Genetic analysis of the role of cAMP in yeast

Regulation of trehalose metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants during temperature shifts

Temperature shifts from 23 degrees C to 36 degrees C resulted in trehalose accumulation in Saccharomyces independently of genetic lesions in the cAMP-protein kinase cascade. In parallel, trehalose 6-phosphate synthase activity increased about 3-fold in all strains; the increase could be inhibited by cycloheximide, suggesting that protein synthesis was required. Heat shock treatment after the temperature shift led to a drastic increase in trehalose activity, and deactivation of the biosynthetic enzyme with a consequent drop in trehalose. Up to now no definite correlation between acquisition of thermotolerance and trehalose accumulation has been made.

The functional domain of adenylate cyclase associated with entry into meiosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Diploid yeast cells that carry a part of the CYR1 gene deficient in a region coding for the N-terminal domain of adenylate cyclase were growth arrested and accumulated unbudded cells after inoculation into complete medium or nitrogen-free medium, but produced many cells which had one or more buds after incubation in sporulation medium. The cells incubated in sporulation medium had abnormal spindles which were free from the spindle pole bodies, larger in size, or frequently distributed in cytoplasm. The levels of cyclic AMP in these cells did not decrease to the wild-type level after transfer to the sporulation medium and remained at a constant level. The results suggest that the N-terminal domain of adenylate cyclase is associated with the regulatory function for sporulation. The environmental signals for sporulation may be transferred to the adenylate cyclase system through a factor that negatively interacts with the N-terminal domain of this enzyme.

Intracellular and extracellular levels of cyclic AMP during the cell cycle of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Using the technique of centrifugal elutriation it was demonstrated that during the cell division cycle of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae there are stage-specific fluctuations in the intracellular concentration of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP). Results shown here indicate that the intracellular concentration of cAMP is at its highest during the division cycle, and at its lowest immediately prior to and just after cell separation. Results also show the extrusion of extracellular cAMP into the medium by Saccharomyces cerevisiae, extracellular cAMP levels being ten to one hundred times higher than intracellular levels. During the cell cycle of Saccharomyces cerevisiae the extracellular level of cAMP does not fluctuate.

MSI1, a negative regulator of the RAS-cAMP pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have previously demonstrated that the IRA1-encoded protein inhibits the function of the RAS protein in a fashion antagonistic to the function of the CDC25 protein in the RAS-cAMP pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In an attempt to identify genes involved in the regulation of this pathway, high-copy-number plasmid suppressors of the heat shock sensitivity of the ira1 mutation were isolated. One such suppressor, MSI1, was found to encode a putative protein of 422 amino acids that shows homology to the beta subunit of the mammalian guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins. Overexpression of the MSI1 gene could suppress the heat shock sensitivity and the defect in sporulation caused by the ira1 and RAS2Val19 mutations but not those of the bcy1 mutation. Furthermore, the high level of intracellular cAMP in ira1 and RAS2Val19 cells was reduced by the MSI1 gene carried on a YEp-based plasmid. These results suggest that the MSI1 protein is a negative regulator of the RAS-mediated induction of cAMP in S. cerevisiae.

Isolation and characterization of STI1, a stress-inducible gene from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have isolated a gene from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that encodes a 2.0-kilobase heat-inducible mRNA. This gene, which we have designated STI1, for stress inducible, was also induced by the amino acid analog canavanine and showed a slight increase in expression as cells moved into stationary phase. The STI1 gene encodes a 66-kilodalton protein, as determined from the sequence of the longest open reading frame. The putative STI1 protein, as identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, migrated in the region of 73 to 75 kilodaltons as a series of four isoforms with different isoelectric points. STI1 is not homologous to the other conserved HSP70 family members in yeasts, despite similarities in size and regulation. Cells carrying a disruption mutation of the STI1 gene grew normally at 30 degrees C but showed impaired growth at higher and lower temperatures. Overexpression of the STI1 gene resulted in substantial trans-activation of SSA4 promoter-reporter gene fusions, indicating that STI1 may play a role in mediating the heat shock response of some HSP70 genes.

Cytosolic and vacuolar Ca2+ concentrations in yeast cells measured with the Ca2+-sensitive fluorescence dye indo-1

Cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were loaded with indo-1, by incubation in a medium of pH 4.5, which contained penta-potassium indo-1. Cells were then washed and resuspended in a buffer of pH 4.0. The emission fluorescence spectra were recorded between 390 and 500 nm (excitation at 355 nm) and the autofluorescent spectra of the matched controls were subtracted. A 19-fold cellular accumulation of indo-1 was achieved. By permeabilization of plasma membranes, leaving the vacuolar membrane intact, it was proved that indo-1 was accumulated in the cytosol. It was also shown that intracellular indo-1 did not leak out of the cells and was not modified by cellular metabolism. Using the emission fluorescence ratio at 410/480 nm, the concentration of a free cytosolic Ca2+ was found to be 346 nM. Vacuolar Ca2+ concentration, calculated from indo-1 fluorescence after lysis of vacuolar and cellular membranes, was found to be 1.3 mM.

Transmembrane signalling in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Baker's yeast, a unicellular eukaryote, has been a model organism for biochemists, geneticists and most recently for molecular biologists. Pioneering biochemical studies were conducted on yeast, such as the study of glucose fermentation and amino acid metabolism. The powerful tools of yeast genetics have allowed a comprehensive study of important issues such as the cell cycle and meiosis. In recent years, it has been established that Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the most extensively characterized of the yeasts, shares key molecules and biochemical pathways with higher eukaryotes. For example, actin, tubulin, ubiquitin, calmodulin, GTP regulatory proteins, different protein kinases including protein tyrosine kinases, were all found to play central roles in yeast. Furthermore, structurally homologous proteins, as well as transcription regulating elements, of yeast and higher eukaryotes, including mammals, were shown to be structurally and functionally interchangeable. It has also been found that yeast can express human genes. Technically, yeasts are simple to handle, inexpensive to grow, complete a cell cycle within 90 min, and therefore can yield relatively quick results. These qualities are useful in biotechnological applications. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, can be genetically manipulated fairly easily, and has been tinkered with more than any other system. A cloned, in vitro mutated gene, can be transformed into wild type yeast and by homologous recombination, can replace the native gene and generate the desired mutant. Such manipulations, not possible yet in other eukaryotic cells, allow the precise definition of the role played by different genes and their domains. These unique features of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, together with rapidly evolving techniques of molecular biology, have made it a successful model organism for the study of numerous questions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Vertebrate and yeast calmodulin, despite significant sequence divergence, are functionally interchangeable

Yeast strains relying solely on vertebrate (Xenopus laevis) calmodulin, expressed under control of a yeast (GAL1) promoter, grew at the same rate as yeast cells containing their endogenous calmodulin. Therefore, the ability to perform essential functions has been conserved between yeast and vertebrate calmodulins, suggesting that calmodulin performs the same (or overlapping) roles in yeast as it does in higher eukaryotes. Successful substitution of vertebrate for yeast calmodulin also suggests that the two proteins can adopt similar conformations in vivo, despite the large number of amino acid differences between them (60 out of 148 residues). Strains overproducing either vertebrate or yeast calmodulin about 100-fold and a strain producing a normal level of yeast calmodulin were essentially indistinguishable in many characteristics, including microtubule distribution, rate of secretion, response to mating pheromone, sporulation, and adaptation to nutrient limitation. Calmodulin overproduction did not confer elevated resistance to a phenothiazine drug, trifluoperazine, thought to be a calmodulin-specific inhibitor. These results have important implications for understanding the role of calmodulin in intracellular calcium signaling.

Cell size modulation by CDC25 and RAS2 genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A detailed kinetic analysis of the cell cycle of cdc25-1, RAS2Val-19, or cdc25-1/RAS2Val-19 mutants during exponential growth is presented. At the permissive temperature (24 degrees C), cdc25-1 cells show a longer G1/unbudded phase of the cell cycle and have a smaller critical cell size required for budding without changing the growth rate in comparison to an isogenic wild type. The RAS2Val-19 mutation efficiently suppresses the ts growth defect of the cdc25-1 mutant at 36 degrees C and the increase of G1 phase at 24 degrees C. Moreover, it causes a marked increase of the critical cell mass required to enter into a new cell division cycle compared with that of the wild type. Since the critical cell mass is physiologically modulated by nutritional conditions, we have also studied the behavior of these mutants in different media. The increase in cell size caused by the RAS2Val-19 mutation is evident in all tested growth conditions, while the effect of cdc25-1 is apparently more pronounced in rich culture media. CDC25 and RAS2 gene products have been showed to control cell growth by regulating the cyclic AMP metabolic pathway. Experimental evidence reported herein suggests that the modulation of the critical cell size by CDC25 and RAS2 may involve adenylate cyclase.

Protein kinase C and a viral K-RAS protein cooperatively enhance the response of adenylate cyclase to stimulators

The protein kinase C stimulator TPA (12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate) enhanced the responsiveness of adenylate cyclase to IPR (isoproterenol) and PGE1 (prostaglandin E1) in quiescent tsKSV-NRK cells at the nonpermissive 41 degrees C. Reactivating the thermolabile mitogenic/oncogenic K-ras protein in tsKSV-NRK cells by dropping the temperature to 36 degrees C also enhanced the responsiveness of adenylate cyclase to IPR and PGE1. The enhancement was transient and peaked at 6 hours after the temperature shift. This enhanced responsiveness was specifically due to the reactivated viral K-ras protein rather than the temperature shift because the same temperature shift did not affect adenylate cyclase responsiveness in uninfected NRK cells, nor was it a result of the mitogenic stimulus since reacting the mitogenic pp60v-src protein in tsASV-NRK cells did not affect adenylate cyclase responsiveness. The increased responsiveness of adenylate cyclase at 6 hours after the temperature shift was not a result of elevated membrane-associated PKC activity. However, the reactivated viral K-ras protein strongly increased the stimulability of membrane-associated PKC by TPA and it further increased TPA's ability to enhance the responsiveness of adenylate cyclase to IPR and PGE1. Thus, a viral K-ras protein and membrane-associated protein kinase C can cooperate to increase the responsiveness of adenylate cyclase to agonists.

Isolation and characterization of STI1, a stress-inducible gene from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have isolated a gene from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that encodes a 2.0-kilobase heat-inducible mRNA. This gene, which we have designated STI1, for stress inducible, was also induced by the amino acid analog canavanine and showed a slight increase in expression as cells moved into stationary phase. The STI1 gene encodes a 66-kilodalton protein, as determined from the sequence of the longest open reading frame. The putative STI1 protein, as identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, migrated in the region of 73 to 75 kilodaltons as a series of four isoforms with different isoelectric points. STI1 is not homologous to the other conserved HSP70 family members in yeasts, despite similarities in size and regulation. Cells carrying a disruption mutation of the STI1 gene grew normally at 30 degrees C but showed impaired growth at higher and lower temperatures. Overexpression of the STI1 gene resulted in substantial trans-activation of SSA4 promoter-reporter gene fusions, indicating that STI1 may play a role in mediating the heat shock response of some HSP70 genes.

Characterization of trehalose-6-phosphate synthase and trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The properties of yeast trehalose-6-phosphate synthase were reinvestigated in relation with the recent claim made by Panek et al. [Panek, A. C., de Araujo, P. S., Moura-Neto, V. and Panek, A. D. (1987) Curr. Genet. II, 459-465] that the enzyme would be stimulated by ATP and partially inactivated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Trehalose-6-phosphate synthase activity was measured by the sum of [14C]trehalose 6-phosphate and [14C]trehalose formed from UDP-[14C]glucose and glucose 6-phosphate. The activity measured in an extract of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was not affected by any treatment of the cells, such as incubation in the presence of glucose or of dinitrophenol, which are known to greatly increase the intracellular concentration of cAMP, nor by preincubation of the extract in the presence of ATP-Mg, cAMP and bovine heart cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The activity was also not significantly different in several mutants affected in the cAMP system. The kinetic properties of the partially purified enzyme were investigated; no effect of ATP could be detected but Pi acted as a potent noncompetitive inhibitor (Ki = 2 mM). The activity of trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase was measured by the amount of [14C]trehalose formed from [14C]trehalose 6-phosphate. The enzyme could be separated from other phosphatases and appeared to be highly specific for trehalose 6-phosphate. It was Mg dependent and its kinetics for trehalose 6-phosphate was hyperbolic. Studies performed with intact cells, crude extracts or the purified enzyme did not reveal any cAMP-dependent change in its activity. Remarkably, trehalose-6-phosphate synthase and trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase copurified in the course of different chromatographic procedures, suggesting that they are part of a single bifunctional protein. A 50-fold purification of the two enzymes could be achieved with a yield of only 2% by chromatography on Mono S followed by gel filtration on Superose 6B.

Control of Saccharomyces cerevisiae catalase T gene (CTT1) expression by nutrient supply via the RAS-cyclic AMP pathway

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, lack of nutrients triggers a pleiotropic response characterized by accumulation of storage carbohydrates, early G1 arrest, and sporulation of a/alpha diploids. This response is thought to be mediated by RAS proteins, adenylate cyclase, and cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinases. This study shows that expression of the S. cerevisiae gene coding for a cytoplasmic catalase T (CTT1) is controlled by this pathway: it is regulated by the availability of nutrients. Lack of a nitrogen, sulfur, or phosphorus source causes a high-level expression of the gene. Studies with strains with mutations in the RAS-cAMP pathway and supplementation of a rca1 mutant with cAMP show that CTT1 expression is under negative control by a cAMP-dependent protein kinase and that nutrient control of CTT1 gene expression is mediated by this pathway. Strains containing a CTT1-Escherichia coli lacZ fusion gene have been used to isolate mutants with mutations in the pathway. Mutants characterized in this investigation fall into five complementation groups. Both cdc25 and ras2 alleles were identified among these mutants.

Role of cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase in catabolite inactivation of the glucose and galactose transporters in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The derepressed high-affinity glucose transport system and the induced galactose transport system are catabolite inactivated when cells with these transport systems are incubated with glucose. The role of the cyclic AMP cascade in the catabolite inactivation of these transport systems was shown by using mutants affected in the activity of cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase (cAPK). In tpk1(w) mutants with reduced cAPK activity, the sugar transport systems were expressed but were not catabolite inactivated. In bcy1 mutants with unbridled cAPK activity resulting from a defective regulatory subunit, the transport systems were absent or present at low levels.

Cell size modulation by CDC25 and RAS2 genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A detailed kinetic analysis of the cell cycle of cdc25-1, RAS2Val-19, or cdc25-1/RAS2Val-19 mutants during exponential growth is presented. At the permissive temperature (24 degrees C), cdc25-1 cells show a longer G1/unbudded phase of the cell cycle and have a smaller critical cell size required for budding without changing the growth rate in comparison to an isogenic wild type. The RAS2Val-19 mutation efficiently suppresses the ts growth defect of the cdc25-1 mutant at 36 degrees C and the increase of G1 phase at 24 degrees C. Moreover, it causes a marked increase of the critical cell mass required to enter into a new cell division cycle compared with that of the wild type. Since the critical cell mass is physiologically modulated by nutritional conditions, we have also studied the behavior of these mutants in different media. The increase in cell size caused by the RAS2Val-19 mutation is evident in all tested growth conditions, while the effect of cdc25-1 is apparently more pronounced in rich culture media. CDC25 and RAS2 gene products have been showed to control cell growth by regulating the cyclic AMP metabolic pathway. Experimental evidence reported herein suggests that the modulation of the critical cell size by CDC25 and RAS2 may involve adenylate cyclase.

IRA1, an inhibitory regulator of the RAS-cyclic AMP pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A mutation in the gene IRA1 (formerly called PPD1) was originally characterized as a deficiency of a phosphoprotein phosphatase. The IRA1 gene has been cloned and sequenced. A large open reading frame (8,817 base pairs) which can encode a protein of 2,938 amino acids was found. Northern (RNA) blot analysis detected a message of about 10 kilobases, and nuclease S1 protection demonstrated mRNA start points at 97 and 98 base pairs upstream from the putative initiator ATG codon. Disruption of the IRA1 gene resulted in sensitivity to nitrogen starvation and heat shock. Diploids homozygous for the disrupted IRA1 gene were deficient in sporulation. Disruption of the IRA1 gene suppressed the lethality of the cdc25 mutation but did not suppress the lethality of either the ras1 ras2 or the cyr1 mutations. Deficiency of the phosphoprotein phosphatase was not reproducible in the disruption mutant of the IRA1 gene. Moreover, the ira1 mutant showed an increased level of cyclic AMP. Our results suggest that the IRA1 protein inhibits the function of the RAS proteins in a fashion antagonistic to the function of the CDC25 protein in the RAS-cyclic AMP pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The chromatin structure at the promoter of a glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase gene from Saccharomyces cerevisiae reflects its functional state

The chromatin structure of TDH3, one of three genes encoding glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenases in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was analyzed by nuclease digestion. A large hypersensitive region was found at the TDH3 promoter extending from the RNA initiation site at position -40 to position -560. This hypersensitive domain is nucleosome free and includes all putative cis-acting regulatory DNA elements. It is equally present in cells grown on fermentable as well as nonfermentable carbon sources. In a mutant which lacks the trans-activating protein GCR1 and which as a consequence expresses TDH3 at less than 5% of the wild-type level, the chromatin structure is different. Hypersensitivity between -40 and -370 is lost, due to the deposition of nucleosomes on a stretch that is nucleosome free in wild-type cells. Hypersensitivity is retained, however, further upstream (from -370 to -560). A similarly altered chromatin structure, as in a ger1 mutant, is found in wild-type cells when they approach stationary phase. This is the first evidence for a growth-dependent regulation of the TDH3 promoter.

The C-terminal part of a gene partially homologous to CDC 25 gene suppresses the cdc25-5 mutation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the product of the CDC25 gene is required for progression in the cell division cycle. It is necessary for cAMP production. It has been suggested that the CDC25 gene product acts through Ras proteins. We report the cloning of a DNA fragment from a new gene able to suppress the thermosensitive phenotype of the cdc25-5 mutation. It is unable to suppress the defect of a mutant of the adenylate cyclase gene or of the ras1, ras2ts double mutant. This DNA fragment prevents the drop in cAMP level in cdc25-5 mutant cells shifted to restrictive temperature. The complementing part of this fragment contains a truncated open reading frame (ORF) corresponding to the 3' end of a gene we named SCD25. The 584-amino acid sequence deduced from this ORF shares 45% identity with the 592-aa C-terminal part of the CDC25 ORF which is sufficient for complementation of cdc25 mutations. Some of the common sequences between these two genes are also partially homologous with the amino acid sequence of LTE1, another gene of S. cerevisiae. The capacity of the SCD25 fragment to suppress a cdc25 mutation and its homology to the C-terminal part of the CDC25 led us to propose that the CDC25 and the SCD25 C-terminal fragments each encode a protein domain which is capable in itself to support a similar biochemical function.

Cyclic AMP controls the plasma membrane H+-ATPase activity from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The thermosensitive G1-arrested cdc35-10 mutant from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, defective in adenylate cyclase activity, was shifted to restrictive temperature. After 1 h incubation at this temperature, the plasma membrane H+-ATPase activity of cdc35-10 was reduced to 50%, whereas that in mitochondria doubled. Similar data were obtained with cdc25, another thermosensitive G1-arrested mutant modified in the cAMP pathway. In contrast, the ATPase activities of the G1-arrested mutant cdc19, defective in pyruvate kinase, were not affected after 2 h incubation at restrictive temperature. In the double mutants cdc35-10 cas1 and cdc25 cas1, addition of extracellular cAMP prevented the modifications of ATPase activities observed in the single mutants cdc35-10 and cdc25. These data indicate that cAMP acts as a positive effector on the H+-ATPase activity of plasma membranes and as a negative effector on that of mitochondria.

Control of Saccharomyces cerevisiae catalase T gene (CTT1) expression by nutrient supply via the RAS-cyclic AMP pathway

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, lack of nutrients triggers a pleiotropic response characterized by accumulation of storage carbohydrates, early G1 arrest, and sporulation of a/alpha diploids. This response is thought to be mediated by RAS proteins, adenylate cyclase, and cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinases. This study shows that expression of the S. cerevisiae gene coding for a cytoplasmic catalase T (CTT1) is controlled by this pathway: it is regulated by the availability of nutrients. Lack of a nitrogen, sulfur, or phosphorus source causes a high-level expression of the gene. Studies with strains with mutations in the RAS-cAMP pathway and supplementation of a rca1 mutant with cAMP show that CTT1 expression is under negative control by a cAMP-dependent protein kinase and that nutrient control of CTT1 gene expression is mediated by this pathway. Strains containing a CTT1-Escherichia coli lacZ fusion gene have been used to isolate mutants with mutations in the pathway. Mutants characterized in this investigation fall into five complementation groups. Both cdc25 and ras2 alleles were identified among these mutants.

Comparative studies between the glucose-induced phosphorylation signal and the heat shock response in mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Addition of glucose to derepressed yeast cells, as well as a heat shock treatment, trigger the phosphorylation of trehalase and of trehalose-6-phosphate synthase. In the present paper, evidence is provided for the requirement of the RAS protein in the transduction of the glucose signal. On the other hand, a heat shock at 52 degrees C for 2 min was able to produce a significant phosphorylating effect even in mutant strains deficient in the GTP binding protein. Moreover, it was shown that this treatment does not affect exclusively the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The use of a series of mutant strains confirmed that low levels of cAMP favor thermotolerance; the role of trehalose in yeast viability is also discussed.

IRA1, an inhibitory regulator of the RAS-cyclic AMP pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A mutation in the gene IRA1 (formerly called PPD1) was originally characterized as a deficiency of a phosphoprotein phosphatase. The IRA1 gene has been cloned and sequenced. A large open reading frame (8,817 base pairs) which can encode a protein of 2,938 amino acids was found. Northern (RNA) blot analysis detected a message of about 10 kilobases, and nuclease S1 protection demonstrated mRNA start points at 97 and 98 base pairs upstream from the putative initiator ATG codon. Disruption of the IRA1 gene resulted in sensitivity to nitrogen starvation and heat shock. Diploids homozygous for the disrupted IRA1 gene were deficient in sporulation. Disruption of the IRA1 gene suppressed the lethality of the cdc25 mutation but did not suppress the lethality of either the ras1 ras2 or the cyr1 mutations. Deficiency of the phosphoprotein phosphatase was not reproducible in the disruption mutant of the IRA1 gene. Moreover, the ira1 mutant showed an increased level of cyclic AMP. Our results suggest that the IRA1 protein inhibits the function of the RAS proteins in a fashion antagonistic to the function of the CDC25 protein in the RAS-cyclic AMP pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The cyclic AMP-mediated stimulation of cell proliferation

The role of cyclic AMP (cAMP) in the regulation of mammalian cell proliferation has been the subject of controversy. Negative control was demonstrated in the 1970s, but evidence of positive control in other cell types has been neglected. Recent evidence which demonstrates such a control in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has now made this concept acceptable.

The chromatin structure at the promoter of a glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase gene from Saccharomyces cerevisiae reflects its functional state

The chromatin structure of TDH3, one of three genes encoding glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenases in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was analyzed by nuclease digestion. A large hypersensitive region was found at the TDH3 promoter extending from the RNA initiation site at position -40 to position -560. This hypersensitive domain is nucleosome free and includes all putative cis-acting regulatory DNA elements. It is equally present in cells grown on fermentable as well as nonfermentable carbon sources. In a mutant which lacks the trans-activating protein GCR1 and which as a consequence expresses TDH3 at less than 5% of the wild-type level, the chromatin structure is different. Hypersensitivity between -40 and -370 is lost, due to the deposition of nucleosomes on a stretch that is nucleosome free in wild-type cells. Hypersensitivity is retained, however, further upstream (from -370 to -560). A similarly altered chromatin structure, as in a ger1 mutant, is found in wild-type cells when they approach stationary phase. This is the first evidence for a growth-dependent regulation of the TDH3 promoter.

Caffeine interactions with methyl methanesulphonate, hycanthone, benlate, and cadmium chloride in chromosomal meiotic segregation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Interactions of caffeine with chemicals known for their effects on chromosomal segregation during meiosis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were studied. It appears that caffeine does interfere with the action of other compounds during the different phases of meiosis. Treatments with methyl methanesulphonate (MMS) and cadmium chloride (CdCl2) resulted in a synergistic effect consisting of an increase in the frequency of recombination. The greatest effects were found on the induction of diploid spores: MMS, hycanthone, and distamycin demonstrated strong, benlate little synergistic action. CdCl2 demonstrated antagonism to caffeine by counter-inhibiting its effect on the induction of diploids. Concerning disomic induction: caffeine reduced (or left unchanged) the effect on non-disjunction when MMS and hycanthone were used. Simple additive effects were caused in conjunction with distamycin, benlate, and (in small doses) CdCl2. 2 mg of caffeine/ml in treatments with CdCl2 resulted in a very high frequency of disomic clones.

PHO85, a negative regulator of the PHO system, is a homolog of the protein kinase gene, CDC28, of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The product of the PHO85 gene, which encodes one of the negative regulatory factors of the PHO system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, shows significant amino acid sequence homology with the CDC28 protein kinase. However, overexpressing PHO85 did not suppress the temperature sensitive phenotype of the cdc28-1 mutation. The nucleotide sequence of the PHO85 gene strongly suggests the presence of an intron near the sequence encoding the N-terminal region.

Host function of MAK16: G1 arrest by a mak16 mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The MAK16 gene was first defined as a gene whose mutation resulted in loss of M1 double-stranded RNA virus-like particles. The mak16-1 mutation also produces temperature-sensitive cell growth. We report here that mak16-1 cells arrest at the nonpermissive temperature in G1 phase, such that they are mating competent. We sequenced the MAK16 gene and found an open reading frame of 306 amino acids encoding a predicted protein of Mr 35,694. Two typical nuclear localization signal sequences were found. MAK16-LacZ fusion proteins that include one of these putative signals entered the nucleus, while unfused beta-galactosidase did not, as judged by subcellular fractionation experiments. In the C-terminal third of the MAK16 open reading frame is an acidic region in which 25 of 41 residues are either glutamate or aspartate. This region contains potential phosphorylation sites for "casein kinases," protein kinases specific for serine or threonine residues in an acidic environment.

CDC7-dependent protein kinase activity in yeast replicative-complex preparations

A protein kinase activity was identified in preparations of DNA-replicative complex from the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The activity phosphorylated only a few of the endogenous proteins in the replicative fraction, and it displayed a marked preference for a 48-kDa polypeptide. Despite this relative specificity, the protein kinase activity was capable of utilizing exogenously added histone as substrate. The 48-kDa polypeptide was phosphorylated on serine residue(s) exclusively by the endogenous activity in the replicative-complex preparation. The activity was not stimulated by cAMP, cGMP, Ca2+/phosphatidylserine/diacylglycerol, or Ca2+/calmodulin. It did not utilize Ca2+ or Zn2+ in the place of Mg2+, and Mn2+ was only 22% as effective in fulfilling the divalent-cation requirement. Most importantly, the protein kinase activity was heat-sensitive in replicative fractions from the cell division cycle 7 (cdc7) mutant, which arrests at or close to the G1/S boundary of the cell cycle at restrictive temperature. Thus, the activity is CDC7-dependent. An effect of heat treatment on replicating activity in the replicative fraction from cdc7 cells was also found. This result and the finding that the protein kinase activity copurified with replicating activity in the preparations suggest that the CDC7 gene product and the protein kinase activity, whether or not they are the same entity, interact with yeast replicative complex. All of these results raise the possibility that phosphorylation of components of the replication machinery may play a role in the control of initiation of DNA replication during the cell cycle. It is possible that the phosphorylation observed is part of a protein kinase cascade that regulates progress through the G1 phase of the cell cycle.

Yeast cAMP-dependent protein kinase can be associated to the plasma membrane

Using an anti-yeast regulatory subunit antibody and the synthetic peptide Kemptide as specific substrate we show in this work that purified preparations of yeast plasma membrane have an associated form of the regulatory subunit and cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity. Treatment of the plasma membrane "in vitro" with 1 microM cAMP releases cAMP-independent protein kinase activity while regulatory subunit remains on the membrane as revealed by immunoblotting. Incubation of the plasma membrane with [gamma-32P]ATP results in the phosphorylation of the regulatory subunit.

Characterization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes encoding subunits of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase

Mutations in the SRA1 or SRA3 gene eliminate the requirement for either RAS gene (RAS1 or RAS2) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We cloned SRA1 and SRA3 and determined their DNA sequences. SRA1 encodes the regulatory subunit of the cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase and therefore is identical to REG1 and BCY1. This gene is not essential, but its deletion confers many traits: reduction of glycogen accumulation, temperature sensitivity, reduced growth rate on maltose and sucrose, inability to grow on galactose and nonfermentable carbon sources, and nitrogen starvation intolerance. SRA3 is homologous to protein kinases that phosphorylate serine and threonine and likely encodes the catalytic subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The wild-type SRA3 gene either triplicated in the chromosome or on episomal, low-copy plasmids behaves like spontaneous dominant SRA3 mutations by suppressing ras2-530 (RAS2::LEU2 disruption), cdc25, and cdc35 mutations. These findings indicate that the yeast RAS genes are dispensable if there is constitutive cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity.

Control of the G1-G0 transition and G0 protein synthesis by cyclic AMP in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

When the cyr1-1 cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which require cyclic AMP (cAMP) for growth, were starved for cAMP, cell division was arrested at the G1 state of the mitotic cell cycle and the cells entered the resting state (G0) also observed in wild-type cells transferred to sulfur-free medium. The level of cAMP in wild-type cells decreased rapidly when the cells were starved for sulfur and subsequently increased following its addition. The cyr1-1 cells starved for cAMP preferentially synthesized nine G0 proteins. The synthesis of these G0 proteins in the sulfur-starved cells was repressed by the addition of cAMP. The RAS2val9 or bcy1 cells, which produced an elevated level of cAMP or cAMP-independent protein kinase, did not synthesize the G0 proteins under the sulfur-starved condition. The results suggest that cAMP plays a role in the transition between the proliferating state and G0 state.

Identification of the domain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae adenylate cyclase associated with the regulatory function of RAS products

Various truncated CYR1 genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were fused to efficient promoters and expressed in Escherichia coli and S. cerevisiae cells with or without the RAS genes. The catalytic domain of adenylate cyclase encoded by the 3'-terminal 1.3 kb region of the open reading frame of the CYR1 gene produced cyclic AMP, irrespective of the presence of RAS genes. The product of the 3'-terminal 2.1 kb region of CYR1 showed guanine nucleotide-dependent adenylate cyclase activity and produced a large amount of cAMP in the presence of the RAS gene. Thus, the domain encoded by the 0.8 kb region adjacent to the catalytic domain is associated with the regulatory function of the RAS products. The cyr1 RAS1 RAS2 cells carrying the 3'-terminal 1.3 kb region of CYR1 were unable to respond to environmental signals such as sulfur starvation and temperature shift, but the cyr1 cells carrying the 2.1 kb region and at least one RAS gene were able to respond to these signals. The environmental signals may be transferred to the adenylate cyclase system through the RAS products.

Mutant regulatory subunit of 3',5'-cAMP-dependent protein kinase of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Four mutants with amino acid substitution(s) at or near the putative phosphorylation site (Arg142 Arg143 Thr144 Ser145) of the regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase were obtained by site-directed mutagenesis. Three mutants, BCY1A1a145 (Ser145 to Ala), BCY1His143 (Arg143 to His) and BCY1Asn144, Ala145 (Thr144 to Asn and Ser145 to Ala) complemented a bcy1 mutant, whereas BCY1Gly143 (Arg143 to Gly) did not. In addition, mutant, BCY1Asn144, Ala145 exhibited a dominant cold-sensitive phenotype, which can be most easily explained by the functional alteration of the regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase by the mutations. Analyses of these mutant genes revealed that phosphorylation of the regulatory subunit is not a prerequisite for the regulation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity in responding to the cAMP level.

The ras-like yeast YPT1 gene is itself essential for growth, sporulation, and starvation response

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene YPT1 encodes a protein that exhibits significant homology to the mammalian ras proteins. Using gene disruption techniques, we have shown that the intact YPT1 gene is required for spore viability. Lethality caused by loss of YPT1 function, unlike that caused by loss of the yeast ras homologs RAS1 and RAS2 function, is not suppressed by the bcy1 mutation, suggesting that YPT1 does not act through the adenylate cyclase regulatory system. A cold-sensitive allele, ypt1-1, was constructed. At the nonpermissive temperature, mutants died, exhibiting aberrant nuclear morphology, as well as abnormal distribution of actin and tubulin. The mutant cells died without exhibiting classical cell-cycle-specific arrest; nevertheless, examination of cellular DNA content suggests that the YPT1 function is required, particularly after S phase. Cells carrying the ypt1-1 mutation died upon nitrogen starvation even at a temperature permissive for growth; diploid cells homozygous for ypt1-1 did not sporulate. The YPT1 gene is thus involved in nutritional regulation of the cell cycle as well as in normal progression through the mitotic cell cycle.

Regulatory function of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAS C-terminus

Activating mutations (valine 19 or leucine 68) were introduced into the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAS1 and RAS2 genes. In addition, a deletion was introduced into the wild-type gene and into an activated RAS2 gene, removing the segment of the coding region for the unique C-terminal domain that lies between the N-terminal 174 residues and the penultimate 8-residue membrane attachment site. At low levels of expression, a dominant activated phenotype, characterized by low glycogen levels and poor sporulation efficiency, was observed for both full-length RAS1 and RAS2 variants having impaired GTP hydrolytic activity. Lethal CDC25 mutations were bypassed by the expression of mutant RAS1 or RAS2 proteins with activating amino acid substitutions, by expression of RAS2 proteins lacking the C-terminal domain, or by normal and oncogenic mammalian Harvey ras proteins. Biochemical measurements of adenylate cyclase in membrane preparations showed that the expression of RAS2 proteins lacking the C-terminal domain can restore adenylate cyclase activity to cdc25 membranes.

A viral K-RAS protein increases the stimulability of adenylate cyclase by cholera toxin in NRK cells

Incubation at 41 degrees C stops the proliferation of tsK-NRK rat kidney cells in serum-deficient medium by inactivating the mitogenic/oncogenic thermolabile viral K-RAS protein that is produced in these cells. Dropping the temperature to 36 degrees C reactivates the viral K-RAS protein which stimulates the serum-starved quiescent cells to resume proliferating without added serum factors. Here it is shown that while the reactivated viral protein does not by itself significantly stimulate adenylate cyclase, it greatly increases the stimulability of adenylate cyclase by cholera toxin. The data suggest that the viral K-RAS protein directly or indirectly affects adenylate cyclase by inactivating the Gi inhibitory component of the membrane associated enzyme.

Protein phosphorylation in yeast mitochondria: cAMP-dependence, submitochondrial localization and substrates of mitochondrial protein kinases

We describe the identification and submitochondrial localization of four protein kinases and of their target proteins in derepressed yeast mitochondria. The activity of one of the kinases depends on the presence of cyclic AMP (cAMP). It is soluble and localized in the mitochondrial intermembrane space. Its natural target is a polypeptide of 40 kDa molecular mass, which is bound to the inner membrane. Besides this natural target this kinase phosphorylates acidic heterologous proteins, like casein, with high efficiency. The other protein kinases identified so far are cAMP-independent. At least one is localized in the matrix having its natural substrates (49 and 24 kDa) in the same compartment. Two others are firmly bound to the inner membrane phosphorylating target proteins in the inner membrane (52.5 kDa) and in the intermembrane space (17.5 kDa), respectively.

Initiation of meiosis and sporulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae does not require a decrease in cyclic AMP

Meiosis and sporulation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are initiated in a guanine auxotroph by guanine deprivation (E. Bautz Freese, Z. Olempska-Beer, A. Hartig, and E. Freese, Dev. Biol. 102:438-451, 1984). We used this condition to examine a hypothesis (K. Matsumoto, I. Uno, and T. Ishikawa, Cell 32:417-423, 1983) that initiation of meiosis requires a low level of cAMP. We found that, after guanine deprivation, the intracellular concentration of cAMP transiently decreased not more than 20% and not at all if the cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) was added to the medium. Under these conditions, at least 76% of the cells sporulated in the absence of IBMX, and almost 100% sporulated in its presence. The sporulating cells continually excreted cAMP and utilized the gluconeogenic carbon source. The cells failed to sporulate efficiently and to form four-spored asci if simultaneously deprived of guanine and carbon. After guanine deprivation in glucose medium, sporulation remained suppressed and intracellular cAMP was unchanged. We conclude that, under conditions of guanine starvation, cAMP deficiency is not required for initiation of meiosis and sporulation, cAMP is produced in excess and excreted to the medium, the cells sporulate better if the cAMP concentration is increased by addition of IBMX, the cells require a gluconeogenic carbon source for complete and efficient sporulation, and suppression of sporulation by glucose is not mediated by cAMP.

Characterization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes encoding subunits of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase

Mutations in the SRA1 or SRA3 gene eliminate the requirement for either RAS gene (RAS1 or RAS2) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We cloned SRA1 and SRA3 and determined their DNA sequences. SRA1 encodes the regulatory subunit of the cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase and therefore is identical to REG1 and BCY1. This gene is not essential, but its deletion confers many traits: reduction of glycogen accumulation, temperature sensitivity, reduced growth rate on maltose and sucrose, inability to grow on galactose and nonfermentable carbon sources, and nitrogen starvation intolerance. SRA3 is homologous to protein kinases that phosphorylate serine and threonine and likely encodes the catalytic subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The wild-type SRA3 gene either triplicated in the chromosome or on episomal, low-copy plasmids behaves like spontaneous dominant SRA3 mutations by suppressing ras2-530 (RAS2::LEU2 disruption), cdc25, and cdc35 mutations. These findings indicate that the yeast RAS genes are dispensable if there is constitutive cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity.

Three different genes in S. cerevisiae encode the catalytic subunits of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase

We have isolated three genes (TPK1, TPK2, and TPK3) from the yeast S. cerevisiae that encode the catalytic subunits of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Gene disruption experiments demonstrated that no two of the three genes are essential by themselves but at least one TPK gene is required for a cell to grow normally. Comparison of the predicted amino acid sequences of the TPK genes indicates conserved and variable domains. The carboxy-terminal 320 amino acid residues have more than 75% homology to each other and more than 50% homology to the bovine catalytic subunit. The amino-terminal regions show no homology to each other and are heterogeneous in length. The TPK1 gene carried on a multicopy plasmid can suppress both a temperature-sensitive ras2 gene and adenylate cyclase gene.

Regulatory function of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAS C-terminus

Activating mutations (valine 19 or leucine 68) were introduced into the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAS1 and RAS2 genes. In addition, a deletion was introduced into the wild-type gene and into an activated RAS2 gene, removing the segment of the coding region for the unique C-terminal domain that lies between the N-terminal 174 residues and the penultimate 8-residue membrane attachment site. At low levels of expression, a dominant activated phenotype, characterized by low glycogen levels and poor sporulation efficiency, was observed for both full-length RAS1 and RAS2 variants having impaired GTP hydrolytic activity. Lethal CDC25 mutations were bypassed by the expression of mutant RAS1 or RAS2 proteins with activating amino acid substitutions, by expression of RAS2 proteins lacking the C-terminal domain, or by normal and oncogenic mammalian Harvey ras proteins. Biochemical measurements of adenylate cyclase in membrane preparations showed that the expression of RAS2 proteins lacking the C-terminal domain can restore adenylate cyclase activity to cdc25 membranes.