scholarly journals Saccharomyces cerevisiae a-Factor Mutants Reveal Residues Critical for Processing, Activity, and Export

2006 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. 1560-1570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory Huyer ◽  
Amy Kistler ◽  
Franklin J. Nouvet ◽  
Carolyn M. George ◽  
Meredith L. Boyle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Comprehensive Analysis ◽  
Large Collection ◽  
Phenotypic Analysis ◽  
Mating Pheromone ◽  
Processing Activity ◽  
Development And Aging ◽  
Proteolytic Cleavages ◽  
Processing Steps ◽  
Caax Motif

ABSTRACT The Saccharomyces cerevisiae mating pheromone a-factor provides a paradigm for understanding the biogenesis of prenylated fungal pheromones. The biogenesis of a-factor involves multiple steps: (i) C-terminal CAAX modification (where C is cysteine, A is aliphatic, and X is any residue) which includes prenylation, proteolysis, and carboxymethylation (by Ram1p/Ram2p, Ste24p or Rce1p, and Ste14p, respectively); (ii) N-terminal processing, involving two sequential proteolytic cleavages (by Ste24p and Axl1p); and (iii) nonclassical export (by Ste6p). Once exported, mature a-factor interacts with the Ste3p receptor on MATα cells to stimulate mating. The a-factor biogenesis machinery is well defined, as is the CAAX motif that directs C-terminal modification; however, very little is known about the sequence determinants within a-factor required for N-terminal processing, activity, and export. Here we generated a large collection of a-factor mutants and identified residues critical for the N-terminal processing steps mediated by Ste24p and Axl1p. We also identified mutants that fail to support mating but do not affect biogenesis or export, suggesting a defective interaction with the Ste3p receptor. Mutants significantly impaired in export were also found, providing evidence that the Ste6p transporter recognizes sequence determinants as well as CAAX modifications. We also performed a phenotypic analysis of the entire set of isogenic a-factor biogenesis machinery mutants, which revealed information about the dependency of biogenesis steps upon one another, and demonstrated that export by Ste6p requires the completion of all processing events. Overall, this comprehensive analysis will provide a useful framework for the study of other fungal pheromones, as well as prenylated metazoan proteins involved in development and aging.

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
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Pheromone Response ◽  
Mating Pheromone ◽  
Pheromone Signaling ◽  
Yeast Genes

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.

scholarly journals Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains an RNase MRP that cleaves at a conserved mitochondrial RNA sequence implicated in replication priming.

1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 2561-2569 ◽  
Author(s):  
L L Stohl ◽  
D A Clayton
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Dna Replication ◽  
Rna Processing ◽  
Mitochondrial Rna ◽  
Rna Sequence ◽  
Rnase Mrp ◽  
Processing Activity ◽  
Yeast Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Human And Mouse

Yeast mitochondrial DNA contains multiple promoters that sponsor different levels of transcription. Several promoters are individually located immediately adjacent to presumed origins of replication and have been suggested to play a role in priming of DNA replication. Although yeast mitochondrial DNA replication origins have not been extensively characterized at the primary sequence level, a common feature of these putative origins is the occurrence of a short guanosine-rich region in the priming strand downstream of the transcriptional start site. This situation is reminiscent of vertebrate mitochondrial DNA origins and raises the possibility of common features of origin function. In the case of human and mouse cells, there exists an RNA processing activity with the capacity to cleave at a guanosine-rich mitochondrial RNA sequence at an origin; we therefore sought the existence of a yeast endoribonuclease that had such a specificity. Whole cell and mitochondrial extracts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae contain an RNase that cleaves yeast mitochondrial RNA in a site-specific manner similar to that of the human and mouse RNA processing activity RNase MRP. The exact location of cleavage within yeast mitochondrial RNA corresponds to a mapped site of transition from RNA to DNA synthesis. The yeast activity also cleaved mammalian mitochondrial RNA in a fashion similar to that of the mammalian RNase MRPs. The yeast endonuclease is a ribonucleoprotein, as judged by its sensitivity to nucleases and proteinase, and it was present in yeast strains lacking mitochondrial DNA, which demonstrated that all components required for in vitro cleavage are encoded by nuclear genes. We conclude that this RNase is the yeast RNase MRP.

scholarly journals A Ste6p/P-glycoprotein homologue from the asexual yeast Candida albicans transports the a-factor mating pheromone in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

1998 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 587-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martine Raymond ◽  
Daniel Dignard ◽  
Anne-Marie Alarco ◽  
Norman Mainville ◽  
Beatrice B. Magee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Mating Pheromone ◽  
P Glycoprotein

Significance of C-terminal cysteine modifications to the biological activity of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae a-factor mating pheromone

1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 3603-3612
Author(s):  
S Marcus ◽  
G A Caldwell ◽  
D Miller ◽  
C B Xue ◽  
F Naider ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Biological Activity ◽  
Methyl Ester ◽  
Total Synthesis ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Structural Genes ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Mating Pheromone ◽  
Carboxy Terminal

We have undertaken total synthesis of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae a-factor (NH2-YIIKGVFWDPAC[S-farnesyl]-COOCH3) and several Cys-12 analogs to determine the significance of S-farnesylation and carboxy-terminal methyl esterification to the biological activity of this lipopeptide mating pheromone. Replacement of either the farnesyl group or the carboxy-terminal methyl ester by a hydrogen atom resulted in marked reduction but not total loss of bioactivity as measured by a variety of assays. Moreover, both the farnesyl and methyl ester groups could be replaced by other substituents to produce biologically active analogs. The bioactivity of a-factor decreased as the number of prenyl units on the cysteine sulfur decreased from three to one, and an a-factor analog having the S-farnesyl group replaced by an S-hexadecanyl group was more active than an S-methyl a-factor analog. Thus, with two types of modifications, a-factor activity increased as the S-alkyl group became bulkier and more hydrophobic. MATa cells having deletions of the a-factor structural genes (mfal1 mfa2 mutants) were capable of mating with either sst2 or wild-type MAT alpha cells in the presence of exogenous a-factor, indicating that it is not absolutely essential for MATa cells to actively produce a-factor in order to mate. Various a-factor analogs were found to partially restore mating to these strains as well, and their relative activities in the mating restoration assay were similar to their activities in the other assays used in this study. Mating was not restored by addition of exogenous a-factor to a cross of a wild-type MAT alpha strain and a MATaste6 mutant, indicating a role of the STE6 gene product in mating in addition to its secretion of a-factor.

scholarly journals The a-factor transporter (STE6 gene product) and cell polarity in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

1993 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. 1203-1215 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Kuchler ◽  
H G Dohlman ◽  
J Thorner
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Gene Product ◽  
Cell Polarity ◽  
Polyclonal Antibodies ◽  
Apparent Molecular Weight ◽  
Subcellular Fractionation ◽  
Mating Pheromone ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Factor Secretion

STE6 gene product is required for secretion of the lipopeptide mating pheromone a-factor by Saccharomyces cerevisiae MATa cells. Radiolabeling and immunoprecipitation, either with specific polyclonal antibodies raised against a TrpE-Ste6 fusion protein or with mAbs that recognize c-myc epitopes in fully functional epitope-tagged Ste6 derivatives, demonstrated that Ste6 is a 145-kD phosphoprotein. Subcellular fractionation, various extraction procedures, and immunoblotting showed that Ste6 is an intrinsic plasma membrane-associated protein. The apparent molecular weight of Ste6 was unaffected by tunicamycin treatment, and the radiolabeled protein did not bind to concanavalin A, indicating that Ste6 is not glycosylated and that glycosylation is not required either for its membrane delivery or its function. The amino acid sequence of Ste6 predicts two ATP-binding folds; correspondingly, Ste6 was photoaffinity-labeled specifically with 8-azido-[alpha-32P]ATP. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed that in exponentially growing MATa cells, the majority of Ste6 showed a patchy distribution within the plasma membrane, but a significant fraction was found concentrated in a number of vesicle-like bodies subtending the plasma membrane. In contrast, in MATa cells exposed to the mating pheromone alpha-factor, which markedly induced Ste6 production, the majority of Ste6 was incorporated into the plasma membrane within the growing tip of the elongating cells. The highly localized insertion of this transporter may establish pronounced anisotropy in a-factor secretion from the MATa cell, and thereby may contribute to the establishment of the cell polarity which restricts partner selection and cell fusion during mating to one MAT alpha cell.

scholarly journals Significance of C-terminal cysteine modifications to the biological activity of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae a-factor mating pheromone.

1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 3603-3612 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Marcus ◽  
G A Caldwell ◽  
D Miller ◽  
C B Xue ◽  
F Naider ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Biological Activity ◽  
Methyl Ester ◽  
Total Synthesis ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Structural Genes ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Mating Pheromone ◽  
Carboxy Terminal

We have undertaken total synthesis of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae a-factor (NH2-YIIKGVFWDPAC[S-farnesyl]-COOCH3) and several Cys-12 analogs to determine the significance of S-farnesylation and carboxy-terminal methyl esterification to the biological activity of this lipopeptide mating pheromone. Replacement of either the farnesyl group or the carboxy-terminal methyl ester by a hydrogen atom resulted in marked reduction but not total loss of bioactivity as measured by a variety of assays. Moreover, both the farnesyl and methyl ester groups could be replaced by other substituents to produce biologically active analogs. The bioactivity of a-factor decreased as the number of prenyl units on the cysteine sulfur decreased from three to one, and an a-factor analog having the S-farnesyl group replaced by an S-hexadecanyl group was more active than an S-methyl a-factor analog. Thus, with two types of modifications, a-factor activity increased as the S-alkyl group became bulkier and more hydrophobic. MATa cells having deletions of the a-factor structural genes (mfal1 mfa2 mutants) were capable of mating with either sst2 or wild-type MAT alpha cells in the presence of exogenous a-factor, indicating that it is not absolutely essential for MATa cells to actively produce a-factor in order to mate. Various a-factor analogs were found to partially restore mating to these strains as well, and their relative activities in the mating restoration assay were similar to their activities in the other assays used in this study. Mating was not restored by addition of exogenous a-factor to a cross of a wild-type MAT alpha strain and a MATaste6 mutant, indicating a role of the STE6 gene product in mating in addition to its secretion of a-factor.

scholarly journals Mutations in a gene encoding the alpha subunit of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae G protein indicate a role in mating pheromone signaling.

1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 2484-2493 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Y Jahng ◽  
J Ferguson ◽  
S I Reed
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Genomic Library ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Specific Cell ◽  
Protein Activity ◽  
Mating Pheromone ◽  
Pheromone Receptor

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.

Stoichiometry of G protein subunits affects the Saccharomyces cerevisiae mating pheromone signal transduction pathway

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 510-517
Author(s):  
G M Cole ◽  
D E Stone ◽  
S I Reed
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Signal Transduction ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Signal Transduction Pathway ◽  
Mating Pheromone ◽  
Gal1 Promoter ◽  
Gamma Subunits ◽  
Adaptation Response ◽  
High Level

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.

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