Functions of Saccharomyces cerevisiae 14-3-3 Proteins in Response to DNA Damage and to DNA Replication Stress

PARylation of 14-3-3 proteins controls the virulence of Magnaporthe oryzae

Magnaporthe oryzae is a devastating fungal pathogen that causes the rice blast disease worldwide. The post-translational modification of ADP-ribosylation holds significant importance in various fundamental biological processes. However, the specific function of this modification in M. oryzae remains unknown. This study revealed that Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation) executes a critical function in M. oryzae. M. oryzae Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) exhibits robust PARylation activity. Disruption of PARylation by PARP1 knock-out or chemical inhibition reveals its involvement in M. oryzae virulence, particularly in appressorium formation. Furthermore, we identified two M. oryzae 14-3-3 proteins, GRF1 and GRF2, as substrates of PARP1. Deletion of GRF1 or GRF2 results in delayed and dysfunctional appressorium, diminished plant penetration, and reduced virulence of the fungus. Biochemical and genetic evidence suggest that PARylation of 14-3-3s is essential for its function in M. oryzae virulence. Moreover, PARylation regulates 14-3-3 dimerization and is required for the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), Pmk1 and Mps1. GRF1 interacts with both Mst7 and Pmk1, and bridges their interaction in a PARylation-dependent manner. This study unveils a distinctive mechanism that PARylation of 14-3-3 proteins controls appressorium formation through MAPK activation, and could facilitate the development of new strategies of rice blast disease control.

Evidence of 14-3-3 proteins contributing to kinetochore integrity and chromosome congression during mitosis

The 14-3-3 family of proteins are conserved across eukaryotes and serve myriad important regulatory functions in the cell. Homo- and hetero-dimers of these proteins mainly recognize their ligands via conserved motifs to modulate the localization and functions of those effector ligands. In most of the genetic backgrounds of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, disruption of both 14-3-3 homologs (Bmh1 and Bmh2) are either lethal or cells survive with severe growth defects, including gross chromosomal missegregation and prolonged cell cycle arrest. To elucidate their contributions to chromosome segregation, in this work, we investigated their centromere- and kinetochore-related functions of Bmh1 and Bmh2. Analysis of appropriate deletion mutants shows that Bmh isoforms have cumulative and non-shared isoform-specific contributions in maintaining the proper integrity of the kinetochore ensemble. Consequently, Bmh mutant cells exhibited perturbations in kinetochore-microtubule (KT-MT) dynamics, characterized by kinetochore declustering, mis-localization of kinetochore proteins and Mad2-mediated transient G2/M arrest. These defects also caused an asynchronous chromosome congression in bmh mutants during metaphase. In summary, this report advances the knowledge on contributions of budding yeast 14-3-3 proteins in chromosome segregation by demonstrating their roles in kinetochore integrity and chromosome congression.

Replication stress-induced Exo1 phosphorylation is mediated by Rad53/Pph3 and Exo1 nuclear localization is controlled by 14-3-3 proteins

Background

Mechanisms controlling DNA resection at sites of damage and affecting genome stability have been the subject of deep investigation, though their complexity is not yet fully understood. Specifically, the regulatory role of post-translational modifications in the localization, stability and function of DNA repair proteins is an important aspect of such complexity.

Results

Here, we took advantage of the superior resolution of phosphorylated proteins provided by Phos-Tag technology to study pathways controlling the reversible phosphorylation of yeast Exo1, an exonuclease involved in a number of DNA repair pathways. We report that Rad53, a checkpoint kinase downstream of Mec1, is responsible for Exo1 phosphorylation in response to DNA replication stress and we demonstrate a role for the type-2A protein phosphatase Pph3 in the dephosphorylation of both Rad53 and Exo1 during checkpoint recovery. Fluorescence microscopy studies showed that Rad53-dependent phosphorylation is not required for the recruitment or the release of Exo1 from the nucleus, whereas 14-3-3 proteins are necessary for Exo1 nuclear translocation.

Conclusions

By shedding light on the mechanism of Exo1 control, these data underscore the importance of post-translational modifications and protein interactions in the regulation of DNA end resection.

Differential abundance and transcription of 14-3-3 proteins during vegetative growth and sexual reproduction in budding yeast

14-3-3 is a family of relatively low molecular weight, acidic, dimeric proteins, conserved from yeast to metazoans including humans. Apart from their role in diverse cellular processes, these proteins are also known for their role in several clinical implications. Present proteomic and biochemical comparison showed increased abundance and differential phosphorylation of these proteins in meiotic cells. Double deletion of bmh1^−/−bmh2^−/− leads to complete absence of sporulation with cells arrested at G₁/S phase while further incubation of cells in sporulating media leads to cell death. In silico analysis showed the presence of 14-3-3 interacting motifs in bonafide members of kinetochore complex (KC) and spindle pole body (SPB), while present cell biological data pointed towards the possible role of yeast Bmh1/2 in regulating the behaviour of KC and SPB. We further showed the involvement of 14-3-3 in segregation of genetic material and expression of human 14-3-3β/α was able to complement the function of endogenous 14-3-3 protein even in the complex cellular process like meiosis. Our present data also established haplosufficient nature of BMH1/2. We further showed that proteins synthesized during mitotic growth enter meiotic cells without de novo synthesis except for meiotic-specific proteins required for induction and meiotic progression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Bioinformatic analysis reveals new determinants of antigenic 14-3-3 proteins and a novel antifungal strategy

The ubiquitously expressed 14-3-3 family of proteins is evolutionarily conserved from yeast to mammals. Their involvement in humoral and cellular immune responses is emerging through studies in drosophila and humans. In humans, a select group of 14-3-3 isoforms are antigenic; however the determinants of their antigenicity are not known. Here, we show that although mammalian 14-3-3 proteins are mostly conserved, subtle differences between their isoforms may give rise to their antigenicity. We observed syntenic relations among all the isoforms of 14-3-3 for mammals, but not with that of birds or amphibians. However, the parasitic 14-3-3 isoforms, which have known antigenic properties, show unique sequence, structure and evolution compared to the human 14-3-3. Moreover we report, for the first time the existence of a bacterial 14-3-3 protein. Contrary to the parasitic isoforms, both bacterial and yeast 14-3-3 exhibited significant homology with mammalian 14-3-3 in protein sequence as well as structure. Furthermore, a human 14-3-3 inhibitor caused significant killing of Candida albicans, which could be due to the inhibition of the structurally similar yeast homologue of 14-3-3, BMH, which is essential for its life cycle. Overall, our bioinformatic analysis combined with the demonstration of a novel antifungal role of a peptide inhibitor of human 14-3-3 indicates that the sequences and structural similarities between the mammalian, bacterial and fungal proteins are likely determinants of the antigenic nature of these proteins. Further, we propose that molecular mimicry triggered by microbial infections with either yeast or bacteria may contribute to the antigenic role of human 14-3-3.

An account of fungal 14-3-3 proteins

14-3-3s are a group of relatively low molecular weight, acidic, dimeric, protein(s) conserved from single-celled yeast to multicellular vertebrates including humans. Despite lacking catalytic activity, these proteins have been shown to be involved in multiple cellular processes. Apart from their role in normal cellular physiology, recently these proteins have been implicated in various medical consequences. In this present review, fungal 14-3-3 protein localization, interactions, transcription, regulation, their role in the diverse cellular process including DNA duplication, cell cycle, protein trafficking or secretion, apoptosis, autophagy, cell viability under stress, gene expression, spindle positioning, role in carbon metabolism have been discussed. In the end, I also highlighted various roles of yeasts 14-3-3 proteins in tabular form. Thus this review with primary emphasis on yeast will help in appreciating the significance of 14-3-3 proteins in cell physiology.

Yeast 14-3-3 protein functions as a comodulator of transcription by inhibiting coactivator functions

In eukaryotes combinatorial activation of transcription is an important component of gene regulation. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Adr1-Cat8 and Adr1-Oaf1/Pip2 are pairs of activators that act together to regulate two diverse sets of genes. Transcription activation of both sets is regulated positively by the yeast AMP-activated protein kinase homolog, Snf1, in response to low glucose or the presence of a non-fermentable carbon source and negatively by two redundant 14-3-3 isoforms, Bmh1 and Bmh2. Bmh regulates the function of these pairs at a post-promoter binding step by direct binding to Adr1. However, how Bmh regulates transcription after activator binding remains unknown. In the present study we analyzed Bmh-mediated regulation of two sets of genes activated independently by these pairs of activators. We report that Bmh inhibits mRNA synthesis when the second activator is absent. Using gene fusions we show that Bmh binding to the Adr1 regulatory domain inhibits an Adr1 activation domain but not a heterologous activation domain or artificially recruited Mediator, consistent with Bmh acting at a step in transcription downstream of activator binding. Bmh inhibits the assembly and the function of a preinitiation complex (PIC). Gene expression studies suggest that Bmh regulates Adr1 activity through the coactivators Mediator and Swi/Snf. Mediator recruitment appeared to occur normally, but PIC formation and function were defective, suggesting that Bmh inhibits a step between Mediator recruitment and PIC activation.

Use of quantitative mass spectrometric analysis to elucidate the mechanisms of phospho-priming and auto-activation of the checkpoint kinase Rad53 in vivo

The cell cycle checkpoint kinases play central roles in the genome maintenance of eukaryotes. Activation of the yeast checkpoint kinase Rad53 involves Rad9 or Mrc1 adaptor-mediated phospho-priming by Mec1 kinase, followed by auto-activating phosphorylation within its activation loop. However, the mechanisms by which these adaptors regulate priming phosphorylation of specific sites and how this then leads to Rad53 activation remain poorly understood. Here we used quantitative mass spectrometry to delineate the stepwise phosphorylation events in the activation of endogenous Rad53 in response to S phase alkylation DNA damage, and we show that the two Rad9 and Mrc1 adaptors, the four N-terminal Mec1-target TQ sites of Rad53 (Rad53-SCD1), and Rad53-FHA2 coordinate intimately for optimal priming phosphorylation to support substantial Rad53 auto-activation. Rad9 or Mrc1 alone can mediate surprisingly similar Mec1 target site phosphorylation patterns of Rad53, including previously undetected tri- and tetraphosphorylation of Rad53-SCD1. Reducing the number of TQ motifs turns the SCD1 into a proportionally poorer Mec1 target, which then requires the presence of both Mrc1 and Rad9 for sufficient priming and auto-activation. The phosphothreonine-interacting Rad53-FHA domains, particularly FHA2, regulate phospho-priming by interacting with the checkpoint mediators but do not seem to play a major role in the phospho-SCD1-dependent auto-activation step. Finally, mutation of all four SCD1 TQ motifs greatly reduces Rad53 activation but does not eliminate it, and residual Rad53 activity in this mutant is dependent on Rad9 but not Mrc1. Altogether, our results provide a paradigm for how phosphorylation site clusters and checkpoint mediators can be involved in the regulation of signaling relay in protein kinase cascades in vivo and elucidate an SCD1-independent Rad53 auto-activation mechanism through the Rad9 pathway. The work also demonstrates the power of mass spectrometry for in-depth analyses of molecular mechanisms in cellular signaling in vivo.

Binding and transcriptional regulation by 14-3-3 (Bmh) proteins requires residues outside of the canonical motif

Evolutionarily conserved 14-3-3 proteins have important functions as dimers in numerous cellular signaling processes, including regulation of transcription. Yeast 14-3-3 proteins, known as Bmh, inhibit a post-DNA binding step in transcription activation by Adr1, a glucose-regulated transcription factor, by binding to its regulatory domain, residues 226 to 240. The domain was originally defined by regulatory mutations, ADR1(c) alleles that alter activator-dependent gene expression. Here, we report that ADR1(c) alleles and other mutations in the regulatory domain impair Bmh binding and abolish Bmh-dependent regulation both directly and indirectly. The indirect effect is caused by mutations that inhibit phosphorylation of Ser230 and thus inhibit Bmh binding, which requires phosphorylated Ser230. However, several mutations inhibit Bmh binding without inhibiting phosphorylation and thus define residues that provide important interaction sites between Adr1 and Bmh. Our proposed model of the Adr1 regulatory domain bound to Bmh suggests that residues Ser238 and Tyr239 could provide cross-dimer contacts to stabilize the complex and that this might explain the failure of a dimerization-deficient Bmh mutant to bind Adr1 and to inhibit its activity. A bioinformatics analysis of Bmh-interacting proteins suggests that residues outside the canonical 14-3-3 motif might be a general property of Bmh target proteins and might help explain the ability of 14-3-3 to distinguish target and nontarget proteins. Bmh binding to the Adr1 regulatory domain, and its failure to bind when mutations are present, explains at a molecular level the transcriptional phenotype of ADR1(c) mutants.

14-3-3 (Bmh) proteins regulate combinatorial transcription following RNA polymerase II recruitment by binding at Adr1-dependent promoters in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Adr1 and Cat8 are nutrient-regulated transcription factors in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that coactivate genes necessary for growth in the absence of a fermentable carbon source. Transcriptional activation by Adr1 is dependent on the AMP-activated protein kinase Snf1 and is inhibited by binding of Bmh, yeast 14-3-3 proteins, to the phosphorylated Adr1 regulatory domain. We show here that Bmh inhibits transcription by binding to Adr1 at promoters that contain a preinitiation complex, demonstrating that Bmh-mediated inhibition is not due to nuclear exclusion, inhibition of DNA binding, or RNA polymerase II (Pol II) recruitment. Adr1-dependent mRNA levels under repressing growth conditions are synergistically enhanced in a mutant lacking Bmh and the two major histone deacetylases (HDACs), suggesting that Bmh and HDACs inhibit gene expression independently. The synergism requires Snf1 and Adr1 but not Cat8. Inactivating Bmh or preventing it from binding to Adr1 suppresses the normal requirement for Cat8 at codependent promoters, suggesting that Bmh modulates combinatorial control of gene expression in addition to having an inhibitory role in transcription. Activating Snf1 by deleting Reg1, a Glc7 protein phosphatase regulatory subunit, is lethal in combination with defective Bmh in strain W303, suggesting that Bmh and Snf1 have opposing roles in an essential cellular process.

Pichia pastoris 14-3-3 regulates transcriptional activity of the methanol inducible transcription factor Mxr1 by direct interaction

The zinc-finger transcription factor, Mxr1 activates methanol utilization and peroxisome biogenesis genes in the methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris. Expression of Mxr1-dependent genes is regulated in response to various carbon sources by an unknown mechanism. We show here that this mechanism involves the highly conserved 14-3-3 proteins. 14-3-3 proteins participate in many biological processes in different eukaryotes. We have characterized a putative 14-3-3 binding region at Mxr1 residues 212-225 and mapped the major activation domain of Mxr1 to residues 246-280, and showed that phenylalanine residues in this region are critical for its function. Furthermore, we report that a unique and previously uncharacterized 14-3-3 family protein in P. pastoris complements Saccharomyces cerevisiae 14-3-3 functions and interacts with Mxr1 through its 14-3-3 binding region via phosphorylation of Ser215 in a carbon source-dependent manner. Indeed, our in vivo results suggest a carbon source-dependent regulation of expression of Mxr1-activated genes by 14-3-3 in P. pastoris. Interestingly, we observed 14-3-3-independent binding of Mxr1 to the promoters, suggesting a post-DNA binding function of 14-3-3 in regulating transcription. We provide the first molecular explanation of carbon source-mediated regulation of Mxr1 activity, whose mechanism involves a post-DNA binding role of 14-3-3.

14-3-3 Proteins regulate exonuclease 1-dependent processing of stalled replication forks

Replication fork integrity, which is essential for the maintenance of genome stability, is monitored by checkpoint-mediated phosphorylation events. 14-3-3 proteins are able to bind phosphorylated proteins and were shown to play an undefined role under DNA replication stress. Exonuclease 1 (Exo1) processes stalled replication forks in checkpoint-defective yeast cells. We now identify 14-3-3 proteins as in vivo interaction partners of Exo1, both in yeast and mammalian cells. Yeast 14-3-3–deficient cells fail to induce Mec1–dependent Exo1 hyperphosphorylation and accumulate Exo1–dependent ssDNA gaps at stalled forks, as revealed by electron microscopy. This leads to persistent checkpoint activation and exacerbated recovery defects. Moreover, using DNA bi-dimensional electrophoresis, we show that 14-3-3 proteins promote fork progression under limiting nucleotide concentrations. We propose that 14-3-3 proteins assist in controlling the phosphorylation status of Exo1 and additional unknown targets, promoting fork progression, stability, and restart in response to DNA replication stress.

Stalling and collapse of DNA replication forks is an important source of genome instability and has been implicated in early steps of carcinogenesis. The maintenance of stable intermediates upon stalled replication requires the coordinated action of a number of proteins and proper inhibitory control of dangerous enzymatic activities. In this study, we uncover an evolutionarily conserved mechanism through which 14-3-3 proteins modulate the checkpoint-mediated phosphorylation of, and in turn limit the activity of, an exonuclease (Exo1) previously implicated in pathological processing of stalled replication forks and other sensitive DNA intermediates. This represents an unprecedented link in the field of DNA repair and genome stability, providing a molecular rationale to the yet undefined role of 14-3-3 proteins in the maintenance of genome integrity after replication stress. In analogy to Exo1, our data suggest that additional factors at replication forks may be subjected to similar regulation, pointing to the 14-3-3 proteins as central components of the checkpoint triggered in response to replication stress.

An analysis of CAF-1-interacting proteins reveals dynamic and direct interactions with the KU complex and 14-3-3 proteins

CAF-1 is essential in human cells for the de novo deposition of histones H3 and H4 at the DNA replication fork. Depletion of CAF-1 from various cell lines causes replication fork arrest, activation of the intra-S phase checkpoint, and global defects in chromatin structure. CAF-1 is also involved in coordinating inheritance of states of gene expression and in chromatin assembly following DNA repair. In this study, we generated cell lines expressing RNAi-resistant versions of CAF-1 and showed that the N-terminal 296 amino acids are dispensable for essential CAF-1 function in vivo. N-terminally truncated CAF-1 p150 was deficient in proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) binding, reinforcing the existence of two PCNA binding sites in human CAF-1, but the defect in PCNA binding had no effect on the recruitment of CAF-1 to chromatin after DNA damage or to resistance to DNA-damaging agents. Tandem affinity purification of CAF-1-interacting proteins under mild conditions revealed that CAF-1 was directly associated with the KU70/80 complex, part of the DNA-dependent protein kinase, and the phosphoserine/threonine-binding protein 14-3-3 ζ. CAF-1 was a substrate for DNA-dependent protein kinase, and the 14-3-3 interaction in vitro is dependent on DNA-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation. These results highlight that CAF-1 has prominent interactions with the DNA repair machinery but that the N terminus is dispensable for the role of CAF-1 in DNA replication- and repair-coupled chromatin assembly.

14-3-3 (Bmh) proteins inhibit transcription activation by Adr1 through direct binding to its regulatory domain

14-3-3 proteins, known as Bmh in yeast, are ubiquitous, highly conserved proteins that function as adaptors in signal transduction pathways by binding to phosphorylated proteins to activate, inactivate, or sequester their substrates. Bmh proteins have an important role in glucose repression by binding to Reg1, the regulatory subunit of Glc7, a protein phosphatase that inactivates the AMP-activated protein kinase Snf1. We describe here another role for Bmh in glucose repression. We show that Bmh binds to the Snf1-dependent transcription factor Adr1 and inhibits its transcriptional activity. Bmh binds within the regulatory domain of Adr1 between amino acids 215 and 260, the location of mutant ADR1(c) alleles that deregulate Adr1 activity. This provides the first explanation for the phenotype resulting from these mutations. Bmh inhibits Gal4-Adr1 fusion protein activity by binding to the Ser230 region and blocking the function of a nearby cryptic activating region. ADR1(c) alleles, or the inactivation of Bmh, relieve the inhibition and Snf1 dependence of this activating region, indicating that the phosphorylation of Ser230 and Bmh are important for the inactivation of Gal4-Adr1. The Bmh binding domain is conserved in orthologs of Adr1, suggesting that it acquired an important biological function before the whole-genome duplication of the ancestor of S. cerevisiae.

14-3-3 proteins function in the initiation and elongation steps of DNA replication in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

14-3-3s are highly conserved abundant eukaryotic proteins essential for viability, at least in lower eukaryotes. We previously showed that they associate with mammalian and yeast replication origins in a cell-cycle-dependent manner, and are involved in the initiation of DNA replication. Here, we present evidence that 14-3-3 proteins are novel regulators of the initiation and elongation steps of DNA replication in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The results show that the Bmh2 protein, one of the two 14-3-3 homologues in S. cerevisiae, interacts with Mcm2 and Orc2 proteins, binds to ARS1 maximally at the G1 phase, is essential for plasmid stability, and is required for normal S-phase entry and progression. Furthermore, during G1 phase, the Bmh2 protein is required for the association of MCM proteins with chromatin and their maintenance at replication origins. The results reveal that 14-3-3 proteins function as essential factors for the assembly and maintenance of the pre-replication complex during G1 phase.

Streamline proteomic approach for characterizing protein-protein interaction network in a RAD52 protein complex

Large-scale identification of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) in functional complexes represents an efficient route to elucidate the regulatory rules of cellular functions. Whereas many methods have been developed to identify the PPIs associated with particular target/bait protein in complexes, little information is available about the interaction relationships among all components in a complex. Here, we have established a strategy of integrating proteomic identification of complex components with mammalian two-hybrid screening of their binary relationships to achieve information content of both breadth (i.e., identifying all potential interacting partners of the protein of interest) and depth (i.e., detailed mapping of the physical interactions of a subset of the identified and functionally related proteins) in characterizing protein complexes. In the initial phase of quantitative proteomic analysis of this streamline, the proteins that specifically complex with the target/bait protein were pulled down by immunoprecipitation and identified by mass spectrometry (MS)-based "dual-tagging" quantitative proteomic approach. In the second phase of in-depth characterizations of binary relationships, the physical interactions of a subset of functionally closely related complex components are mapped by mammalian two-hybrid assay. The screening for binary relationships of complex components not only serves as a validation of the first phase of proteomic identification, but also further deepens the understanding of the protein complex of interest. With this streamlined approach, we studied the protein complexes that are associated with a DNA recombination protein RAD52. In the initial phase, multiple proteins both known and unknown to interact with RAD52 were identified by the "dual-tagging" proteomic method. In the second phase, a complex protein-protein interaction network, which may play important roles in coordinating the activity of DNA repair with that of cell division, was defined by the mammalian two-hybrid assay.

A genomewide suppressor and enhancer analysis of cdc13-1 reveals varied cellular processes influencing telomere capping in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Cdc13 binds telomeric DNA to recruit telomerase and to "cap" chromosome ends. In temperature-sensitive cdc13-1 mutants telomeric DNA is degraded and cell-cycle progression is inhibited. To identify novel proteins and pathways that cap telomeres, or that respond to uncapped telomeres, we combined cdc13-1 with the yeast gene deletion collection and used high-throughput spot-test assays to measure growth. We identified 369 gene deletions, in eight different phenotypic classes, that reproducibly demonstrated subtle genetic interactions with the cdc13-1 mutation. As expected, we identified DNA damage checkpoint, nonsense-mediated decay and telomerase components in our screen. However, we also identified genes affecting casein kinase II activity, cell polarity, mRNA degradation, mitochondrial function, phosphate transport, iron transport, protein degradation, and other functions. We also identified a number of genes of previously unknown function that we term RTC, for restriction of telomere capping, or MTC, for maintenance of telomere capping. It seems likely that many of the newly identified pathways/processes that affect growth of budding yeast cdc13-1 mutants will play evolutionarily conserved roles at telomeres. The high-throughput spot-testing approach that we describe is generally applicable and could aid in understanding other aspects of eukaryotic cell biology.

Functional and physical interactions between yeast 14-3-3 proteins, acetyltransferases, and deacetylases in response to DNA replication perturbations

The highly conserved 14-3-3 proteins participate in many biological processes in different eukaryotes. The BMH1 and BMH2 genes encode the two functionally redundant Saccharomyces cerevisiae 14-3-3 isoforms. In this work we provide evidence that defective 14-3-3 functions not only impair the ability of yeast cells to sustain DNA replication in the presence of sublethal concentrations of methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) or hydroxyurea (HU) but also cause S-phase checkpoint hyperactivation. Inactivation of the catalytic subunit of the histone acetyltransferase NuA4 or of its interactor Yng2, besides leading to S-phase defects and persistent checkpoint activation in the presence of genotoxic agents, is lethal for bmh mutants. Conversely, the lack of the histone deacetylase subunit Rpd3 or Sin3 partially suppresses the hypersensitivity to HU of bmh mutants and restores their ability to complete DNA replication in the presence of MMS or HU. These data strongly suggest that reduced acetyltransferase functionality might account for the S-phase defects of bmh mutants in the presence of genotoxic agents. Consistent with a role of 14-3-3 proteins in acetyltransferase and deacetylase regulation, we find that acetylation of H3 and H4 histone tails is reduced in temperature-sensitive bmh mutants shifted to the restrictive temperature. Moreover, Bmh proteins physically interact, directly or indirectly, with the Esa1 acetyltransferase throughout the cell cycle and with the Rpd3 deacetylase specifically during unperturbed S phase and after HU treatment. Taken together, our results highlight a novel role for 14-3-3 proteins in the regulation of histone acetyltransferase and deacetylase functions in the response to replicative stress.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae 14-3-3 proteins Bmh1 and Bmh2 directly influence the DNA damage-dependent functions of Rad53

In this study, we mutated autophosphorylation sites in Rad53 based on their conservation with previously identified autophosphorylation sites in the mammalian Rad53 ortholog, Chk2. As with wild-type Rad53, the autophosphorylation mutant, rad53-TA, undergoes Mec1/Tel1-dependent interactions with Rad9 and Dun1 in response to genotoxic stress. Whereas rad53-TA in vitro kinase activity is severely impaired, the rad53-TA strains are not completely deficient for cell-cycle checkpoint functions, indicating that the mutant kinase retains a basal level of function. We describe a genetic interaction among Rad53, Dun1, and the 14-3-3 proteins Bmh1 and Bmh2 and present evidence that 14-3-3 proteins directly facilitate Rad53 function in vivo. The data presented account for the previously observed checkpoint defects associated with 14-3-3 mutants in Saccharomyces pombe and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The 14-3-3 functional interaction appears to modulate Rad53 activity, reminiscent of 14-3-3's effect on human Raf1 kinase and distinct from the indirect mode of regulation by 14-3-3 observed for Chk1 or Cdc25.

Yeast 14-3-3 proteins

14-3-3 proteins form a family of highly conserved proteins which are present in all eukaryotic organisms investigated, often in multiple isoforms, up to 13 in some plants. They interact with more than 200 different, mostly phosphorylated proteins. The molecular consequences of 14-3-3 binding are diverse: this binding may result in stabilization of the active or inactive phosphorylated form of the protein, to a conformational alteration leading to activation or inhibition, to a different subcellular localization, to the interaction with other proteins or to shielding of binding sites. The binding partners, and hence the 14-3-3 proteins, are involved in almost every cellular process and 14-3-3 proteins have been linked to several diseases, such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, the neurological Miller-Dieker and spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 diseases and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe both have two genes encoding 14-3-3 proteins, BMH1 and BMH2 and rad24 and rad25, respectively. In these yeasts, 14-3-3 proteins are essential in most laboratory strains. As in higher eukaryotes, yeast 14-3-3 proteins bind to numerous proteins involved in a variety of cellular processes. Recent genome-wide studies on yeast strains with impaired 14-3-3 function support the participation of 14-3-3 proteins in numerous yeast cellular processes. Given the high evolutionary conservation of the 14-3-3 proteins, the experimental accessibility and relative simplicity of yeasts make them excellent model organisms for elucidating the function of the 14-3-3 protein family.

A genome-wide screen identifies the evolutionarily conserved KEOPS complex as a telomere regulator

Telomere capping is the essential function of telomeres. To identify new genes involved in telomere capping, we carried out a genome-wide screen in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for suppressors of cdc13-1, an allele of the telomere-capping protein Cdc13. We report the identification of five novel suppressors, including the previously uncharacterized gene YML036W, which we name CGI121. Cgi121 is part of a conserved protein complex -- the KEOPS complex -- containing the protein kinase Bud32, the putative peptidase Kae1, and the uncharacterized protein Gon7. Deletion of CGI121 suppresses cdc13-1 via the dramatic reduction in ssDNA levels that accumulate in cdc13-1 cgi121 mutants. Deletion of BUD32 or other KEOPS components leads to short telomeres and a failure to add telomeres de novo to DNA double-strand breaks. Our results therefore indicate that the KEOPS complex promotes both telomere uncapping and telomere elongation.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae 14-3-3 proteins are required for the G1/S transition, actin cytoskeleton organization and cell wall integrity

14-3-3 proteins are highly conserved polypeptides that participate in many biological processes by binding phosphorylated target proteins. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae BMH1 and BMH2 genes, whose concomitant deletion is lethal, encode two functionally redundant 14-3-3 isoforms. To gain insights into the essential function(s) shared by these proteins, we searched for high-dosage suppressors of the growth defects of temperature-sensitive bmh mutants. Both the protein kinase C1 (Pkc1) and its upstream regulators Wsc2 and Mid2 were found to act as high dosage suppressors of bmh mutants' temperature sensitivity, indicating a functional interaction between 14-3-3 and Pkc1. Consistent with a role of 14-3-3 proteins in Pkc1-dependent cellular processes, shift to the restrictive temperature of bmh mutants severely impaired initiation of DNA replication, polarization of the actin cytoskeleton, and budding, as well as cell wall integrity. Because Pkc1 acts in concert with the Swi4-Swi6 (SBF) transcriptional activator to control all these processes, the defective G(1)/S transition of bmh mutants might be linked to impaired SBF activity. Indeed, the levels of the G(1) cyclin CLN2 transcripts, which are positively regulated by SBF, were dramatically reduced in bmh mutants. Remarkably, budding and DNA replication defects of bmh mutants were suppressed by CLN2 expression from an SBF-independent promoter, suggesting that 14-3-3 proteins might contribute to regulating the late G(1) transcriptional program.

Subcellular targeting of p33ING1b by phosphorylation-dependent 14-3-3 binding regulates p21WAF1 expression

ING1 is a type II tumor suppressor that affects cell growth, stress signaling, apoptosis, and DNA repair by altering chromatin structure and regulating transcription. Decreased ING1 expression is seen in several human cancers, and mislocalization has been noted in diverse types of cancer cells. Aberrant targeting may, therefore, functionally inactivate ING1. Bioinformatics analysis identified a sequence between the nuclear localization sequence and plant homeodomain domains of ING1 that closely matched the binding motif of 14-3-3 proteins that target cargo proteins to specific subcellular locales. We find that the widely expressed p33(ING1b) splicing isoform of ING1 interacts with members of the 14-3-3 family of proteins and that this interaction is regulated by the phosphorylation status of ING1. 14-3-3 binding resulted in significant amounts of p33(ING1b) protein being tethered in the cytoplasm. As shown previously, ectopic expression of p33(ING1b) increased levels of the p21(Waf1) cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor upon UV-induced DNA damage. Overexpression of 14-3-3 inhibited the up-regulation of p21(Waf1) by p33(ING1b), consistent with the idea that mislocalization blocks at least one of ING1's biological activities. These data support the idea that the 14-3-3 proteins play a crucial role in regulating the activity of p33(ING1b) by directing its subcellular localization.

Ammodytoxin, a secretory phospholipase A2, inhibits G2 cell-cycle arrest in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Ammodytoxin (Atx), an sPLA2 (secretory phospholipase A2), binds to g and e isoforms of porcine 14-3-3 proteins in vitro. 14-3-3 proteins are evolutionarily conserved eukaryotic regulatory proteins involved in a variety of biological processes, including cell-cycle regulation. We have now shown that Atx binds to yeast 14-3-3 proteins with an affinity similar to that for the mammalian isoforms. Thus yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be used as a model eukaryotic cell, which lacks endogenous phospholipases A2, to assess the in vivo relevance of this interaction. Atx was expressed in yeast cells and shown to be biologically active inside the cells. It inhibited G2 cell-cycle arrest in yeast, which is regulated by 14-3-3 proteins. Interference with the cell cycle indicates a possible mechanism by which sPLA2s are able to cause the opposing effects, proliferation and apoptosis, in mammalian cells.

Heat Shock Prevents Alpha-synuclein-induced Apoptosis in a Yeast Model of Parkinson's Disease

We show that human wild-type alpha synuclein (WT alpha-syn), and the inherited mutants A53T or A30P, when expressed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae triggers events that are diagnostic of apoptosis: loss of membrane asymmetry due to the externalization of phosphatidylserine, accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. A brief heat shock was strikingly protective in that alpha-syn-expressing cells receiving a heat shock exhibited none of these apoptotic markers. Because the heat shock did not decrease the expression level of alpha-syn, a protective protein or proteins, induced by the heat shock, must be responsible for inhibition of alpha-syn-induced apoptosis. Using ROS accumulation as a marker of apoptosis, the role of various genes and various drugs in controlling alpha-syn-induced apoptosis was investigated. Treatment with geldanamycin or glutathione, overexpression of Ssa3 (Hsp70), or deletion of the yeast metacaspase gene YCA1 abolishes the ability of alpha-syn to induce ROS accumulation. Deletion of YCA1 also promotes vigorous growth of alpha-syn-expressing cells compared to cells that contain a functional copy of YCA1. These findings indicate that alpha-syn-induced ROS generation is mediated by the caspase, according to alpha-syn-->caspase-->ROS-->apoptosis. It is shown by co-immunoprecipitation that Ssa3 binds to alpha-syn in a nucleotide-dependent manner. Thus, we propose that Hsp70 chaperones inhibit this sequence of events by binding and sequestering alpha-syn.