scholarly journals The External Amino Acid Signaling Pathway Promotes Activation of Stp1 and Uga35/Dal81 Transcription Factors for Induction of the AGP1 Gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Genetics ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 166 (4) ◽  
pp. 1727-1739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fadi Abdel-Sater ◽  
Ismaïl Iraqui ◽  
Antonio Urrestarazu ◽  
Bruno André

Abstract Yeast cells respond to the presence of amino acids in their environment by inducing transcription of several amino acid permease genes including AGP1, BAP2, and BAP3. The signaling pathway responsible for this induction involves Ssy1, a permease-like sensor of external amino acids, and culminates with proteolytic cleavage and translocation to the nucleus of the zinc-finger proteins Stp1 and Stp2, the lack of which abolishes induction of BAP2 and BAP3. Here we show that Stp1—but not Stp2—plays an important role in AGP1 induction, although significant induction of AGP1 by amino acids persists in stp1 and stp1 stp2 mutants. This residual induction depends on the Uga35/Dal81 transcription factor, indicating that the external amino acid signaling pathway activates not only Stp1 and Stp2, but also another Uga35/Dal81-dependent transcriptional circuit. Analysis of the AGP1 gene’s upstream region revealed that Stp1 and Uga35/Dal81 act synergistically through a 21-bp cis-acting sequence similar to the UASAA element previously found in the BAP2 and BAP3 upstream regions. Although cells growing under poor nitrogen-supply conditions display much higher induction of AGP1 expression than cells growing under good nitrogen-supply conditions, the UASAA itself is totally insensitive to nitrogen availability. Nitrogen-source control of AGP1 induction is mediated by the GATA factor Gln3, likely acting through adjacent 5′-GATA-3′ sequences, to amplify the positive effect of UASAA. Our data indicate that Stp1 may act in combination with distinct sets of transcription factors, according to the gene context, to promote induction of transcription in response to external amino acids. The data also suggest that Uga35/Dal81 is yet another transcription factor under the control of the external amino acid sensing pathway. Finally, the data show that the TOR pathway mediating global nitrogen control of transcription does not interfere with the external amino acid signaling pathway.

2004 ◽  
Vol 24 (22) ◽  
pp. 9771-9785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fadi Abdel-Sater ◽  
Mohamed El Bakkoury ◽  
Antonio Urrestarazu ◽  
Stephan Vissers ◽  
Bruno André

ABSTRACT Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells possess a plasma membrane sensor able to detect the presence of extracellular amino acids and then to activate a signaling pathway leading to transcriptional induction of multiple genes, e.g., AGP1, encoding an amino acid permease. This sensing function requires the permease-like Ssy1 and associated Ptr3 and Ssy5 proteins, all essential to activation, by endoproteolytic processing, of the membrane-bound Stp1 transcription factor. The SCFGrr1 ubiquitin-ligase complex is also essential to AGP1 induction, but its exact role in the amino acid signaling pathway remains unclear. Here we show that Stp1 undergoes casein kinase I-dependent phosphorylation. In the yck mutant lacking this kinase, Stp1 is not cleaved and AGP1 is not induced in response to amino acids. Furthermore, we provide evidence that Ssy5 is the endoprotease responsible for Stp1 processing. Ssy5 is significantly similar to serine proteases, its self-processing is a prerequisite for Stp1 cleavage, and its overexpression causes inducer-independent Stp1 cleavage and high-level AGP1 transcription. We further show that Stp1 processing also requires the SCFGrr1 complex but is insensitive to proteasome inhibition. However, Stp1 processing does not require SCFGrr1, Ssy1, or Ptr3 when Ssy5 is overproduced. Finally, we describe the properties of a particular ptr3 mutant that suggest that Ptr3 acts with Ssy1 in amino acid detection and signal initiation. We propose that Ssy1 and Ptr3 form the core components of the amino acid sensor. Upon detection of external amino acids, Ssy1-Ptr3 likely allows—in a manner dependent on SCFGrr1—the Ssy5 endoprotease to gain access to and to cleave Stp1, this requiring prior phosphorylation of Stp1 by casein kinase I.


2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (13) ◽  
pp. 3299-3309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thorsten Pfirrmann ◽  
Stijn Heessen ◽  
Deike J. Omnus ◽  
Claes Andréasson ◽  
Per O. Ljungdahl

ABSTRACT Extracellular amino acids induce the yeast SPS sensor to endoproteolytically cleave transcription factors Stp1 and Stp2 in a process termed receptor-activated proteolysis (RAP). Ssy5, the activating endoprotease, is synthesized with a large N-terminal prodomain and a C-terminal chymotrypsin-like catalytic (Cat) domain. During biogenesis, Ssy5 cleaves itself and the prodomain and Cat domain remain associated, forming an inactive primed protease. Here we show that the prodomain is a potent inhibitor of Cat domain activity and that its inactivation is a requisite for RAP. Accordingly, amino acid-induced signals trigger proteasome-dependent degradation of the prodomain. A mutation that stabilizes the prodomain prevents Stp1 processing, whereas destabilizing mutations lead to constitutive RAP-independent Stp1 processing. We fused a conditional degron to the prodomain to synthetically reprogram the amino acid-responsive SPS signaling pathway, placing it under temperature control. Our results define a regulatory mechanism that is novel for eukaryotic proteases functioning within cells.


1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 989-1001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ismaïl Iraqui ◽  
Stephan Vissers ◽  
Florent Bernard ◽  
Johan-Owen de Craene ◽  
Eckhard Boles ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The SSY1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiaeencodes a member of a large family of amino acid permeases. Compared to the 17 other proteins of this family, however, Ssy1p displays unusual structural features reminiscent of those distinguishing the Snf3p and Rgt2p glucose sensors from the other proteins of the sugar transporter family. We show here that SSY1 is required for transcriptional induction, in response to multiple amino acids, of theAGP1 gene encoding a low-affinity, broad-specificity amino acid permease. Total noninduction of the AGP1 gene in thessy1Δ mutant is not due to impaired incorporation of inducing amino acids. Conversely, AGP1 is strongly induced by tryptophan in a mutant strain largely deficient in tryptophan uptake, but it remains unexpressed in a mutant that accumulates high levels of tryptophan endogenously. Induction of AGP1requires Uga35p(Dal81p/DurLp), a transcription factor of the Cys6-Zn2 family previously shown to participate in several nitrogen induction pathways. Induction of AGP1by amino acids also requires Grr1p, the F-box protein of the SCFGrr1 ubiquitin-protein ligase complex also required for transduction of the glucose signal generated by the Snf3p and Rgt2p glucose sensors. Systematic analysis of amino acid permease genes showed that Ssy1p is involved in transcriptional induction of at least five genes in addition to AGP1. Our results show that the amino acid permease homologue Ssy1p is a sensor of external amino acids, coupling availability of amino acids to transcriptional events. The essential role of Grr1p in this amino acid signaling pathway lends further support to the hypothesis that this protein participates in integrating nutrient availability with the cell cycle.


2003 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 922-929 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard F. Gaber ◽  
Kim Ottow ◽  
Helge A. Andersen ◽  
Morten C. Kielland-Brandt

ABSTRACT Sensing of extracellular amino acids results in transcriptional induction of amino acid permease genes in yeast. Ssy1, a membrane protein resembling amino acid permeases, is required for signaling but is apparently unable to transport amino acids and is thus believed to be a sensor. By using a novel genetic screen in which potassium uptake was made dependent on amino acid signaling, we obtained gain-of-function mutations in SSY1. Some alleles confer inducer-independent signaling; others increase the apparent affinity for inducers. The results reveal that amino acid transport is not required for signaling and support the notion that sensing by Ssy1 occurs via its direct interaction with extracellular amino acids.


2006 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 174-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine Eckert-Boulet ◽  
Katrin Larsson ◽  
Boqian Wu ◽  
Peter Poulsen ◽  
Birgitte Regenberg ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, extracellular amino acids are sensed at the plasma membrane by the SPS sensor, consisting of the transporter homologue Ssy1p, Ptr3p, and the endoprotease Ssy5p. Amino acid sensing results in proteolytic truncation of the transcription factors Stp1p and Stp2p, followed by their relocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, where they activate transcription of amino acid permease genes. We screened a transposon mutant library for constitutively signaling mutants, with the aim of identifying down-regulating components of the SPS-mediated pathway. Three isolated mutants were carrying a transposon in the RTS1 gene, which encodes a regulatory subunit of protein phosphatase 2A. We investigated the basal activity of the AGP1 and BAP2 promoters in rts1Δ cells and found increased transcription from these promoters, as well as increased Stp1p processing, even in the absence of amino acids. Based on our findings we propose that the phosphatase complex containing Rts1p keeps the SPS-mediated pathway down-regulated in the absence of extracellular amino acids by dephosphorylating a component of the pathway.


2005 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 1116-1124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Poulsen ◽  
Boqian Wu ◽  
Richard F. Gaber ◽  
Morten C. Kielland-Brandt

ABSTRACT Amino acids in the environment of Saccharomyces cerevisiae can transcriptionally activate a third of the amino acid permease genes through a signal that originates from the interaction between the extracellular amino acids and an integral plasma membrane protein, Ssy1p. Two plasma membrane-associated proteins, Ptr3p and Ssy5p, participate in the sensing, which results in cleavage of the transcription factors Stp1p and Stp2p, removing 10 kDa of the N terminus of each of them. This confers the transcription factors with the ability to gain access to the nucleus and activate transcription of amino acid permease genes. To extend our understanding of the role of Ptr3p and Ssy5p in this amino acid sensing process, we have isolated constitutive gain-of-function mutants in these two components by using a genetic screening in which potassium uptake is made dependent on amino acid signaling. Mutants which exhibit inducer-independent processing of Stp1p and activation of the amino acid permease gene AGP1 were obtained. For each component of the SPS complex, constitutive signaling by a mutant allele depended on the presence of wild-type alleles of the other two components. Despite the signaling in the absence of inducer, the processing of Stp1p was more complete in the presence of inducer. Dose response assays showed that the median effective concentration for Stp1p processing in the mutant cells was decreased; i.e., a lower inducer concentration is needed for signaling in the mutant cells. These results suggest that the three sensor components interact intimately in a complex rather than in separate reactions and support the notion that the three components function as a complex.


2002 ◽  
Vol 184 (15) ◽  
pp. 4071-4080 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. H. F. Hosie ◽  
D. Allaway ◽  
C. S. Galloway ◽  
H. A. Dunsby ◽  
P. S. Poole

ABSTRACT Amino acid uptake by Rhizobium leguminosarum is dominated by two ABC transporters, the general amino acid permease (Aap) and the branched-chain amino acid permease (BraRl). Characterization of the solute specificity of BraRl shows it to be the second general amino acid permease of R. leguminosarum. Although BraRl has high sequence identity to members of the family of hydrophobic amino acid transporters (HAAT), it transports a broad range of solutes, including acidic and basic polar amino acids (l-glutamate, l-arginine, and l-histidine), in addition to neutral amino acids (l-alanine and l-leucine). While amino and carboxyl groups are required for transport, solutes do not have to be α-amino acids. Consistent with this, BraRl is the first ABC transporter to be shown to transport γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). All previously identified bacterial GABA transporters are secondary carriers of the amino acid-polyamine-organocation (APC) superfamily. Also, transport by BraRl does not appear to be stereospecific as d amino acids cause significant inhibition of uptake of l-glutamate and l-leucine. Unlike all other solutes tested, l-alanine uptake is not dependent on solute binding protein BraCRl. Therefore, a second, unidentified solute binding protein may interact with the BraDEFGRl membrane complex during l-alanine uptake. Overall, the data indicate that BraRl is a general amino acid permease of the HAAT family. Furthermore, BraRl has the broadest solute specificity of any characterized bacterial amino acid transporter.


2019 ◽  
Vol 218 (12) ◽  
pp. 3954-3966 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Curnock ◽  
Alessia Calcagni ◽  
Andrea Ballabio ◽  
Peter J. Cullen

Endosomal recycling maintains the cell surface abundance of nutrient transporters for nutrient uptake, but how the cell integrates nutrient availability with recycling is less well understood. Here, in studying the recycling of human glutamine transporters ASCT2 (SLC1A5), LAT1 (SLC7A5), SNAT1 (SLC38A1), and SNAT2 (SLC38A2), we establish that following amino acid restriction, the adaptive delivery of SNAT2 to the cell surface relies on retromer, a master conductor of endosomal recycling. Upon complete amino acid starvation or selective glutamine depletion, we establish that retromer expression is upregulated by transcription factor EB (TFEB) and other members of the MiTF/TFE family of transcription factors through association with CLEAR elements in the promoters of the retromer genes VPS35 and VPS26A. TFEB regulation of retromer expression therefore supports adaptive nutrient acquisition through endosomal recycling.


BMC Genomics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Renan Terassi Pinto ◽  
Natália Chagas Freitas ◽  
Wesley Pires Flausino Máximo ◽  
Thiago Bergamo Cardoso ◽  
Débora de Oliveira Prudente ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Coffee production relies on plantations with varieties from Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora species. The first, the most representative in terms of coffee consumption, is mostly propagated by seeds, which leads to management problems regarding the plantations maintenance, harvest and processing of grains. Therefore, an efficient clonal propagation process is required for this species cultivation, which is possible by reaching a scalable and cost-effective somatic embryogenesis protocol. A key process on somatic embryogenesis induction is the auxin homeostasis performed by Gretchen Hagen 3 (GH3) proteins through amino acid conjugation. In this study, the GH3 family members were identified on C. canephora genome, and by performing analysis related to gene and protein structure and transcriptomic profile on embryogenic tissues, we point a GH3 gene as a potential regulator of auxin homeostasis during early somatic embryogenesis in C. arabica plants. Results We have searched within the published C. canephora genome and found 17 GH3 family members. We checked the conserved domains for GH3 proteins and clustered the members in three main groups according to phylogenetic relationships. We identified amino acids sets in four GH3 proteins that are related to acidic amino acid conjugation to auxin, and using a transcription factor (TF) network approach followed by RT-qPCR we analyzed their possible transcriptional regulators and expression profiles in cells with contrasting embryogenic potential in C. arabica. The CaGH3.15 expression pattern is the most correlated with embryogenic potential and with CaBBM, a C. arabica ortholog of a major somatic embryogenesis regulator. Conclusion Therefore, one out of the GH3 members may be influencing on coffee somatic embryogenesis by auxin conjugation with acidic amino acids, which leads to the phytohormone degradation. It is an indicative that this gene can serve as a molecular marker for coffee cells with embryogenic potential and needs to be further studied on how much determinant it is for this process. This work, together with future studies, can support the improvement of coffee clonal propagation through in vitro derived somatic embryos.


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