Mitotic exit kinase Dbf2 directly phosphorylates chitin synthase Chs2 to regulate cytokinesis in budding yeast

Production of yeast cell wall polysaccharides-β-glucan and chitin by using food waste substrates: Biosynthesis, production, extraction, and purification methods

Food waste causes significant environmental and economic challenges worldwide, prompting many nations to prioritize its reduction and recycling. As a nutrient-rich material containing vitamins, proteins, and carbohydrates, it serves as a promising substrate for the cultivation of single-cell microorganisms like yeast. Yeast cell wall polysaccharides (YCWPs), particularly chitin and β-glucans, offer valuable applications in food, pharmaceuticals, and bioprocessing. This review highlights the biosynthesis, production, extraction, and purification of YCWP cultivated on food waste substrates. Key species including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichia pastoris, and Candida spp. are discussed, with a focus on optimizing chitin and β-glucan yield through mechanical, chemical, and enzymatic extraction methods. In addition, the structural and functional properties of β-glucans and chitin in maintaining cell wall stability are explored, emphasizing their potential as prebiotics, dietary fibers, and biodegradable packaging materials. This review also examines the valorization of food waste in yeast cultivation, presenting a sustainable bioprocessing strategy for transforming waste into valuable bioproducts.

Calcineurin controls the cytokinesis machinery during thermal stress in Cryptococcus deneoformans

Calcineurin is a highly conserved phosphatase that plays a central role in sensing calcium and governing transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational signaling networks. Calcineurin is a heterodimer consisting of a catalytic A subunit and a regulatory B subunit. Through downstream effectors, calcineurin signaling drives myriad responses in different organisms. In the fungal pathogenic Cryptococcus species complex that infects humans, calcineurin governs thermotolerance and is essential for growth at high temperature and pathogenesis. In Cryptococcus deneoformans , the underlying molecular functions of this critical signaling cascade are not well understood. In this study, we conducted a genetic screen and identified genetic changes that suppress the requirement for calcineurin during high-temperature growth. Our results identified two mechanisms that bypass the requirement for calcineurin function. The first mechanism involves segmental aneuploidy via both amplification as well as loss of chromosome fragments. The second mechanism involves dominant amino acid substitution mutations in the genes encoding three proteins, Chs6, Imp2, and Cts1, orthologs of components of the Ingression Progression Complex required for septation and budding in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . Loss of calcineurin activity causes chitin and chitosan accumulation and severe budding defects, whereas suppressor mutations largely restore growth and cytokinesis in the absence of calcineurin. These findings reveal the calcineurin signaling cascade controls a conserved cytokinesis machinery at the mitotic exit network during thermal stress.

Significance Statement

Cellular responses to external stress conditions involve activation of signaling cascades, which act via effectors to govern key cellular processes. One such signaling cascade involves the phosphatase calcineurin, the conserved target of cyclosporin A and FK506 that governs myriad cellular functions through its substrates. In human fungal pathogens, calcineurin is critical for pathogenicity. Here, we employed a genetic screen to map the functional interactions of this signaling cascade and repeatedly identified mutations in components of a single protein complex, suggesting a focused downstream response. With genetic and biochemical approaches, we established that these proteins play a crucial role in cell division at high temperature enabling cell division and revealing new avenues of research that could identify potential antifungal drug targets.

Central Role of the Actomyosin Ring in Coordinating Cytokinesis Steps in Budding Yeast

Eukaryotic cells must accurately transfer their genetic material and cellular components to their daughter cells. Initially, cells duplicate their chromosomes and subsequently segregate them toward the poles. The actomyosin ring, a crucial molecular machinery normally located in the middle of the cells and underneath the plasma membrane, then physically divides the cytoplasm and all components into two daughter cells, each ready to start a new cell cycle. This process, known as cytokinesis, is conserved throughout evolution. Defects in cytokinesis can lead to the generation of genetically unstable tetraploid cells, potentially initiating uncontrolled proliferation and cancer. This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which budding yeast cells build the actomyosin ring and the preceding steps involved in forming a scaffolding structure that supports the challenging structural changes throughout cytokinesis. Additionally, we describe how cells coordinate actomyosin ring contraction, plasma membrane ingression, and extracellular matrix deposition to successfully complete cytokinesis. Furthermore, the review discusses the regulatory roles of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase (Cdk1) and the Mitotic Exit Network (MEN) in ensuring the precise timing and execution of cytokinesis. Understanding these processes in yeast provides insights into the fundamental aspects of cell division and its implications for human health.

The NDR family of kinases: essential regulators of aging

Aging is defined as a progressive decline of cognitive and physiological functions over lifetime. Since the definition of the nine hallmarks of aging in 2013 by López-Otin, numerous studies have attempted to identify the main regulators and contributors in the aging process. One interesting group of proteins whose participation has been implicated in several aging hallmarks are the nuclear DBF2-related (NDR) family of serine-threonine AGC kinases. They are one of the core components of the Hippo signaling pathway and include NDR1, NDR2, LATS1 and LATS2 in mammals, along with its highly conserved metazoan orthologs; Trc in Drosophila melanogaster, SAX-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans, CBK1, DBF20 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and orb6 in Saccharomyces pombe. These kinases have been independently linked to the regulation of widely diverse cellular processes disrupted during aging such as the cell cycle progression, transcription, intercellular communication, nutrient homeostasis, autophagy, apoptosis, and stem cell differentiation. However, a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art knowledge regarding the post-translational modifications of and by NDR kinases in aging has not been conducted. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the NDR family of kinases, focusing on their relevance to various aging hallmarks, and emphasize the growing body of evidence that suggests NDR kinases are essential regulators of aging across species.

Phosphorylation of the F-BAR protein Hof1 drives septin ring splitting in budding yeast

A double septin ring accompanies cytokinesis in yeasts and mammalian cells. In budding yeast, reorganisation of the septin collar at the bud neck into a dynamic double ring is essential for actomyosin ring constriction and cytokinesis. Septin reorganisation requires the Mitotic Exit Network (MEN), a kinase cascade essential for cytokinesis. However, the effectors of MEN in this process are unknown. Here we identify the F-BAR protein Hof1 as a critical target of MEN in septin remodelling. Phospho-mimicking HOF1 mutant alleles overcome the inability of MEN mutants to undergo septin reorganisation by decreasing Hof1 binding to septins and facilitating its translocation to the actomyosin ring. Hof1-mediated septin rearrangement requires its F-BAR domain, suggesting that it may involve a local membrane remodelling that leads to septin reorganisation. In vitro Hof1 can induce the formation of intertwined septin bundles, while a phosphomimetic Hof1 protein has impaired septin-bundling activity. Altogether, our data indicate that Hof1 modulates septin architecture in distinct ways depending on its phosphorylation status.

Proteome-scale movements and compartment connectivity during the eukaryotic cell cycle

Cell cycle progression relies on coordinated changes in the composition and subcellular localization of the proteome. By applying two distinct convolutional neural networks on images of millions of live yeast cells, we resolved proteome-level dynamics in both concentration and localization during the cell cycle, with resolution of ∼20 subcellular localization classes. We show that a quarter of the proteome displays cell cycle periodicity, with proteins tending to be controlled either at the level of localization or concentration, but not both. Distinct levels of protein regulation are preferentially utilized for different aspects of the cell cycle, with changes in protein concentration being mostly involved in cell cycle control and changes in protein localization in the biophysical implementation of the cell cycle program. We present a resource for exploring global proteome dynamics during the cell cycle, which will aid in understanding a fundamental biological process at a systems level.

The N-terminal disordered region of ChsB regulates its efficient transport to the hyphal apical surface in Aspergillus nidulans

In fungi, the cell wall plays a crucial role in morphogenesis and response to stress from the external environment. Chitin is one of the main cell wall components in many filamentous fungi. In Aspergillus nidulans, a class III chitin synthase ChsB plays a pivotal role in hyphal extension and morphogenesis. However, little is known about post-translational modifications of ChsB and their functional impacts. In this study, we showed that ChsB is phosphorylated in vivo. We characterized strains that produce ChsB using stepwise truncations of its N-terminal disordered region or deletions of some residues in that region and demonstrated its involvement in ChsB abundance on the hyphal apical surface and in hyphal tip localization. Furthermore, we showed that some deletions in this region affected the phosphorylation states of ChsB, raising the possibility that these states are important for the localization of ChsB to the hyphal surface and the growth of A. nidulans. Our findings indicate that ChsB transport is regulated by its N-terminal disordered region.

PP2A-Cdc55 phosphatase regulates actomyosin ring contraction and septum formation during cytokinesis

Eukaryotic cells divide and separate all their components after chromosome segregation by a process called cytokinesis to complete cell division. Cytokinesis is highly regulated by the recruitment of the components to the division site and through post-translational modifications such as phosphorylations. The budding yeast mitotic kinases Cdc28-Clb2, Cdc5, and Dbf2-Mob1 phosphorylate several cytokinetic proteins contributing to the regulation of cytokinesis. The PP2A-Cdc55 phosphatase regulates mitosis counteracting Cdk1- and Cdc5-dependent phosphorylation. This prompted us to propose that PP2A-Cdc55 could also be counteracting the mitotic kinases during cytokinesis. Here we show that in the absence of Cdc55, AMR contraction and the primary septum formation occur asymmetrically to one side of the bud neck supporting a role for PP2A-Cdc55 in cytokinesis regulation. In addition, by in vivo and in vitro assays, we show that PP2A-Cdc55 dephosphorylates the chitin synthase II (Chs2 in budding yeast) a component of the Ingression Progression Complexes (IPCs) involved in cytokinesis. Interestingly, the non-phosphorylable version of Chs2 rescues the asymmetric AMR contraction and the defective septa formation observed in cdc55∆ mutant cells. Therefore, timely dephosphorylation of the Chs2 by PP2A-Cdc55 is crucial for proper actomyosin ring contraction. These findings reveal a new mechanism of cytokinesis regulation by the PP2A-Cdc55 phosphatase and extend our knowledge of the involvement of multiple phosphatases during cytokinesis.

Downregulation of the Tem1 GTPase by Amn1 after cytokinesis involves both nuclear import and SCF-mediated degradation

At mitotic exit the cell cycle engine is reset to allow crucial processes, such as cytokinesis and replication origin licensing, to take place before a new cell cycle begins. In budding yeast, the cell cycle clock is reset by a Hippo-like kinase cascade called the mitotic exit network (MEN), whose activation is triggered at spindle pole bodies (SPBs) by the Tem1 GTPase. Yet, MEN activity must be extinguished once MEN-dependent processes have been accomplished. One factor contributing to switching off the MEN is the Amn1 protein, which binds Tem1 and inhibits it through an unknown mechanism. Here, we show that Amn1 downregulates Tem1 through a dual mode of action. On one side, it evicts Tem1 from SPBs and escorts it into the nucleus. On the other, it promotes Tem1 degradation as part of a Skp, Cullin and F-box-containing (SCF) ubiquitin ligase. Tem1 inhibition by Amn1 takes place after cytokinesis in the bud-derived daughter cell, consistent with its asymmetric appearance in the daughter cell versus the mother cell. This dual mechanism of Tem1 inhibition by Amn1 may contribute to the rapid extinguishing of MEN activity once it has fulfilled its functions.

The Role of the Cell Integrity Pathway in Septum Assembly in Yeast

Cytokinesis divides a mother cell into two daughter cells at the end of each cell cycle and proceeds via the assembly and constriction of a contractile actomyosin ring (CAR). Ring constriction promotes division furrow ingression, after sister chromatids are segregated to opposing sides of the cleavage plane. Cytokinesis contributes to genome integrity because the cells that fail to complete cytokinesis often reduplicate their chromosomes. While in animal cells, the last steps of cytokinesis involve extracellular matrix remodelling and mid-body abscission, in yeast, CAR constriction is coupled to the synthesis of a polysaccharide septum. To preserve cell integrity during cytokinesis, fungal cells remodel their cell wall through signalling pathways that connect receptors to downstream effectors, initiating a cascade of biological signals. One of the best-studied signalling pathways is the cell wall integrity pathway (CWI) of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its counterpart in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the cell integrity pathway (CIP). Both are signal transduction pathways relying upon a cascade of MAP kinases. However, despite strong similarities in the assembly of the septa in both yeasts, there are significant mechanistic differences, including the relationship of this process with the cell integrity signalling pathways.

Hippo pathway: Regulation, deregulation and potential therapeutic targets in cancer

Hippo pathway is a master regulator of development, cell proliferation, stem cell function, tissue regeneration, homeostasis, and organ size control. Hippo pathway relays signals from different extracellular and intracellular events to regulate cell behavior and functions. Hippo pathway is conserved from Protista to eukaryotes. Deregulation of the Hippo pathway is associated with numerous cancers. Alteration of the Hippo pathway results in cell invasion, migration, disease progression, and therapy resistance in cancers. However, the function of the various components of the mammalian Hippo pathway is yet to be elucidated in detail especially concerning tumor biology. In the present review, we focused on the Hippo pathway in different model organisms, its regulation and deregulation, and possible therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.

The kinetic landscape and interplay of protein networks in cytokinesis

Cytokinesis is executed by protein networks organized into functional modules. Individual proteins within each module have been characterized to various degrees. However, the collective behavior and interplay of the modules remain poorly understood. In this study, we conducted quantitative time-lapse imaging to analyze the accumulation kinetics of more than 20 proteins from different modules of cytokinesis in budding yeast. This analysis has led to a comprehensive picture of the kinetic landscape of cytokinesis, from actomyosin ring (AMR) assembly to cell separation. It revealed that the AMR undergoes biphasic constriction and that the switch between the constriction phases is likely triggered by AMR maturation and primary septum formation. This analysis also provided further insights into the functions of actin filaments and the transglutaminase-like protein Cyk3 in cytokinesis and, in addition, defined Kre6 as the likely enzyme that catalyzes β-1,6-glucan synthesis to drive cell wall maturation during cell growth and division.

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Cytokinesis is executed by protein modules each with a unique kinetic signature

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Actomyosin ring constricts in a biphasic manner that is elaborately regulated

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The transglutaminase-like domain in Cyk3 plays a dual role in cytokinesis

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Kre6 catalyzes β-1,6-glucan synthesis at the cell surface during growth and division

Rsr1 Palmitoylation and GTPase Activity Status Differentially Coordinate Nuclear, Septin, and Vacuole Dynamics in Candida albicans

Directional growth and tissue invasion by hyphae of the pathogenic fungus, Candida albicans, are disrupted by deletion of the small GTPase, Rsr1, which localizes Cdc42 and its kinase, Cla4, to the site of polarized growth. We investigated additional abnormalities observed in rsr1Δ hyphae, including vacuole development, cytoplasm inheritance, mitochondrial morphology, septin ring organization, nuclear division and migration, and branching frequency, which together demonstrate a fundamental role for Rsr1 in cellular organization. Rsr1 contains a C-terminal CCAAX box, which putatively undergoes both reversible palmitoylation and farnesylation for entry into the secretory pathway. We expressed variants of Rsr1 with mutated C244 or C245, or which lacked GTPase activity (Rsr1^K16N and Rsr1^G12V), in the rsr1Δ background and compared the resulting phenotypes with those of mutants lacking Bud5 (Rsr1 GEF), Bud2 (Rsr1 GAP), or Cla4. Bud5 was required only for cell size and bud site selection in yeast, suggesting there are alternative activators for Rsr1 in hyphae. Septin ring and vacuole dynamics were restored by expression of unpalmitoylated Rsr1^C244S, which localized to endomembranes, but not by cytoplasmic Rsr1^C245A or GTP/GDP-locked Rsr1, suggesting Rsr1 functions at intracellular membranes in addition to the plasma membrane. Rsr1^K16N or cytoplasmic Rsr1^C245A restored normal nuclear division but not septin ring or vacuole dynamics. Rsr1-GDP therefore plays a specific role in suppressing START, which can be signaled from the cytosol. Via differential palmitoylation and activity states, Rsr1 operates at diverse cell sites to orchestrate proper nuclear division and inheritance during constitutive polarized growth. As cla4Δ phenocopied rsr1Δ, it is likely these functions involve Cdc42-Cla4 activity.IMPORTANCE Understanding how single eukaryotic cells self-organize to replicate and migrate is relevant to health and disease. In the fungal pathogen, Candida albicans, the small GTPase, Rsr1, guides the directional growth of hyphae that invade human tissue during life-threatening infections. Rsr1 is a Ras-like GTPase and a homolog of the conserved Rap1 subfamily, which directs migration in mammalian cells. Research into how this single GTPase delivers complex intracellular patterning is challenging established views of GTPase regulation, trafficking, and interaction. Here, we show that Rsr1 directly and indirectly coordinates the spatial and temporal development of key intracellular macrostructures, including septum formation and closure, vacuole dynamics, and nuclear division and segregation, as well as whole-cell morphology by determining branching patterns. Furthermore, we categorize these functions by differential Rsr1 localization and activity state and provide evidence to support the emerging view that the cytosolic pool of Ras-like GTPases is functionally active.

A Noncanonical Hippo Pathway Regulates Spindle Disassembly and Cytokinesis During Meiosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Meiosis in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is used to create haploid yeast spores from a diploid mother cell. During meiosis II, cytokinesis occurs by closure of the prospore membrane, a membrane that initiates at the spindle pole body and grows to surround each of the haploid meiotic products. Timely prospore membrane closure requires SPS1, which encodes an STE20 family GCKIII kinase. To identify genes that may activate SPS1, we utilized a histone phosphorylation defect of sps1 mutants to screen for genes with a similar phenotype and found that cdc15 shared this phenotype. CDC15 encodes a Hippo-like kinase that is part of the mitotic exit network. We find that Sps1 complexes with Cdc15, that Sps1 phosphorylation requires Cdc15, and that CDC15 is also required for timely prospore membrane closure. We also find that SPS1, like CDC15, is required for meiosis II spindle disassembly and sustained anaphase II release of Cdc14 in meiosis. However, the NDR-kinase complex encoded by DBF2/DBF20MOB1 which functions downstream of CDC15 in mitotic cells, does not appear to play a role in spindle disassembly, timely prospore membrane closure, or sustained anaphase II Cdc14 release. Taken together, our results suggest that the mitotic exit network is rewired for exit from meiosis II, such that SPS1 replaces the NDR-kinase complex downstream of CDC15.

Moniliophthora perniciosa development: key genes involved in stress-mediated cell wall organization and autophagy

Moniliophthora perniciosa is a basidiomycete responsible for the witches' broom disease in cacao (Theobroma cacao L.). Chitin synthase (CHS), chitinase (CHIT) and autophagy (ATG) genes have been associated to stress response preceding the formation of basidiocarp. An analysis of literature mining, interactomics and gene expression was developed to identify the main proteins related to development, cell wall organization and autophagy in M. perniciosa. TORC2 complex elements were identified and were involved in the response to the nutrient starvation during the fungus development stages preceding the basidiocarp formation. This complex interacted with target proteins related to cell wall synthesis and to polarization and cell division (FKS1, CHS, CDC42, ROM2). Autolysis and autophagy processes were associated to CHIT2, ATG8 and to the TORC1 complex (TOR1 and KOG1), which is central in the upstream signalization of the stress response due to nutrient starvation and growth regulation. Other important elements that participate to steps preceding basidiocarp formation were also identified (KOG1, SSZ1, GDI1, FKS1, CCD10, CKS1, CDC42, RHO1, AVO1, BAG7). Similar gene expression patterns during fungus reproductive structure formation and when treated by rapamycin (a nutritional related-autophagy stress agent) were observed: cell division related-genes were repressed while those related to autolysis/autophagy were overexpressed.

Yeast as a Model to Understand Actin-Mediated Cellular Functions in Mammals-Illustrated with Four Actin Cytoskeleton Proteins

The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has an actin cytoskeleton that comprises a set of protein components analogous to those found in the actin cytoskeletons of higher eukaryotes. Furthermore, the actin cytoskeletons of S. cerevisiae and of higher eukaryotes have some similar physiological roles. The genetic tractability of budding yeast and the availability of a stable haploid cell type facilitates the application of molecular genetic approaches to assign functions to the various actin cytoskeleton components. This has provided information that is in general complementary to that provided by studies of the equivalent proteins of higher eukaryotes and hence has enabled a more complete view of the role of these proteins. Several human functional homologues of yeast actin effectors are implicated in diseases. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning the functions of these proteins is critical to develop improved therapeutic strategies. In this article we chose as examples four evolutionarily conserved proteins that associate with the actin cytoskeleton: (1) yeast Hof1p/mammalian PSTPIP1, (2) yeast Rvs167p/mammalian BIN1, (3) yeast eEF1A/eEF1A1 and eEF1A2 and (4) yeast Yih1p/mammalian IMPACT. We compare the knowledge on the functions of these actin cytoskeleton-associated proteins that has arisen from studies of their homologues in yeast with information that has been obtained from in vivo studies using live animals or in vitro studies using cultured animal cell lines.

The Glucan-Remodeling Enzyme Phr1p and the Chitin Synthase Chs1p Cooperate to Maintain Proper Nuclear Segregation and Cell Integrity in Candida albicans

GH72 family of β-(1,3)-glucanosyltransferases is unique to fungi and is required for cell wall biogenesis, morphogenesis, virulence, and in some species is essential for life. Candida albicans PHR1 and PHR2 are pH-regulated genes that encode GH72 enzymes highly similar to Gas1p of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. PHR1 is expressed at pH ≥ 5.5 while PHR2 is transcribed at pH ≤ 5.5. Both are essential for C. albicans morphogenesis and virulence. During growth at neutral-alkaline pH, Phr1p-GFP preferentially localizes to sites of active cell wall formation as the incipient bud, the mother-daughter neck, the bud periphery, and concentrates in the septum at cytokinesis. We further investigated this latter localization. In chs3Δ cells, lacking the chitin of the chitin ring and lateral cell wall, Phr1p-GFP still concentrated along the thin line of the primary septum formed by chitin deposited by chitin synthase I (whose catalytic subunit is Chs1p) suggesting that it plays a role during formation of the secondary septa. RO-09-3143, a highly specific inhibitor of Chs1p activity, inhibits septum formation and blocks cell division. However, alternative septa are produced and are crucial for cell survival. Phr1p-GFP is excluded from such aberrant septa. Finally, we determined the effects of RO-09-3143 in cells lacking Phr1p. PHR1 null mutant was more susceptible to the drug than the wild type. The phr1Δ cells were larger, devoid of septa, and underwent endomitosis and cell death. Phr1p and Chs1p cooperate in maintaining cell integrity and in coupling morphogenesis with nuclear division in C. albicans.

A cell separation checkpoint that enforces the proper order of late cytokinetic events

Eukaryotic cell division requires dependency relationships in which late processes commence only after early ones are appropriately completed. We have discovered a system that blocks late events of cytokinesis until early ones are successfully accomplished. In budding yeast, cytokinetic actomyosin ring contraction and membrane ingression are coupled with deposition of an extracellular septum that is selectively degraded in its primary septum immediately after its completion by secreted enzymes. We find this secretion event is linked to septum completion and forestalled when the process is slowed. Delay of septum degradation requires Fir1, an intrinsically disordered protein localized to the cytokinesis site that is degraded upon septum completion but stabilized when septation is aberrant. Fir1 protects cytokinesis in part by inhibiting a separation-specific exocytosis function of the NDR/LATS kinase Cbk1, a key component of "hippo" signaling that induces mother-daughter separation. We term this system enforcement of cytokinesis order, a checkpoint ensuring proper temporal sequence of mechanistically incompatible processes of cytokinesis.

Priming and elongation of chitin chains: Implications for chitin synthase mechanism

Most fungi have multiple chitin synthases (CSs) that may make chitin at different sites on the cell surface, at different times during growth, and in response to cell wall stress. The structure-based model for CS function is for transfer of GlcNAc from UDP-GlcNAc at the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane to the non-reducing end of a growing chitin chain, which is concomitantly translocated through a transmembrane channel formed by the synthase. Two aspects of CS mechanism are investigated: how chains might be initiated, and what governs how long they can get. First, it is shown that CSs incorporate free GlcNAc into di-N-acetylchitobiose and into insoluble chitin in a UDP-GlcNAc-dependent manner, and therefore that GlcNAc primes chitin synthesis. Second, average lengths of insoluble chitin chains were measured by determining the molar ratio of priming GlcNAc to chain-extending, UDP-GlcNAc-derived GlcNAc, and showed dependence on UDP-GlcNAc concentration, approaching a maximum at higher concentrations of substrate. These results, together with previous findings that 2-acylamido GlcN analogues prime formation of chitin oligosaccharides and stimulate chitin synthesis are discussed in the context of the structure-based model, and lead to the following proposals. 1) CSs may "self-prime" by hydrolyzing UDP-GlcNAc to yield GlcNAc. 2) A CS's active site is not continuously occupied by a nascent chitin chain, rather, CSs can release chitin chains, then re-initiate, and therefore synthesize chitin chains in bursts. 3) The length of chitin chains made by a given CS will impact that CS's contribution to construction of the fungal cell wall.

Budding Yeast BFA1 Has Multiple Positive Roles in Directing Late Mitotic Events

The proper regulation of cell cycle transitions is paramount to the maintenance of cellular genome integrity. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the mitotic exit network (MEN) is a Ras-like signaling cascade that effects the transition from M phase to G1 during the cell division cycle in budding yeast. MEN activation is tightly regulated. It occurs during anaphase and is coupled to mitotic spindle position by the spindle position checkpoint (SPoC). Bfa1 is a key component of the SPoC and functions as part of a two-component GAP complex along with Bub2 The GAP activity of Bfa1-Bub2 keeps the MEN GTPase Tem1 inactive in cells with mispositioned spindles, thereby preventing inappropriate mitotic exit and preserving genome integrity. Interestingly, a GAP-independent role for Bfa1 in mitotic exit regulation has been previously identified. However the nature of this Bub2-independent role and its biological significance are not understood. Here we show that Bfa1 also activates the MEN by promoting the localization of Tem1 primarily to the daughter spindle pole body (dSPB). We demonstrate that the overexpression of BFA1 is lethal due to defects in Tem1 localization, which is required for its activity. In addition, our studies demonstrate a Tem1-independent role for Bfa1 in promoting proper cytokinesis. Cells lacking TEM1, in which the essential mitotic exit function is bypassed, exhibit cytokinesis defects. These defects are suppressed by the overexpression of BFA1 We conclude that Bfa1 functions to both inhibit and activate late mitotic events.

Recruitment of the mitotic exit network to yeast centrosomes couples septin displacement to actomyosin constriction

In many eukaryotic organisms cytokinesis is driven by a contractile actomyosin ring (CAR) that guides membrane invagination. What triggers CAR constriction at a precise time of the cell cycle is a fundamental question. In budding yeast CAR is assembled via a septin scaffold at the division site. A Hippo-like kinase cascade, the Mitotic Exit Network (MEN), promotes mitotic exit and cytokinesis, but whether and how these two processes are independently controlled by MEN is poorly understood. Here we show that a critical function of MEN is to promote displacement of the septin ring from the division site, which in turn is essential for CAR constriction. This is independent of MEN control over mitotic exit and involves recruitment of MEN components to the spindle pole body (SPB). Ubiquitination of the SPB scaffold Nud1 inhibits MEN signaling at the end of mitosis and prevents septin ring splitting, thus silencing the cytokinetic machinery.

The Mitotic Exit Network (MEN) promotes mitotic exit and cytokinesis but if and how MEN independently controls these two processes is unclear. Here, the authors report that MEN displaces septins from the cell division site to promote actomyosin ring constriction, independently of MEN control of mitotic exit.

Cell polarity protein Spa2 coordinates Chs2 incorporation at the division site in budding yeast

Deposition of additional plasma membrane and cargoes during cytokinesis in eukaryotic cells must be coordinated with actomyosin ring contraction, plasma membrane ingression and extracellular matrix remodelling. The process by which the secretory pathway promotes specific incorporation of key factors into the cytokinetic machinery is poorly understood. Here, we show that cell polarity protein Spa2 interacts with actomyosin ring components during cytokinesis. Spa2 directly binds to cytokinetic factors Cyk3 and Hof1. The lethal effects of deleting the SPA2 gene in the absence of either Cyk3 or Hof1 can be suppressed by expression of the hypermorphic allele of the essential chitin synthase II (Chs2), a transmembrane protein transported on secretory vesicles that makes the primary septum during cytokinesis. Spa2 also interacts directly with the chitin synthase Chs2. Interestingly, artificial incorporation of Chs2 into the cytokinetic machinery allows the localisation of Spa2 at the site of division. In addition, increased Spa2 protein levels promote Chs2 incorporation at the site of division and primary septum formation. Our data indicate that Spa2 is recruited to the cleavage site to co-operate with the secretory vesicle system and particular actomyosin ring components to promote the incorporation of Chs2 into the so-called 'ingression progression complexes' during cytokinesis in budding yeast.

Role of the Hof1-Cyk3 interaction in cleavage-furrow ingression and primary-septum formation during yeast cytokinesis

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, it is well established that Hof1, Cyk3, and Inn1 contribute to septum formation and cytokinesis. Because hof1∆ and cyk3∆ single mutants have relatively mild defects but hof1∆ cyk3∆ double mutants are nearly dead, it has been hypothesized that these proteins contribute to parallel pathways. However, there is also evidence that they interact physically. In this study, we examined this interaction and its functional significance in detail. Our data indicate that the interaction 1) is mediated by a direct binding of the Hof1 SH3 domain to a proline-rich motif in Cyk3; 2) occurs specifically at the time of cytokinesis but is independent of the (hyper)phosphorylation of both proteins that occurs at about the same time; 3) is dispensable for the normal localization of both proteins; 4) is essential for normal primary-septum formation and a normal rate of cleavage-furrow ingression; and 5) becomes critical for growth when either Inn1 or the type II myosin Myo1 (a key component of the contractile actomyosin ring) is absent. The similarity in phenotype between cyk3∆ mutants and mutants specifically lacking the Hof1-Cyk3 interaction suggests that the interaction is particularly important for Cyk3 function, but it may be important for Hof1 function as well.

Hof1 and Chs4 Interact via F-BAR Domain and Sel1-like Repeats to Control Extracellular Matrix Deposition during Cytokinesis

Localized extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling is thought to stabilize the cleavage furrow and maintain cell shape during cytokinesis [1-14]. This remodeling is spatiotemporally coordinated with a cytoskeletal structure pertaining to a kingdom of life, for example the FtsZ ring in bacteria [15], the phragmoplast in plants [16], and the actomyosin ring in fungi and animals [17, 18]. Although the cytoskeletal structures have been analyzed extensively, the mechanisms of ECM remodeling remain poorly understood. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, ECM remodeling refers to sequential formations of the primary and secondary septa that are catalyzed by chitin synthase-II (Chs2) and chitin synthase-III (the catalytic subunit Chs3 and its activator Chs4), respectively [18, 19]. Surprisingly, both Chs2 and Chs3 are delivered to the division site at the onset of cytokinesis [6, 20]. What keeps Chs3 inactive until secondary septum formation remains unknown. Here, we show that Hof1 binds to the Sel1-like repeats (SLRs) of Chs4 via its F-BAR domain and inhibits Chs3-mediated chitin synthesis during cytokinesis. In addition, Hof1 is required for rapid accumulation as well as efficient removal of Chs4 at the division site. This study uncovers a mechanism by which Hof1 controls timely activation of Chs3 during cytokinesis and defines a novel interaction and function for the conserved F-BAR domain and SLR that are otherwise known for their abilities to bind membrane lipids [21, 22] and scaffold protein complex formation [23].

Connecting virulence pathways to cell-cycle progression in the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans

Proliferation and host evasion are critical processes to understand at a basic biological level for improving infectious disease treatment options. The human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans causes fungal meningitis in immunocompromised individuals by proliferating in cerebrospinal fluid. Current antifungal drugs target "virulence factors" for disease, such as components of the cell wall and polysaccharide capsule in C. neoformans. However, mechanistic links between virulence pathways and the cell cycle are not as well studied. Recently, cell-cycle synchronized C. neoformans cells were profiled over time to identify gene expression dynamics (Kelliher et al., PLoS Genet 12(12):e1006453, 2016). Almost 20% of all genes in the C. neoformans genome were periodically activated during the cell cycle in rich media, including 40 genes that have previously been implicated in virulence pathways. Here, we review important findings about cell-cycle-regulated genes in C. neoformans and provide two examples of virulence pathways-chitin synthesis and G-protein coupled receptor signaling-with their putative connections to cell division. We propose that a "comparative functional genomics" approach, leveraging gene expression timing during the cell cycle, orthology to genes in other fungal species, and previous experimental findings, can lead to mechanistic hypotheses connecting the cell cycle to fungal virulence.

Mechanisms of Cytokinesis in Basidiomycetous Yeasts

While mechanisms of cytokinesis exhibit considerable plasticity, it is difficult to precisely define the level of conservation of this essential part of cell division in fungi, as majority of our knowledge is based on ascomycetous yeasts. However, in the last decade more details have been uncovered regarding cytokinesis in the second largest fungal phylum, basidiomycetes, specifically in two yeasts, Cryptococcus neoformans and Ustilago maydis. Based on these findings, and current sequenced genomes, we summarize cytokinesis in basidiomycetous yeasts, indicating features that may be unique to this phylum, species-specific characteristics, as well as mechanisms that may be common to all eukaryotes.

Mechanics and regulation of cytokinesis in budding yeast

Cytokinesis is essential for the survival of all organisms. It requires concerted functions of cell signaling, force production, exocytosis, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Due to the conservation in core components and mechanisms between fungal and animal cells, the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has served as an attractive model for studying this fundamental process. In this review, we discuss the mechanics and regulation of distinct events of cytokinesis in budding yeast, including the assembly, constriction, and disassembly of the actomyosin ring, septum formation, abscission, and their spatiotemporal coordination. We also highlight the key concepts and questions that are common to animal and fungal cytokinesis.

Septin-Associated Protein Kinases in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Septins are a family of eukaryotic GTP-binding proteins that associate into linear rods, which, in turn, polymerize end-on-end into filaments, and further assemble into other, more elaborate super-structures at discrete subcellular locations. Hence, septin-based ensembles are considered elements of the cytoskeleton. One function of these structures that has been well-documented in studies conducted in budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is to serve as a scaffold that recruits regulatory proteins, which dictate the spatial and temporal control of certain aspects of the cell division cycle. In particular, septin-associated protein kinases couple cell cycle progression with cellular morphogenesis. Thus, septin-containing structures serve as signaling platforms that integrate a multitude of signals and coordinate key downstream networks required for cell cycle passage. This review summarizes what we currently understand about how the action of septin-associated protein kinases and their substrates control information flow to drive the cell cycle into and out of mitosis, to regulate bud growth, and especially to direct timely and efficient execution of cytokinesis and cell abscission. Thus, septin structures represent a regulatory node at the intersection of many signaling pathways. In addition, and importantly, the activities of certain septin-associated protein kinases also regulate the state of organization of the septins themselves, creating a complex feedback loop.

The final cut: cell polarity meets cytokinesis at the bud neck in S. cerevisiae

Cell division is a fundamental but complex process that gives rise to two daughter cells. It includes an ordered set of events, altogether called "the cell cycle", that culminate with cytokinesis, the final stage of mitosis leading to the physical separation of the two daughter cells. Symmetric cell division equally partitions cellular components between the two daughter cells, which are therefore identical to one another and often share the same fate. In many cases, however, cell division is asymmetrical and generates two daughter cells that differ in specific protein inheritance, cell size, or developmental potential. The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has proven to be an excellent system to investigate the molecular mechanisms governing asymmetric cell division and cytokinesis. Budding yeast is highly polarized during the cell cycle and divides asymmetrically, producing two cells with distinct sizes and fates. Many components of the machinery establishing cell polarization during budding are relocalized to the division site (i.e., the bud neck) for cytokinesis. In this review we recapitulate how budding yeast cells undergo polarized processes at the bud neck for cell division.

Investigation of the role of four mitotic septins and chitin synthase 2 for cytokinesis in Kluyveromyces lactis

Septins are key components of the cell division machinery from yeast to humans. The model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has five mitotic septins, Cdc3, Cdc10, Cdc11, Cdc12, and Shs1. Here we characterized the five orthologs from the genetically less-redundant milk yeast Kluyveromyces lactis. We found that except for KlSHS1 all septin genes are essential. Klshs1 deletions displayed temperature-sensitive growth and morphological defects. Heterologous complementation analyses revealed that all five K. lactis genes encode functional orthologs of their S. cerevisiae counterparts. Fluorophore-tagged versions of the K. lactis septins localized to a ring at the incipient bud site and split into two separate rings at the bud neck later in cytokinesis. One of the key proteins recruited to the bud neck by septins in S. cerevisiae is the chitin synthase Chs2, which synthesizes the primary septum. KlCHS2 was found to be essential and deletions showed cytokinetic defects upon spore germination. KlChs2-GFP also localized to the bud neck and to punctate structures in K. lactis. We conclude that cytokinesis in K. lactis is similar to S. cerevisiae and chimeric septin complexes are fully functional in both yeasts. In contrast to some S. cerevisiae strains, KlChs2 and KlCdc10 were found to be essential.

Analysis of protein dynamics during cytokinesis in budding yeast

Cytokinesis is essential for development and survival of all organisms by increasing cell number and diversity. It is a highly regulated process that requires spatiotemporal coordination of hundreds of proteins functioning in the assembly, constriction, and disassembly of a contractile actomyosin ring, targeted vesicle fusion, and localized extracellular matrix remodeling. Cytokinesis has been studied in multiple systems with a wide range of technologies to learn the common principles. In this chapter, we describe the analysis of protein dynamics during cytokinesis in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by several live-cell imaging methods. This, in combination with the power of yeast genetics, has yielded novel insights into the mechanism of cytokinesis. Similar approaches are increasingly used to study this fundamental process in more complex systems.

Ingression Progression Complexes Control Extracellular Matrix Remodelling during Cytokinesis in Budding Yeast

Eukaryotic cells must coordinate contraction of the actomyosin ring at the division site together with ingression of the plasma membrane and remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) to support cytokinesis, but the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. In eukaryotes, glycosyltransferases that synthesise ECM polysaccharides are emerging as key factors during cytokinesis. The budding yeast chitin synthase Chs2 makes the primary septum, a special layer of the ECM, which is an essential process during cell division. Here we isolated a group of actomyosin ring components that form complexes together with Chs2 at the cleavage site at the end of the cell cycle, which we named ‘ingression progression complexes’ (IPCs). In addition to type II myosin, the IQGAP protein Iqg1 and Chs2, IPCs contain the F-BAR protein Hof1, and the cytokinesis regulators Inn1 and Cyk3. We describe the molecular mechanism by which chitin synthase is activated by direct association of the C2 domain of Inn1, and the transglutaminase-like domain of Cyk3, with the catalytic domain of Chs2. We used an experimental system to find a previously unanticipated role for the C-terminus of Inn1 in preventing the untimely activation of Chs2 at the cleavage site until Cyk3 releases the block on Chs2 activity during late mitosis. These findings support a model for the co-ordinated regulation of cell division in budding yeast, in which IPCs play a central role.

Cytokinesis is the process by which a cell divides in two and occurs once cells have replicated and segregated their chromosomes. Eukaryotic cells assemble a molecular machine called the actomyosin ring that drives cytokinesis. Contraction of the actomyosin ring is coupled to ingression of the plasma membrane and extracellular matrix remodelling. In eukaryotes, glycosyltransferases that synthesise polysaccharides of the extracellular matrix are emerging as essential factors during cytokinesis. Defects associated with the function of those glycosyltransferases induce the failure of cell division, which promotes the formation of genetically unstable tetraploid cells. Budding yeast cells contain a glycosyltransferase called Chs2 that makes a special layer of extracellular matrix and is essential during cell division. Our findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanism by which the cytokinesis regulators Inn1 and Cyk3 finely regulate the activity of glycosyltransferase Chs2 at the end of mitosis. In addition we isolated a group of actomyosin ring components that form complexes together with Chs2 and Inn1 at the cleavage site, which we have named ‘ingression progression complexes’. These complexes coordinate the contraction of the actomyosin ring, ingression of the plasma membrane and extracellular matrix remodelling in a precise manner. Chs2 is indeed a key factor for coordinating these events. It appears that similar principles could apply to other eukaryotic species, such as fission yeast even if the identity of the relevant glycosyltransferase has changed over the evolution. Taking into account the conservation of the basic cytokinetic mechanisms future studies should try to determine whether a glycosyltransferase similar to Chs2 plays a key role during cytokinesis in human cells.

Actomyosin ring driven cytokinesis in budding yeast

Cytokinesis is the final process in the cell cycle that physically divides one cell into two. In budding yeast, cytokinesis is driven by a contractile actomyosin ring (AMR) and the simultaneous formation of a primary septum, which serves as template for cell wall deposition. AMR assembly, constriction, primary septum formation and cell wall deposition are successive processes and tightly coupled to cell cycle progression to ensure the correct distribution of genetic material and cell organelles among the two rising cells prior to cell division. The role of the AMR in cytokinesis and the molecular mechanisms that drive AMR constriction and septation are the focus of current research. This review summarizes the recent progresses in our understanding of how budding yeast cells orchestrate the multitude of molecular mechanisms that control AMR driven cytokinesis in a spatio-temporal manner to achieve an error free cell division.

Monitoring Chitin Deposition During Septum Assembly in Budding Yeast

The synthesis of the septum is a critical step during cytokinesis in the fungal cell. Moreover, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae septum assembly depends mostly on the proper synthesis and deposition of chitin and, accordingly, on the timely regulation of chitin synthases. In this chapter, we will see how to follow chitin synthesis by two complementary approaches: monitoring chitin deposition in vivo at the septum by calcofluor staining and fluorescence microscopy, and measuring the chitin synthase activities responsible for this synthesis.

Dephosphorylation of Iqg1 by Cdc14 regulates cytokinesis in budding yeast

Cytokinesis separates cells by contraction of a ring composed of filamentous actin (F-actin) and type II myosin. Iqg1, an IQGAP family member, is an essential protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae required for assembly and contraction of the actomyosin ring. Localization of F-actin to the ring occurs only after anaphase and is mediated by the calponin homology domain (CHD) of Iqg1, but the regulatory mechanisms that temporally restrict actin ring assembly are not well defined. We tested the hypothesis that dephosphorylation of four perfect cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) sites flanking the CHD promotes actin ring formation, using site-specific alanine mutants. Cells expressing the nonphosphorylatable iqg1-4A allele formed actin rings before anaphase and exhibited defects in myosin contraction and cytokinesis. The Cdc14 phosphatase is required for normal cytokinesis and acts on specific Cdk phosphorylation sites. Overexpression of Cdc14 resulted in premature actin ring assembly, whereas inhibition of Cdc14 function prevented actin ring formation. Cdc14 associated with Iqg1, dependent on several CHD-flanking Cdk sites, and efficiently dephosphorylated these sites in vitro. Of importance, the iqg1-4A mutant rescued the inability of cdc14-1 cells to form actin rings. Our data support a model in which dephosphorylation of Cdk sites around the Iqg1 CHD by Cdc14 is both necessary and sufficient to promote actin ring formation. Temporal control of actin ring assembly by Cdk and Cdc14 may help to ensure that cytokinesis onset occurs after nuclear division is complete.

Binding of Kif23-iso1/CHO1 to 14-3-3 is regulated by sequential phosphorylations at two LATS kinase consensus sites

Kif23 kinesin is an essential actor of cytokinesis in animals. It exists as two major isoforms, known as MKLP1 and CHO1, the longest of which, CHO1, contains two HXRXXS/T NDR/LATS kinase consensus sites. We demonstrate that these two sites are readily phosphorylated by NDR and LATS kinases in vitro, and this requires the presence of an upstream -5 histidine residue. We further show that these sites are phosphorylated in vivo and provide evidence revealing that LATS1,2 participate in the phosphorylation of the most C-terminal S814 site, present on both isoforms. This S814 phosphosite was previously reported to constitute a 14-3-3 binding site, which plays a role in Kif23 clustering during cytokinesis. Surprisingly, we found that phosphorylation of the upstream S716 NDR/LATS consensus site, present only in the longest Kif23 isoform, is required for efficient phosphorylation at S814, thus revealing sequential phosphorylation at these two sites, and differential regulation of Kif23-14-3-3 interaction for the two Kif23 isoforms. Finally, we provide evidence that Kif23 is largely unphosphorylated on S814 in post-abscission midbodies, making this Kif23 post-translational modification a potential marker to probe these structures.

Regulation of cytokinesis in the milk yeast Kluyveromyces lactis

Cytokinesis in yeast and mammalian cells is a highly coordinated process mediated by the constriction of an actomyosin ring. In yeasts, it is accompanied by the formation of a chitinous primary septum. Although much is known about the regulation of cytokinesis in budding yeast, overlapping functions of redundant genes complicates genetic analyses. Here, we investigated the effects of various deletion mutants on cytokinesis in the milk yeast Kluyveromyces lactis. To determine the spatiotemporal parameters of cytokinesis components, live-cell imaging of fluorophor-tagged KlMyo1 and a new Lifeact probe for KlAct1 was employed. In contrast to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, where deletion of ScMYO1 is lethal, Klmyo1 deletion was temperature-sensitive. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the Klmyo1 deletion cells had a defect in the formation of the primary septum and in cell separation; this result was confirmed by FACS analyses. Deletion of KlCYK3 was lethal, whereas in S. cerevisiae a cyk3 deletion is synthetically lethal with hof1 deletion. Growth of Klhof1 mutants was osmoremedial at 25°C, as it is in S. cerevisiae. CYK3 and HOF1 genes cross-complemented in both species, suggesting that they are functional homologs. Inn1, a common interactor for these two regulators, was essential in both yeasts and the encoding genes did not cross-complement. The C2 domain of the Inn1 homologs conferred species specificity. Thus, our work establishes K. lactis as a model yeast to study cytokinesis with less genetic redundancy than S. cerevisiae. The viability of Klmyo1 deletions provides an advantage over budding yeast to study actomyosin-independent cytokinesis. Moreover, the lethality of Klcyk3 null mutants suggests that there are fewer functional redundancies with KlHof1 in K. lactis.

Stepwise and cooperative assembly of a cytokinetic core complex in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Actomyosin ring (AMR) contraction and the synthesis of an extracellular septum are interdependent pathways that mediate cytokinesis in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and other eukaryotes. How these interdependent pathways are physically connected is central for understanding cytokinesis. The yeast IQGAP (Iqg1p) belongs to the conserved AMR. The F-BAR-domain-containing protein Hof1p is a member of a complex that stimulates cell wall synthesis. We report here on the stepwise formation of a physical connection between both proteins. The C-terminal IQ-repeats of Iqg1p first bind to the essential myosin light chain before both proteins assemble with Hof1p into the Mlc1p-Iqg1p-Hof1p (MIH) bridge. Mutations in Iqg1p that disrupt the MIH complex alter Hof1p targeting to the AMR and impair AMR contraction. Epistasis analyses of two IQG1 alleles that are incompatible with formation of the MIH complex support the existence and functional significance of a large cytokinetic core complex. We propose that the MIH complex acts as hinge between the AMR and the proteins involved in cell wall synthesis and membrane attachment.

2-Acylamido analogues of N-acetylglucosamine prime formation of chitin oligosaccharides by yeast chitin synthase 2

Chitin, a homopolymer of β1,4-linked N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residues, is a key component of the cell walls of fungi and the exoskeletons of arthropods. Chitin synthases transfer GlcNAc from UDP-GlcNAc to preexisting chitin chains in reactions that are typically stimulated by free GlcNAc. The effect of GlcNAc was probed by using a yeast strain expressing a single chitin synthase, Chs2, by examining formation of chitin oligosaccharides (COs) and insoluble chitin, and by replacing GlcNAc with 2-acylamido analogues of GlcNAc. Synthesis of COs was strongly dependent on inclusion of GlcNAc in chitin synthase incubations, and N,N'-diacetylchitobiose (GlcNAc2) was the major reaction product. Formation of both COs and insoluble chitin was also stimulated by GlcNAc2 and by N-propanoyl-, N-butanoyl-, and N-glycolylglucosamine. MALDI analyses of the COs made in the presence of 2-acylamido analogues of GlcNAc showed they that contained a single GlcNAc analogue and one or more additional GlcNAc residues. These results indicate that Chs2 can use certain 2-acylamido analogues of GlcNAc, and likely free GlcNAc and GlcNAc2 as well, as GlcNAc acceptors in a UDP-GlcNAc-dependent glycosyltransfer reaction. Further, formation of modified disaccharides indicates that CSs can transfer single GlcNAc residues.

Dual Regulation of the mitotic exit network (MEN) by PP2A-Cdc55 phosphatase

Exit from mitosis in budding yeast is triggered by activation of the key mitotic phosphatase Cdc14. At anaphase onset, the protease separase and Zds1 promote the downregulation of PP2A^Cdc55 phosphatase, which facilitates Cdk1-dependent phosphorylation of Net1 and provides the first wave of Cdc14 activity. Once Cdk1 activity starts to decline, the mitotic exit network (MEN) is activated to achieve full Cdc14 activation. Here we describe how the PP2A^Cdc55 phosphatase could act as a functional link between FEAR and MEN due to its action on Bfa1 and Mob1. We demonstrate that PP2A^Cdc55 regulates MEN activation by facilitating Cdc5- and Cdk1-dependent phosphorylation of Bfa1 and Mob1, respectively. Downregulation of PP2A^Cdc55 initiates MEN activity up to Cdc15 by Bfa1 inactivation. Surprisingly, the premature Bfa1 inactivation observed does not entail premature MEN activation, since an additional Cdk1-Clb2 inhibitory signal acting towards Dbf2-Mob1 activity restrains MEN activity until anaphase. In conclusion, we propose a clear picture of how PP2A^Cdc55 functions affect the regulation of various MEN components, contributing to mitotic exit.

Cell cycle studies over the years have tried to elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind cell division, one of the most highly regulated of all cell processes, which ensures life in all organisms. Protein phosphorylation emerged as a key regulatory mechanism in the cell cycle. The highly conserved family of cyclin-dependent kinases, the Cdks, are considered the main component of the cell cycle control system. However, it has become clear that opposing phosphatases also play a key role in determining the phosphorylation state of the proteins. Cells enter mitosis when mitotic Cdk activity increases, having its pick of activity during metaphase. To exit mitosis, cells must coordinate chromosome segregation with Cdk inactivation processes involving the activation of protein phosphatases. Here we show that the phosphatase PP2A regulates the mitotic exit network (MEN) by counteracting the phosphorylation of Bfa1 and Mob1. Our findings provide new insights into the mechanism by which PP2A-Cdc55 functions affect the regulation of various MEN components that contribute to mitotic exit. The core signalling elements of the MEN, SIN and Hippo pathways are highly conserved. Therefore, studies of MEN regulation will contribute to our understanding of MEN-related pathways in other organisms.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Dma proteins participate in cytokinesis by controlling two different pathways

Cytokinesis completion in the budding yeast S. cerevisiae is driven by tightly regulated pathways, leading to actomyosin ring contraction coupled to plasma membrane constriction and to centripetal growth of the primary septum, respectively. These pathways can partially substitute for each other, but their concomitant inactivation leads to cytokinesis block and cell death. Here we show that both the lack of the functionally redundant FHA-RING ubiquitin ligases Dma1 and Dma2 and moderate Dma2 overproduction affect actomyosin ring contraction as well as primary septum deposition, although they do not apparently alter cell cycle progression of otherwise wild-type cells. In addition, overproduction of Dma2 impairs the interaction between Tem1 and Iqg1, which is thought to be required for AMR contraction, and causes asymmetric primary septum deposition as well as mislocalization of the Cyk3-positive regulator of this process. In agreement with these multiple inhibitory effects, a Dma2 excess that does not cause any apparent defect in wild-type cells leads to lethal cytokinesis block in cells lacking the Hof1 protein, which is essential for primary septum formation in the absence of Cyk3. Altogether, these findings suggest that the Dma proteins act as negative regulators of cytokinesis.

Distinct roles of Rho1, Cdc42, and Cyk3 in septum formation and abscission during yeast cytokinesis

In yeast and animal cytokinesis, the small guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) Rho1/RhoA has an established role in formation of the contractile actomyosin ring, but its role, if any, during cleavage-furrow ingression and abscission is poorly understood. Through genetic screens in yeast, we found that either activation of Rho1 or inactivation of another small GTPase, Cdc42, promoted secondary septum (SS) formation, which appeared to be responsible for abscission. Consistent with this hypothesis, a dominant-negative Rho1 inhibited SS formation but not cleavage-furrow ingression or the concomitant actomyosin ring constriction. Moreover, Rho1 is temporarily inactivated during cleavage-furrow ingression; this inactivation requires the protein Cyk3, which binds Rho1-guanosine diphosphate via its catalytically inactive transglutaminase-like domain. Thus, unlike the active transglutaminases that activate RhoA, the multidomain protein Cyk3 appears to inhibit activation of Rho1 (and thus SS formation), while simultaneously promoting cleavage-furrow ingression through primary septum formation. This work suggests a general role for the catalytically inactive transglutaminases of fungi and animals, some of which have previously been implicated in cytokinesis.

Mitotic exit and separation of mother and daughter cells

Productive cell proliferation involves efficient and accurate splitting of the dividing cell into two separate entities. This orderly process reflects coordination of diverse cytological events by regulatory systems that drive the cell from mitosis into G1. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, separation of mother and daughter cells involves coordinated actomyosin ring contraction and septum synthesis, followed by septum destruction. These events occur in precise and rapid sequence once chromosomes are segregated and are linked with spindle organization and mitotic progress by intricate cell cycle control machinery. Additionally, critical paarts of the mother/daughter separation process are asymmetric, reflecting a form of fate specification that occurs in every cell division. This chapter describes central events of budding yeast cell separation, as well as the control pathways that integrate them and link them with the cell cycle.

Targeting and functional mechanisms of the cytokinesis-related F-BAR protein Hof1 during the cell cycle

Hof1 targets to the division site by interacting with septins and myosin II sequentially during the cell cycle. It plays a role in cytokinesis by coupling actomyosin ring constriction to primary septum formation through interactions with Myo1 and Chs2.

F-BAR proteins are membrane‑associated proteins believed to link the plasma membrane to the actin cytoskeleton in cellular processes such as cytokinesis and endocytosis. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the F‑BAR protein Hof1 localizes to the division site in a complex pattern during the cell cycle and plays an important role in cytokinesis. However, the mechanisms underlying its localization and function are poorly understood. Here we show that Hof1 contains three distinct targeting domains that contribute to cytokinesis differentially. The N‑terminal half of Hof1 localizes to the bud neck and the sites of polarized growth during the cell cycle. The neck localization is mediated mainly by an interaction between the second coiled‑coil region in the N‑terminus and the septin Cdc10, whereas the localization to the sites of polarized growth is mediated entirely by the F‑BAR domain. In contrast, the C‑terminal half of Hof1 interacts with Myo1, the sole myosin‑II heavy chain in budding yeast, and localizes to the bud neck in a Myo1‑dependent manner from the onset to the completion of cytokinesis. We also show that the SH3 domain in the C‑terminus plays an important role in maintaining the symmetry of Myo1 ring constriction during cytokinesis and that Hof1 interacts with Chs2, a chitin synthase that is required for primary septum formation. Together these data define a mechanism that accounts for the localization of Hof1 during the cell cycle and suggest that Hof1 may function in cytokinesis by coupling actomyosin ring constriction to primary septum formation through interactions with Myo1 and Chs2.

Dual function of the NDR-kinase Dbf2 in the regulation of the F-BAR protein Hof1 during cytokinesis

The conserved NDR-kinase Dbf2 plays a critical role in cytokinesis in budding yeast. Among its cytokinesis-related substrates is the F-BAR protein Hof1. Hof1 colocalizes at the cell division site with the septin complex and, as mitotic exit progresses, moves to the actomyosin ring (AMR). Neither the function of Hof1 at the septin complex nor the mechanism by which Hof1 supports AMR constriction is understood. Here we establish that Dbf2 has a dual function in Hof1 regulation. First, we show that the coiled-coil region, which is adjacent to the conserved F-BAR domain, is required for the binding of Hof1 to septins. The Dbf2-dependent phosphorylation of Hof1 at a single serine residue (serine 313) in this region diminishes the recruitment of Hof1 to septins both in vitro and in vivo. Genetic and functional analysis indicates that the binding of Hof1 to septins is important for septin rearrangement and integrity during cytokinesis. Furthermore, Dbf2 phosphorylation of Hof1 at serines 533 and 563 promotes AMR constriction most likely by inhibiting the SH3-domain-dependent interactions of Hof1. Thus our data show that Dbf2 coordinates septin and AMR functions during cytokinesis through the regulation/control of Hof1.

Chitin and glucan, the yin and yang of the fungal cell wall, implications for antifungal drug discovery and therapy

The structural carbohydrate polymers glucan and chitin compliment and reinforce each other in a dynamic process to maintain the integrity and physical strength of the fungal cell wall. The assembly of chitin and glucan in the cell wall of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the polymorphic human pathogen Candida albicans are essential processes that involve a range of fungal-specific enzymes and regulatory networks. The fungal cell wall is, therefore, an attractive target for novel therapies as host cells lack many cell wall-related proteins. The most recent class of antifungal drug approved for clinical use, the echinocandins, targets the synthesis of cell wall β(1-3)glucan. The echinocandins are effective at treating invasive and bloodstream Candida infections and are now widely used in the clinic. However, there have been sporadic reports of breakthrough infections in patients undergoing echinocandin therapy. The acquisition of point mutations in the FKS genes that encode the catalytic β(1-3)glucan synthase subunits, the target of the echinocandins, has emerged as a dominant resistance mechanism. Cells with elevated chitin levels are also less susceptible to echinocandins and in addition, treatment with sub-MIC echinocandin activates cell wall salvage pathways that increase chitin synthesis to compensate for reduced glucan production. The development of drugs targeting the cell wall has already proven to be beneficial in providing an alternative class of drug for use in the clinic. Other cell wall targets such as chitin synthesis still hold great potential for drug development but careful consideration should be given to the capacity of fungi to manipulate their walls in a dynamic response to cell wall perturbations.

Architecture and biosynthesis of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall

The wall gives a Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell its osmotic integrity; defines cell shape during budding growth, mating, sporulation, and pseudohypha formation; and presents adhesive glycoproteins to other yeast cells. The wall consists of β1,3- and β1,6-glucans, a small amount of chitin, and many different proteins that may bear N- and O-linked glycans and a glycolipid anchor. These components become cross-linked in various ways to form higher-order complexes. Wall composition and degree of cross-linking vary during growth and development and change in response to cell wall stress. This article reviews wall biogenesis in vegetative cells, covering the structure of wall components and how they are cross-linked; the biosynthesis of N- and O-linked glycans, glycosylphosphatidylinositol membrane anchors, β1,3- and β1,6-linked glucans, and chitin; the reactions that cross-link wall components; and the possible functions of enzymatic and nonenzymatic cell wall proteins.

The Mitotic Exit Network and Cdc14 phosphatase initiate cytokinesis by counteracting CDK phosphorylations and blocking polarised growth

Polarisation of the actin cytoskeleton must cease during cytokinesis, to support efficient assembly and contraction of the actomyosin ring at the site of cell division, but the underlying mechanisms are still understood poorly in most species. In budding yeast, the Mitotic Exit Network (MEN) releases Cdc14 phosphatase from the nucleolus during anaphase, leading to the inactivation of mitotic forms of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) and the onset of septation, before G1-CDK can be reactivated and drive re-polarisation of the actin cytoskeleton to a new bud. Here, we show that premature inactivation of mitotic CDK, before release of Cdc14, allows G1-CDK to divert the actin cytoskeleton away from the actomyosin ring to a new site of polarised growth, thereby delaying progression through cytokinesis. Our data indicate that cells normally avoid this problem via the MEN-dependent release of Cdc14, which counteracts all classes of CDK-mediated phosphorylations during cytokinesis and blocks polarised growth. The dephosphorylation of CDK targets is therefore central to the mechanism by which the MEN and Cdc14 initiate cytokinesis and block polarised growth during late mitosis.