scholarly journals Mot3, a Zn Finger Transcription Factor That Modulates Gene Expression and Attenuates Mating Pheromone Signaling in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Genetics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 149 (2) ◽  
pp. 879-892 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anatoly V Grishin ◽  
Michael Rothenberg ◽  
Maureen A Downs ◽  
Kendall J Blumer

Abstract In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, mating pheromone response is initiated by activation of a G protein- and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase-dependent signaling pathway and attenuated by several mechanisms that promote adaptation or desensitization. To identify genes whose products negatively regulate pheromone signaling, we screened for mutations that suppress the hyperadaptive phenotype of wild-type cells overexpressing signaling-defective G protein β subunits. This identified recessive mutations in MOT3, which encodes a nuclear protein with two Cys2-His2 Zn fingers. MOT3 was found to be a dosage-dependent inhibitor of pheromone response and pheromone-induced gene expression and to require an intact signaling pathway to exert its effects. Several results suggested that Mot3 attenuates expression of pheromone-responsive genes by mechanisms distinct from those used by the negative transcriptional regulators Cdc36, Cdc39, and Mot2. First, a Mot3-lexA fusion functions as a transcriptional activator. Second, Mot3 is a dose-dependent activator of several genes unrelated to pheromone response, including CYC1, SUC2, and LEU2. Third, insertion of consensus Mot3 binding sites (C/A/T)AGG(T/C)A activates a promoter in a MOT3-dependent manner. These findings, and the fact that consensus binding sites are found in the 5′ flanking regions of many yeast genes, suggest that Mot3 is a globally acting transcriptional regulator. We hypothesize that Mot3 regulates expression of factors that attenuate signaling by the pheromone response pathway.

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 2966-2972
Author(s):  
M de Barros Lopes ◽  
J Y Ho ◽  
S I Reed

Conditional mutations in the genes CDC36 and CDC39 cause arrest in the G1 phase of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell cycle at the restrictive temperature. We present evidence that this arrest is a consequence of a mutational activation of the mating pheromone response. cdc36 and cdc39 mutants expressed pheromone-inducible genes in the absence of pheromone and conjugated in the absence of a mating pheromone receptor. On the other hand, cells lacking the G beta subunit or overproducing the G alpha subunit of the transducing G protein that couples the receptor to the pheromone response pathway prevented constitutive activation of the pathway in cdc36 and cdc39 mutants. These epistasis relationships imply that the CDC36 and CDC39 gene products act at the level of the transducing G protein. The CDC36 and CDC39 gene products have a role in cellular processes other than the mating pheromone response. A mating-type heterozygous diploid cell, homozygous for either the cdc36 or cdc39 mutation, does not exhibit the G1 arrest phenotype but arrests asynchronously with respect to the cell cycle. A similar asynchronous arrest was observed in cdc36 and cdc39 cells where the pheromone response pathway had been inactivated by mutations in the transducing G protein. Furthermore, cdc36 and cdc39 mutants, when grown on carbon catabolite-derepressing medium, did not arrest in G1 and did not induce pheromone-specific genes at the restrictive temperature.


1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 217-222
Author(s):  
M Whiteway ◽  
L Hougan ◽  
D Y Thomas

The STE4 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes the beta subunit of the yeast pheromone receptor-coupled G protein. Overexpression of the STE4 protein led to cell cycle arrest of haploid cells. This arrest was like the arrest mediated by mating pheromones in that it led to similar morphological changes in the arrested cells. The arrest occurred in haploid cells of either mating type but not in MATa/MAT alpha diploids, and it was suppressed by defects in genes such as STE12 that are needed for pheromone response. Overexpression of the STE4 gene product also suppressed the sterility of cells defective in the mating pheromone receptors encoded by the STE2 and STE3 genes. Cell cycle arrest mediated by STE4 overexpression was prevented in cells that either were overexpressing the SCG1 gene product (the alpha subunit of the G protein) or lacked the STE18 gene product (the gamma subunit of the G protein). This finding suggests that in yeast cells, the beta subunit is the limiting component of the active beta gamma element and that a proper balance in the levels of the G-protein subunits is critical to a normal mating pheromone response.


1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 217-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Whiteway ◽  
L Hougan ◽  
D Y Thomas

The STE4 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes the beta subunit of the yeast pheromone receptor-coupled G protein. Overexpression of the STE4 protein led to cell cycle arrest of haploid cells. This arrest was like the arrest mediated by mating pheromones in that it led to similar morphological changes in the arrested cells. The arrest occurred in haploid cells of either mating type but not in MATa/MAT alpha diploids, and it was suppressed by defects in genes such as STE12 that are needed for pheromone response. Overexpression of the STE4 gene product also suppressed the sterility of cells defective in the mating pheromone receptors encoded by the STE2 and STE3 genes. Cell cycle arrest mediated by STE4 overexpression was prevented in cells that either were overexpressing the SCG1 gene product (the alpha subunit of the G protein) or lacked the STE18 gene product (the gamma subunit of the G protein). This finding suggests that in yeast cells, the beta subunit is the limiting component of the active beta gamma element and that a proper balance in the levels of the G-protein subunits is critical to a normal mating pheromone response.


1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 2966-2972 ◽  
Author(s):  
M de Barros Lopes ◽  
J Y Ho ◽  
S I Reed

Conditional mutations in the genes CDC36 and CDC39 cause arrest in the G1 phase of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell cycle at the restrictive temperature. We present evidence that this arrest is a consequence of a mutational activation of the mating pheromone response. cdc36 and cdc39 mutants expressed pheromone-inducible genes in the absence of pheromone and conjugated in the absence of a mating pheromone receptor. On the other hand, cells lacking the G beta subunit or overproducing the G alpha subunit of the transducing G protein that couples the receptor to the pheromone response pathway prevented constitutive activation of the pathway in cdc36 and cdc39 mutants. These epistasis relationships imply that the CDC36 and CDC39 gene products act at the level of the transducing G protein. The CDC36 and CDC39 gene products have a role in cellular processes other than the mating pheromone response. A mating-type heterozygous diploid cell, homozygous for either the cdc36 or cdc39 mutation, does not exhibit the G1 arrest phenotype but arrests asynchronously with respect to the cell cycle. A similar asynchronous arrest was observed in cdc36 and cdc39 cells where the pheromone response pathway had been inactivated by mutations in the transducing G protein. Furthermore, cdc36 and cdc39 mutants, when grown on carbon catabolite-derepressing medium, did not arrest in G1 and did not induce pheromone-specific genes at the restrictive temperature.


2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 1921-1930 ◽  
Author(s):  
Twila A. Jackson ◽  
David M. Koterwas ◽  
Melissa A. Morgan ◽  
Andrew P. Bradford

Abstract Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) play a critical role in pituitary development and in pituitary tumor formation and progression. We have previously characterized FGF signal transduction and regulation of the tissue-specific rat prolactin (rPRL) promoter in GH4 pituitary cells. FGF induction of rPRL transcription is independent of Ras, but mediated by a protein kinase C-δ (PKCδ)-dependent activation of MAPK (ERK). Here we demonstrate a functional role for the Rho family monomeric G protein, Rac1, in FGF regulation of PRL gene expression via an atypical signaling pathway. Expression of dominant negative Rac, but not RhoA or Cdc42, selectively inhibited FGF-induced rPRL promoter activity. Moreover, expression of dominant negative Rac also attenuated FGF-2 and FGF-4 stimulation of MAPK (ERK). However, in contrast to other Rac-dependent signaling pathways, FGF activation of rPRL promoter activity was independent of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt cascades. FGFs failed to activate JNK1 or JNK2, and expression of dominant negative JNK or Akt constructs did not block FGF-induced PRL transcription. Consistent with the role of PKCδ in FGF regulation of PRL gene expression, activation of the rPRL promoter was blocked by an inhibitor of phospholipase Cγ (PLCγ) activity. FGF treatment also induced rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of PLCγ in a Rac-dependent manner. These results suggest that FGF-2 and FGF-4 activate PRL gene expression via a novel Rac1, PLCγ, PKCδ, and ERK cascade, independent of phosphoinositol-3-kinase and JNK.


2006 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 330-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott A. Chasse ◽  
Paul Flanary ◽  
Stephen C. Parnell ◽  
Nan Hao ◽  
Jiyoung Y. Cha ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT A common property of G protein-coupled receptors is that they become less responsive with prolonged stimulation. Regulators of G protein signaling (RGS proteins) are well known to accelerate G protein GTPase activity and do so by stabilizing the transition state conformation of the G protein α subunit. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae there are four RGS-homologous proteins (Sst2, Rgs2, Rax1, and Mdm1) and two Gα proteins (Gpa1 and Gpa2). We show that Sst2 is the only RGS protein that binds selectively to the transition state conformation of Gpa1. The other RGS proteins also bind Gpa1 and modulate pheromone signaling, but to a lesser extent and in a manner clearly distinct from Sst2. To identify other candidate pathway regulators, we compared pheromone responses in 4,349 gene deletion mutants representing nearly all nonessential genes in yeast. A number of mutants produced an increase (sst2, bar1, asc1, and ygl024w) or decrease (cla4) in pheromone sensitivity or resulted in pheromone-independent signaling (sst2, pbs2, gas1, and ygl024w). These findings suggest that Sst2 is the principal regulator of Gpa1-mediated signaling in vivo but that other proteins also contribute in distinct ways to pathway regulation.


1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 2484-2493 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Y Jahng ◽  
J Ferguson ◽  
S I Reed

Mutations which allowed conjugation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells lacking a mating pheromone receptor gene were selected. One of the genes defined by such mutations was isolated from a yeast genomic library by complementation of a temperature-sensitive mutation and is identical to the gene GPA1 (also known as SCG1), recently shown to be highly homologous to genes encoding the alpha subunits of mammalian G proteins. Physiological analysis of temperature-sensitive gpa1 mutations suggests that the encoded G protein is involved in signaling in response to mating pheromones. Mutational disruption of G-protein activity causes cell-cycle arrest in G1, deposition of mating-specific cell surface agglutinins, and induction of pheromone-specific mRNAs, all of which are responses to pheromone in wild-type cells. In addition, mutants can conjugate without the benefit of mating pheromone or pheromone receptor. A model is presented where the activated G protein has a negative impact on a constitutive signal which normally keeps the pheromone response repressed.


1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 510-517
Author(s):  
G M Cole ◽  
D E Stone ◽  
S I Reed

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae GPA1, STE4, and STE18 genes encode products homologous to mammalian G-protein alpha, beta, and gamma subunits, respectively. All three genes function in the transduction of the signal generated by mating pheromone in haploid cells. To characterize more completely the role of these genes in mating, we have conditionally overexpressed GPA1, STE4, and STE18, using the galactose-inducible GAL1 promoter. Overexpression of STE4 alone, or STE4 together with STE18, generated a response in haploid cells suggestive of pheromone signal transduction: arrest in G1 of the cell cycle, formation of cellular projections, and induction of the pheromone-inducible transcript FUS1 25- to 70-fold. High-level STE18 expression alone had none of these effects, nor did overexpression of STE4 in a MATa/alpha diploid. However, STE18 was essential for the response, since overexpression of STE4 was unable to activate a response in a ste18 null strain. GPA1 hyperexpression suppressed the phenotype of STE4 overexpression. In addition, cells that overexpressed GPA1 were more resistant to pheromone and recovered more quickly from pheromone than did wild-type cells, which suggests that GPA1 may function in an adaptation response to pheromone.


1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 2723-2735 ◽  
Author(s):  
C M Moehle ◽  
A G Hinnebusch

An amino acid limitation in bacteria elicits a global response, called stringent control, that leads to reduced synthesis of rRNA and ribosomal proteins and increased expression of amino acid biosynthetic operons. We have used the antimetabolite 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole to cause histidine limitation as a means to elicit the stringent response in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Fusions of the yeast ribosomal protein genes RPL16A, CRY1, RPS16A, and RPL25 with the Escherichia coli lacZ gene were used to show that the expression of these genes is reduced by a factor of 2 to 5 during histidine-limited exponential growth and that this regulation occurs at the level of transcription. Stringent regulation of the four yeast ribosomal protein genes was shown to be associated with a nucleotide sequence, known as the UASrpg (upstream activating sequence for ribosomal protein genes), that binds the transcriptional regulatory protein RAP1. The RAP1 binding sites also appeared to mediate the greater ribosomal protein gene expression observed in cells growing exponentially than in cells in stationary phase. Although expression of the ribosomal protein genes was reduced in response to histidine limitation, the level of RAP1 DNA-binding activity in cell extracts was unaffected. Yeast strains bearing a mutation in any one of the genes GCN1 to GCN4 are defective in derepression of amino acid biosynthetic genes in 10 different pathways under conditions of histidine limitation. These Gcn- mutants showed wild-type regulation of ribosomal protein gene expression, which suggests that separate regulatory pathways exist in S. cerevisiae for the derepression of amino acid biosynthetic genes and the repression of ribosomal protein genes in response to amino acid starvation.


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