phenotypes, (i) rapamycin-hypersensitivity and (ii) decreased cellular integrity, both of which correlate with the presence of SSD1-d, an allele of SSD1 previously associated with defects in cellular integrity. Furthermore, we link Ssd1p to Tap42p, a component of the TOR pathway that is believed to act uniquely downstream of TORC1. Together, these results define a novel connection between TORC1 and Ssd1p-mediated maintenance of cellular integrity.

Tor kinases are in distinct membrane-associated protein complexes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Tor1p and Tor2p kinases, targets of the immune-suppressive antibiotic rapamycin, are components of a highly conserved signaling network that couples nutrient availability and cell growth. To gain insight into the molecular basis underlying Tor-dependent signaling, we used cell fractionation and immunoaffinity chromatography to examine the physical environment of Tor2p. We found that the majority of Tor2p associates with a membrane-bound compartment along with at least four other proteins, Avo1p-Avo3p and Lst8p. Using immunogold electron microscopy, we observed that Tor2p, as well as Tor1p, localizes in punctate clusters to regions adjacent to the plasma membrane and within the cell interior, often in association with characteristic membranous tracks. Cell fractionation, coimmunoprecipitation, and immunogold electron microscopy experiments confirmed that Lst8 associates with both Tor2p as well as Tor1p at these membranous sites. In contrast, we find that Kog1, the yeast homologue of the mammalian Tor regulatory protein Raptor, interacts preferentially with Tor1p. These findings provide evidence for the existence of Tor signaling complexes that contain distinct as well as overlapping components. That these complexes colocalize to a membrane-bound compartment suggests an intimate relationship between membrane-mediated signaling and Tor activity.

Roles of two homotetrameric kinesins in sea urchin embryonic cell division

To improve our understanding of the roles of microtubule cross-linking motors in mitosis, we analyzed two sea urchin embryonic kinesin-related proteins. It is striking to note that both of these proteins behave as homotetramers, but one behaves as a more compact molecule than the other. These observations suggest that these two presumptive motors could cross-link microtubules into bundles with different spacing. Both motors localize to mitotic spindles, and antibody microinjection experiments suggest that they have mitotic functions. Thus, one of these kinesin-related proteins may cross-link spindle microtubules into loose bundles that are "tightened" by the other.

Mechanism of metabolic control. Target of rapamycin signaling links nitrogen quality to the activity of the Rtg1 and Rtg3 transcription factors

De novo biosynthesis of amino acids uses intermediates provided by the TCA cycle that must be replenished by anaplerotic reactions to maintain the respiratory competency of the cell. Genome-wide expression analyses in Saccharomyces cerevisiae reveal that many of the genes involved in these reactions are repressed in the presence of the preferred nitrogen sources glutamine or glutamate. Expression of these genes in media containing urea or ammonia as a sole nitrogen source requires the heterodimeric bZip transcription factors Rtg1 and Rtg3 and correlates with a redistribution of the Rtg1p/Rtg3 complex from a predominantly cytoplasmic to a predominantly nuclear location. Nuclear import of the complex requires the cytoplasmic protein Rtg2, a previously identified upstream regulator of Rtg1 and Rtg3, whereas export requires the importin-beta-family member Msn5. Remarkably, nuclear accumulation of Rtg1/Rtg3, as well as expression of their target genes, is induced by addition of rapamycin, a specific inhibitor of the target of rapamycin (TOR) kinases. We demonstrate further that Rtg3 is a phosphoprotein and that its phosphorylation state changes after rapamycin treatment. Taken together, these results demonstrate that target of rapamycin signaling regulates specific anaplerotic reactions by coupling nitrogen quality to the activity and subcellular localization of distinct transcription factors.

A kinesin-related protein, KRP(180), positions prometaphase spindle poles during early sea urchin embryonic cell division

We have investigated the intracellular roles of an Xklp2-related kinesin motor, KRP(180), in positioning spindle poles during early sea urchin embryonic cell division using quantitative, real-time analysis. Immunolocalization reveals that KRP(180) concentrates on microtubules in the central spindle, but is absent from centrosomes. Microinjection of inhibitory antibodies and dominant negative constructs suggest that KRP(180) is not required for the initial separation of spindle poles, but instead functions to transiently position spindle poles specifically during prometaphase.

Identification of kinesin-C, a calmodulin-binding carboxy-terminal kinesin in animal (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) cells

Several novel members of the kinesin superfamily, until now identified only in plants, are unique in their ability to bind calmodulin in the presence of Ca(2+). Here, we identify the first such kinesin in an animal system. Sequence analysis of this new motor, called kinesin-C, predicts that it is a large carboxy-terminal kinesin, 1624 amino acid residues in length, with a predicted molecular mass of 181 kDa. Kinesin-C is predicted to contain a kinesin motor domain at its carboxy terminus, linked to a segment of alpha-helical coiled-coil 950 amino acid residues long, ending with an amino-terminal proline-rich tail domain. A putative calmodulin-binding domain resides at the extreme carboxy terminus of the motor polypeptide, and recombinant kinesin-C binds to a calmodulin-affinity column in a Ca(2+)-dependent fashion. The presence of this novel calmodulin-binding motor in sea urchin embryos suggests that it plays a critical role in Ca(2+)-dependent events during early sea urchin development.

Role of a class DHC1b dynein in retrograde transport of IFT motors and IFT raft particles along cilia, but not dendrites, in chemosensory neurons of living Caenorhabditis elegans

The heterotrimeric motor protein, kinesin-II, and its presumptive cargo, can be observed moving anterogradely at 0.7 microm/s by intraflagellar transport (IFT) within sensory cilia of chemosensory neurons of living Caenorhabditis elegans, using a fluorescence microscope-based transport assay (Orozco, J.T., K.P. Wedaman, D. Signor, H. Brown, L. Rose, and J.M. Scholey. 1999. Nature. 398:674). Here, we report that kinesin-II, and two of its presumptive cargo molecules, OSM-1 and OSM-6, all move at approximately 1.1 microm/s in the retrograde direction along cilia and dendrites, which is consistent with the hypothesis that these proteins are retrieved from the distal endings of the cilia by a retrograde transport pathway that moves them along cilia and then dendrites, back to the neuronal cell body. To test the hypothesis that the minus end-directed microtubule motor protein, cytoplasmic dynein, drives this retrograde transport pathway, we visualized movement of kinesin-II and its cargo along dendrites and cilia in a che-3 cytoplasmic dynein mutant background, and observed an inhibition of retrograde transport in cilia but not in dendrites. In contrast, anterograde IFT proceeds normally in che-3 mutants. Thus, we propose that the class DHC1b cytoplasmic dynein, CHE-3, is specifically responsible for the retrograde transport of the anterograde motor, kinesin-II, and its cargo within sensory cilia, but not within dendrites.

Two heteromeric kinesin complexes in chemosensory neurons and sensory cilia of Caenorhabditis elegans

Chemosensation in the nervous system of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans depends on sensory cilia, whose assembly and maintenance requires the transport of components such as axonemal proteins and signal transduction machinery to their site of incorporation into ciliary structures. Members of the heteromeric kinesin family of microtubule motors are prime candidates for playing key roles in these transport events. Here we describe the molecular characterization and partial purification of two heteromeric kinesin complexes from C. elegans, heterotrimeric CeKinesin-II and dimeric CeOsm-3. Transgenic worms expressing green fluorescent protein driven by endogenous heteromeric kinesin promoters reveal that both CeKinesin-II and CeOsm-3 are expressed in amphid, inner labial, and phasmid chemosensory neurons. Additionally, immunolocalization experiments on fixed worms show an intense concentration of CeKinesin-II and CeOsm-3 polypeptides in the ciliated endings of these chemosensory neurons and a punctate localization pattern in the corresponding cell bodies and dendrites. These results, together with the phenotypes of known mutants in the pathway of sensory ciliary assembly, suggest that CeKinesin-II and CeOsm-3 drive the transport of ciliary components required for sequential steps in the assembly of chemosensory cilia.

Sequence and submolecular localization of the 115-kD accessory subunit of the heterotrimeric kinesin-II (KRP85/95) complex

The heterotrimeric kinesin-II holoenzyme purified from sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) eggs is assembled from two heterodimerized kinesin-related motor subunits of known sequence, together with a third, previously uncharacterized 115-kD subunit, SpKAP115. Using monospecific anti-SpKAP115 antibodies we have accomplished the molecular cloning and sequencing of the SpKAP115 subunit. The deduced sequence predicts a globular 95-kD non-motor "accessory" polypeptide rich in alpha-helical segments that are generally not predicted to form coiled coils. Electron microscopy of individual rotary shadowed kinesin-II holoenzymes also suggests that SpKAP115 is globular, with a somewhat asymmetric morphology. Moreover, the SpKAP115 subunit lies at one end of the 51-nm-long kinesin-II complex, being separated from the two presumptive motor domains by a approximately 26-nm-long rod, in a manner similar to the light chains (KLCs) of kinesin itself. This indicates that SpKAP115 and the KLCs may have analogous functions, yet SpKAP115 does not display significant sequence similarity with the KLCs. The results show that kinesin and kinesin-II are assembled from highly divergent accessory polypeptides together with kinesin related motor subunits (KRPs) containing conserved motor domains linked to divergent tails. Despite the lack of sequence conservation outside the motor domains, there is striking conservation of the ultrastructure of the kinesin and kinesin-II holoenzymes.

A bipolar kinesin

Chromosome segregation during mitosis depends on the action of the mitotic spindle, a self-organizing, bipolar protein machine which uses microtubules (MTs) and their associated motors. Members of the BimC subfamily of kinesin-related MT-motor proteins are believed to be essential for the formation and functioning of a normal bipolar spindle. Here we report that KRP130, a homotetrameric BimC-related kinesin purified from Drosophila melanogaster embryos, has an unusual ultrastructure. It consists of four kinesin-related polypeptides assembled into a bipolar aggregate with motor domains at opposite ends, analogous to a miniature myosin filament. Such a bipolar 'minifilament' could crosslink spindle MTs and slide them relative to one another. We do not know of any other MT motors that have a bipolar structure.

Heterodimerization of the two motor subunits of the heterotrimeric kinesin, KRP85/95

The heterotrimeric kinesin-related motor protein, KRP85/95 is assembled from two kinesin-related polypeptides, SpKRP85 and SpKRP95, together with an uncharacterized 115 kDa polypeptide. Here we report the deduced amino acid sequence of SpKRP95, a close relative of SpKRP85. Both SpKRP85 and SpKRP95 are predicted to have a tripartite domain organization consisting of an N-terminal motor domain, a central stalk domain capable of coiled-coil formation, and a second globular C-terminal domain. The sequences of the central stalk domains predict that SpKRP85 and SpKRP95 should be capable of forming heterodimeric coiled coils. Furthermore, SpKRP85-SpKRP95 complexes can be immunoprecipitated from a cell-free translation system, providing direct evidence that SpKRP85 and SpKRP95 are capable of heterodimerization.

The carboxyl-terminal domain of kinesin heavy chain is important for membrane binding

Sea urchin kinesin is a plus end-directed microtubule-based motor consisting of two heavy chains and two light chains and is proposed to be responsible (a) for the transport of membranous organelles along microtubules in sea urchin mitotic spindles (Wright, B. D., Henson, J. H., Wedaman, K. P., Willy, P. J., Morand, J. N., and Scholey, J. M. (1991) J. Cell Biol. 113, 817-833) and (b) for the radial dispersion of endoplasmic reticulum and endosomal membranes in non-mitotic cultured coelomocytes (Henson, J. H., Nesbitt, D., Wright, B. D., and Scholey, J. M. (1992) J. Cell Sci. 103, 309-320). We report here that sea urchin kinesin is indeed able to bind in a concentration-dependent and saturable manner to microsomal membranes isolated from sea urchin eggs in the presence of MgATP. The kinesin light chains may not be essential for membrane binding since kinesin containing negligible amounts of light chains binds as well as kinesin containing stoichiometric amounts of light chains. Finally, we propose that kinesin binds to membranes with the carboxyl-terminal domain of the heavy chain (amino acid residues 858-1031) since the bacterially expressed and then isolated stalk-tail fragment of kinesin heavy chain, in contrast to the stalk fragment, is able (a) to bind membranes in a concentration-dependent and saturable manner and (b) to compete with native kinesin for membrane binding. Our results support the hypothesis that the carboxyl-terminal domains of the heavy chains attach kinesin molecules to their membranous cargo in mitotic and interphase sea urchin cells.

Novel heterotrimeric kinesin-related protein purified from sea urchin eggs

Kinesin heavy chain and kinesin-related polypeptides (KRPs) comprise a family of motor proteins with diverse intracellular transport functions. Using pan-kinesin peptide antibodies that react with these proteins, we have previously purified from sea urchin eggs a trimeric microtubule-binding and bundling protein, KRP (85/95) (ref. 8) comprising subunits of M(r) 115,000 (115K), 95K and 85K. We report here that kinesin-related genes encode the 85K and 95K subunits, and that the protein can be immunoprecipitated from cytosol as a trimeric complex using an 85K monoclonal antibody. We also find that purified KRP(85/95) directs movements towards the 'plus' ends of microtubules. To our knowledge, this protein is the first kinesin-related motor to be purified from its natural host cell in a native multimeric state.

Sequences of sea urchin kinesin light chain isoforms

We have deduced the amino acid sequences of four sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus; SP) kinesin light chain (KLC) isoforms (SPKLC 1-4) and compared them to rat brain light chain sequences. Examination of the SPKLC open reading frames (SPKLC1, 649; SPKLC2, 677; SPKLC3, 686; and SPKLC4, 451 amino acid residues) reveals that the first 500 or so residues of the KLCs are highly conserved but the C-terminal ends of rat and sea urchin light chains are divergent; SPKLCs 1, 2 and 3 share a highly basic, 86 residue C-terminal segment that is missing from the shorter rat light chains and SPKLC4. The insertion of 28 and 37 residue segments at residue 563 of SPKLCs 2 and 3, respectively, gives rise to sequence heterogeneity at the C-terminal ends of the sea urchin KLCs. C-terminal sequence differences between light chains may provide inter- and intraspecies differences in the functional properties of the presumptive cargo attachment elements of kinesin.

Subcellular localization and sequence of sea urchin kinesin heavy chain: evidence for its association with membranes in the mitotic apparatus and interphase cytoplasm

Kinesin was previously immunolocalized to mitotic apparatuses (MAs) of early sea urchin blastomeres (Scholey, J.M., M.E. Porter, P.M. Grissom, and J.R. McIntosh. 1985. Nature [Lond.]. 318:483-486). Here we report evidence that this MA-associated motor protein is a conventional membrane-bound kinesin, rather than a kinesin-like protein. Our evidence includes the observation that the deduced amino acid sequence of this sea urchin kinesin heavy chain is characteristic of a conventional kinesin. In addition, immunolocalizations using antibodies that distinguish kinesin from kinesin-like proteins confirm that conventional kinesin is concentrated in MAs. Finally, our immunocytochemical data further suggest that conventional kinesin is associated with membranes which accumulate in MAs and interphase asters of early sea urchin embryos, and with vesicles that are distributed in the perinuclear region of coelomocytes. Thus kinesin may function as a microtubule-based vesicle motor in some MAs, as well as in the interphase cytoplasm.