ABSTRACTRho GTPases regulate cell polarity and signal transduction pathways to control morphogenetic responses in different settings. In yeast, the Rho GTPase Cdc42p regulates cell polarity, and through the p21-activated kinase Ste20p, Cdc42p also regulates mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways (mating, filamentous growth or fMAPK, and HOG). Although much is known about how Cdc42p regulates cell polarity and the mating pathway, how Cdc42p regulates the fMAPK pathway is not clear. To address this question, Cdc42p-dependent MAPK pathways were compared in the filamentous (∑1278b) strain background. Each MAPK pathway showed a unique activation profile, with the fMAPK pathway exhibiting slow activation kinetics compared to the mating and HOG pathways. A previously characterized version of Cdc42p, Cdc42pE100A, that is specifically defective for fMAPK pathway signaling, was defective for interaction with Bem4p, the pathway-specific adaptor for the fMAPK pathway. Corresponding residues in Bem4p were identified that were required for interaction with Cdc42p and fMAPK pathway signaling. The polarity adaptor Bem1p also regulated the fMAPK pathway. In the fMAPK pathway, Bem1p recruited Ste20p to the plasma membrane, cycled between an open and closed conformation, and interacted with the GEF for Cdc42, Cdc24p. Bem1p also regulated effector pathways in different ways, behaving as a multi-functional adaptor in some pathways and an inert scaffold in others. Genetic suppression tests showed that Bem4p and Bem1p regulate the fMAPK pathway in an ordered sequence. Collectively, the study demonstrates unique and sequential functions for Rho GTPase adaptors in regulating MAPK pathways.HIGHLIGHTSComparing Cdc42p-dependent MAPK pathways showed that the fMAPK pathway had slow activation kinetics compared to the mating and HOG pathways.A collection of cdc42 alleles was tested for MAPK pathway functions.
§ Cdc42pE100A, previously characterized as being specifically defective for fMAPK signaling, showed reduced interaction with the fMAPK pathway adaptor Bem4p.§ Corresponding residues in Bem4p were identified that were required for interaction with Cdc42p and fMAPK signaling.The polarity adaptor Bem1p regulated the fMAPK pathway.
§ Bem1p regulated the fMAPK pathway by recruiting Ste20p to the plasma membrane, cycling between an open and closed conformation, and interacting with the Cdc42p GEF, Cdc24p.Different domains of Bem1p had different roles in regulating effector pathways.
§ Bem1p may function as a multi-functional adaptor in some pathways and an inert scaffold in others.Bem4p and Bem1p regulated the fMAPK pathway in an ordered sequence.
§ The data support a model where Bem4p recruits Cdc24p to GDP-Cdc42p, and Bem1p directs GTP-Cdc42p to Ste20p at the plasma membrane.§ The bud-site GTPase Rsr1p regulates Cdc24p in the fMAPK pathway but does not initiate signaling.
The RhoGAP myosin 9/HUM-7 integrates membrane signals to modulate Rho/RHO-1 during embryonic morphogenesis in C. elegans
