Proline utilization in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: analysis of the cloned PUT1 gene

Transcriptome Analysis Unveils the Effects of Proline on Gene Expression in the Yeast Komagataella phaffii

Komagataella phaffii yeast is one of the most important biocompounds producing microorganisms in modern biotechnology. Optimization of media recipes and cultivation strategies is key to successful synthesis of recombinant proteins. The complex effects of proline on gene expression in the yeast K. phaffii was analyzed on the transcriptome level in this work. Our analysis revealed drastic changes in gene expression when K. phaffii was grown in proline-containing media in comparison to ammonium sulphate-containing media. Around 18.9% of all protein-encoding genes were differentially expressed in the experimental conditions. Proline is catabolized by K. phaffii even in the presence of other nitrogen, carbon and energy sources. This results in the repression of genes involved in the utilization of other element sources, namely methanol. We also found that the repression of AOX1 gene promoter with proline can be partially reversed by the deletion of the KpPUT4.2 gene.

Role of Gln79 in Feedback Inhibition of the Yeast γ-Glutamyl Kinase by Proline

Awamori, the traditional distilled alcoholic beverage of Okinawa, Japan, is brewed with the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. During the distillation process after the fermentation, enormous quantities of distillation residues containing yeast cells must be disposed of, and this has recently been recognized as a major problem both environmentally and economically. Proline, a multifunctional amino acid, has the highest water retention capacity among amino acids. Therefore, distillation residues with large amounts of proline could be useful in cosmetics. Here, we isolated a yeast mutant with high levels of intracellular proline and found a missense mutation (Gln79His) on the PRO1 gene encoding the γ-glutamyl kinase Pro1, a limiting enzyme in proline biosynthesis. The amino acid change of Gln79 to His in Pro1 resulted in desensitization to the proline-mediated feedback inhibition of GK activity, leading to the accumulation of proline in cells. Biochemical and in silico analyses showed that the amino acid residue at position 79 is involved in the stabilization of the proline binding pocket in Pro1 via a hydrogen-bonding network, which plays an important role in feedback inhibition. Our current study, therefore, proposed a possible mechanism underlying the feedback inhibition of γ-glutamyl kinase activity. This mechanism can be applied to construct proline-accumulating yeast strains to effectively utilize distillation residues.

Longevity Regulation by Proline Oxidation in Yeast

Proline is a pivotal and multifunctional amino acid that is used not only as a nitrogen source but also as a stress protectant and energy source. Therefore, proline metabolism is known to be important in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Here, we discovered that proline oxidation, catalyzed by the proline oxidase Put1, a mitochondrial flavin-dependent enzyme converting proline into ∆¹-pyrroline-5-carboxylate, controls the chronological lifespan of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Intriguingly, the yeast strain with PUT1 deletion showed a reduced chronological lifespan compared with the wild-type strain. The addition of proline to the culture medium significantly increased the longevity of wild-type cells but not that of PUT1-deleted cells. We next found that induction of the transcriptional factor Put3-dependent PUT1 and degradation of proline occur during the aging of yeast cells. Additionally, the lifespan of the PUT3-deleted strain, which is deficient in PUT1 induction, was shorter than that of the wild-type strain. More importantly, the oxidation of proline by Put1 helped maintain the mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP production through the aging period. These results indicate that mitochondrial energy metabolism is maintained through oxidative degradation of proline and that this process is important in regulating the longevity of yeast cells.

DNA affinity purification sequencing and transcriptional profiling reveal new aspects of nitrogen regulation in a filamentous fungus

Sensing available nutrients and efficiently utilizing them is a challenge common to all organisms. The model filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa is capable of utilizing a variety of inorganic and organic nitrogen sources. Nitrogen utilization in N. crassa is regulated by a network of pathway-specific transcription factors that activate genes necessary to utilize specific nitrogen sources in combination with nitrogen catabolite repression regulatory proteins. We identified an uncharacterized pathway-specific transcription factor, amn-1, that is required for utilization of the nonpreferred nitrogen sources proline, branched-chain amino acids, and aromatic amino acids. AMN-1 also plays a role in regulating genes involved in responding to the simple sugar mannose, suggesting an integration of nitrogen and carbon metabolism. The utilization of nonpreferred nitrogen sources, which require metabolic processing before being used as a nitrogen source, is also regulated by the nitrogen catabolite regulator NIT-2. Using RNA sequencing combined with DNA affinity purification sequencing, we performed a survey of the role of NIT-2 and the pathway-specific transcription factors NIT-4 and AMN-1 in directly regulating genes involved in nitrogen utilization. Although previous studies suggested promoter binding by both a pathway-specific transcription factor and NIT-2 may be necessary for activation of nitrogen-responsive genes, our data show that pathway-specific transcription factors regulate genes involved in the catabolism of specific nitrogen sources, while NIT-2 regulates genes involved in utilization of all nonpreferred nitrogen sources, such as nitrogen transporters. Together, these transcription factors form a nutrient sensing network that allows N. crassa cells to regulate nitrogen utilization.

Development of a yeast heterologous expression cassette based on the promoter and terminator elements of the Eremothecium cymbalariae translational elongation factor 1α (EcTEF1) gene

A new expression cassette (EC0) consisting of the fused 5′ and 3′ intergenic regions (IGRs) of the Eremothecium cymbalariae translational elongation factor 1α (EcTEF1) gene was evaluated through expression of the bacterial hygromycin B phosphotransferase (hph) resistance gene in the common baker’s yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Progressively shorter versions of the hph-containing EC cassette (hphEC1 though hphEC6) with trimmed 5′ and 3′ EcTEF1 IGRs were tested for their ability to confer resistance to hygromycin B in S. cerevisiae. Hygromycin B resistance was retained in all six generated hphEC variants up to a concentration of 400 mg/L. The hphEC6 cassette was the shortest cassette to be assayed in this study with 366 and 155 bp of the EcTEF1 5′ and 3′ IGRs, respectively. When tested for deletion of the S. cerevisiae proline oxidase gene PUT1, the hphEC6 cassette was shown to successfully act as a selection marker on hygromycin B-containing medium. The hphEC6 cassette could be placed immediately adjacent to a kanMX4 G418 disulfate resistance marker without any discernable effect on the ability of the yeast to grow in the presence of both hygromycin B and G418 disulfate. Co-cultivation experiments under non-selective conditions demonstrated that a PUT1 deletion strain carrying the hphEC6 cassette displayed equivalent fitness to an otherwise isogenic PUT1 deletion strain carrying the kanMX4 cassette.

Self-protective responses to norvaline-induced stress in a leucyl-tRNA synthetase editing-deficient yeast strain

The editing function of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) is indispensible for formation of the correct aminoacyl-tRNAs. Editing deficiency may lead to growth inhibition and the pathogenesis of various diseases. Herein, we confirmed that norvaline (Nva) but not isoleucine or valine is the major threat to the editing function of Saccharomyces cerevisiae leucyl-tRNA synthetase (ScLeuRS), both in vitro and in vivo. Nva could be misincorporated into the proteome of the LeuRS editing-deficient yeast strain (D419A/ScΔleuS), potentially resulting in dysfunctional protein folding and growth delay. Furthermore, the exploration of the Nva-induced intracellular stress response mechanism in D419A/ScΔleuS revealed that Hsp70 chaperones were markedly upregulated in response to the potential protein misfolding. Additionally, proline (Pro), glutamate (Glu) and glutamine (Gln), which may accumulate due to the conversion of Nva, collectively contributed to the reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in Nva-treated D419A/ScΔleuS cells. In conclusion, our study highlights the significance of the editing function of LeuRS and provides clues for understanding the intracellular stress protective mechanisms that are triggered in aaRS editing-deficient organisms.

Δ(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate/glutamate biogenesis is required for fungal virulence and sporulation

Proline dehydrogenase (Prodh) and Δ¹-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase (P5Cdh) are two key enzymes in the cellular biogenesis of glutamate. Recombinant Prodh and P5Cdh proteins of the chestnut blight fungus Cryphonectria parasitica were investigated and showed activity in in vitro assays. Additionally, the C. parasitica Prodh and P5Cdh genes were able to complement the Saccharomyces cerevisiae put1 and put2 null mutants, respectively, to allow these proline auxotrophic yeast mutants to grow on media with proline as the sole source of nitrogen. Deletion of the Prodh gene in C. parasitica resulted in hypovirulence and a lower level of sporulation, whereas deletion of P5Cdh resulted in hypovirulence though no effect on sporulation; both Δprodh and Δp5cdh mutants were unable to grow on minimal medium with proline as the sole nitrogen source. In a wild-type strain, the intracellular level of proline and the activity of Prodh and P5Cdh increased after supplementation of exogenous proline, though the intracellular Δ¹-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) content remained unchanged. Prodh and P5Cdh were both transcriptionally down-regulated in cells infected with hypovirus. The disruption of other genes with products involved in the conversion of arginine to ornithine, ornithine and glutamate to P5C, and P5C to proline in the cytosol did not appear to affect virulence; however, asexual sporulation was reduced in the Δpro1 and Δpro2 mutants. Taken together, our results showed that Prodh, P5Cdh and related mitochondrial functions are essential for virulence and that proline/glutamate pathway components may represent down-stream targets of hypovirus regulation in C. parasitica.

Reactive oxygen species homeostasis and virulence of the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans requires an intact proline catabolism pathway

Degradation of the multifunctional amino acid proline is associated with mitochondrial oxidative respiration. The two-step oxidation of proline is catalyzed by proline oxidase and Δ(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) dehydrogenase, which produce P5C and glutamate, respectively. In animal and plant cells, impairment of P5C dehydrogenase activity results in P5C-proline cycling when exogenous proline is supplied via the actions of proline oxidase and P5C reductase (the enzyme that converts P5C to proline). This proline is oxidized by the proline oxidase-FAD complex that delivers electrons to the electron transport chain and to O2, leading to mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction. Coupled activity of proline oxidase and P5C dehydrogenase is therefore important for maintaining ROS homeostasis. In the genome of the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, there are two paralogs (PUT1 and PUT5) that encode proline oxidases and a single ortholog (PUT2) that encodes P5C dehydrogenase. Transcription of all three catabolic genes is inducible by the presence of proline. However, through the creation of deletion mutants, only Put5 and Put2 were found to be required for proline utilization. The put2Δ mutant also generates excessive mitochondrial superoxide when exposed to proline. Intracellular accumulation of ROS is a critical feature of cell death; consistent with this fact, the put2Δ mutant exhibits a slight, general growth defect. Furthermore, Put2 is required for optimal production of the major cryptococcal virulence factors. During murine infection, the put2Δ mutant was discovered to be avirulent; this is the first report highlighting the importance of P5C dehydrogenase in enabling pathogenesis of a microorganism.

Purification and characterization of Put1p from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the PUT1 and PUT2 genes are required for the conversion of proline to glutamate. The PUT1 gene encodes Put1p, a proline dehydrogenase (PRODH) enzyme localized in the mitochondrion. Put1p was expressed and purified from Escherichia coli and shown to have a UV-visible absorption spectrum that is typical of a bound flavin cofactor. A K(m) value of 36 mM proline and a k(cat)=27 s(-1) were determined for Put1p using an artificial electron acceptor. Put1p also exhibited high activity using ubiquinone-1 (CoQ(1)) as an electron acceptor with a k(cat)=9.6 s(-1) and a K(m) of 33 microM for CoQ(1). In addition, knockout strains of the electron transfer flavoprotein (ETF) homolog in S. cerevisiae were able to grow on proline as the sole nitrogen source demonstrating that ETF is not required for proline utilization in yeast.

Cross-species hybridization with Fusarium verticillioides microarrays reveals new insights into Fusarium fujikuroi nitrogen regulation and the role of AreA and NMR

In filamentous fungi, the GATA-type transcription factor AreA plays a major role in the transcriptional activation of genes needed to utilize poor nitrogen sources. In Fusarium fujikuroi, AreA also controls genes involved in the biosynthesis of gibberellins, a family of diterpenoid plant hormones. To identify more genes responding to nitrogen limitation or sufficiency in an AreA-dependent or -independent manner, we examined changes in gene expression of F. fujikuroi wild-type and DeltaareA strains by use of a Fusarium verticillioides microarray representing approximately 9,300 genes. Analysis of the array data revealed sets of genes significantly down- and upregulated in the areA mutant under both N starvation and N-sufficient conditions. Among the downregulated genes are those involved in nitrogen metabolism, e.g., those encoding glutamine synthetase and nitrogen permeases, but also those involved in secondary metabolism. Besides AreA-dependent genes, we found an even larger set of genes responding to N starvation and N-sufficient conditions in an AreA-independent manner. To study the impact of NMR on AreA activity, we examined the expression of several AreA target genes in the wild type and in areA and nmr deletion and overexpression mutants. We show that NMR interacts with AreA as expected but affects gene expression only in early growth stages. This is the first report on genome-wide expression studies examining the influence of AreA on nitrogen-responsive gene expression in a genome-wide manner in filamentous fungi.

Self-cloning baker's yeasts that accumulate proline enhance freeze tolerance in doughs

We constructed self-cloning diploid baker's yeast strains by disrupting PUT1, encoding proline oxidase, and replacing the wild-type PRO1, encoding gamma-glutamyl kinase, with a pro1(D154N) or pro1(I150T) allele. The resultant strains accumulated intracellular proline and retained higher-level fermentation abilities in the frozen doughs than the wild-type strain. These results suggest that proline-accumulating baker's yeast is suitable for frozen-dough baking.

Desensitization of feedback inhibition of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae gamma-glutamyl kinase enhances proline accumulation and freezing tolerance

In response to osmotic stress, proline is accumulated in many bacterial and plant cells as an osmoprotectant. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae induces trehalose or glycerol synthesis but does not increase intracellular proline levels during various stresses. Using a proline-accumulating mutant, we previously found that proline protects yeast cells from damage by freezing, oxidative, or ethanol stress. This mutant was recently shown to carry an allele of PRO1 which encodes the Asp154Asn mutant gamma-glutamyl kinase (GK), the first enzyme of the proline biosynthetic pathway. Here, enzymatic analysis of recombinant proteins revealed that the GK activity of S. cerevisiae is subject to feedback inhibition by proline. The Asp154Asn mutant was less sensitive to feedback inhibition than wild-type GK, leading to proline accumulation. To improve the enzymatic properties of GK, PCR random mutagenesis in PRO1 was employed. The mutagenized plasmid library was introduced into an S. cerevisiae non-proline-utilizing strain, and proline-overproducing mutants were selected on minimal medium containing the toxic proline analogue azetidine-2-carboxylic acid. We successfully isolated several mutant GKs that, due to extreme desensitization to inhibition, enhanced the ability to synthesize proline better than the Asp154Asn mutant. The amino acid changes were localized at the region between positions 142 and 154, probably on the molecular surface, suggesting that this region is involved in allosteric regulation. Furthermore, we found that yeast cells expressing Ile150Thr and Asn142Asp/Ile166Val mutant GKs were more tolerant to freezing stress than cells expressing the Asp154Asn mutant.

Tomato QM-like protein protects Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells against oxidative stress by regulating intracellular proline levels

Exogenous proline can protect cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae from oxidative stress. We altered intracellular proline levels by overexpressing the proline dehydrogenase gene (PUT1) of S. cerevisiae. Put1p performs the first enzymatic step of proline degradation in S. cerevisiae. Overexpression of Put1p results in low proline levels and hypersensitivity to oxidants, such as hydrogen peroxide and paraquat. A put1-disrupted yeast mutant deficient in Put1p activity has increased protection from oxidative stress and increased proline levels. Following a conditional life/death screen in yeast, we identified a tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) gene encoding a QM-like protein (tQM) and found that stable expression of tQM in the Put1p-overexpressing strain conferred protection against oxidative damage from H2O2, paraquat, and heat. This protection was correlated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) reduction and increased proline accumulation. A yeast two-hybrid system assay was used to show that tQM physically interacts with Put1p in yeast, suggesting that tQM is directly involved in modulating proline levels. tQM also can rescue yeast from the lethality mediated by the mammalian proapoptotic protein Bax, through the inhibition of ROS generation. Our results suggest that tQM is a component of various stress response pathways and may function in proline-mediated stress tolerance in plants.

Effect of L-proline on sake brewing and ethanol stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

During the fermentation of sake, cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are exposed to high concentrations of ethanol, thereby damaging the cell membrane and functional proteins. L-proline protects yeast cells from damage caused by freezing or oxidative stress. In this study, we evaluated the role of intracellular L-proline in cells of S. cerevisiae grown under ethanol stress. An L-proline-accumulating laboratory strain carries a mutant allele of PRO1, pro1(D154N), which encodes the Asp154Asn mutant gamma-glutamyl kinase. This mutation increases the activity of gamma-glutamyl kinase and gamma-glutamyl phosphate reductase, which catalyze the first two steps of L-proline synthesis and which together may form a complex in vivo. When cultured in liquid medium in the presence of 9% and 18% ethanol under static conditions, the cell viability of the L-proline-accumulating laboratory strain is greater than the cell viability of the parent strain. This result suggests that intracellular accumulation of L-proline may confer tolerance to ethanol stress. We constructed a novel sake yeast strain by disrupting the PUT1 gene, which is required for L-proline utilization, and replacing the wild-type PRO1 allele with the pro1(D154N) allele. The resultant strain accumulated L-proline and was more tolerant to ethanol stress than was the control strain. We used the strain that could accumulate L-proline to brew sake containing five times more L-proline than what is found in sake brewed with the control strain, without affecting the fermentation profiles.

Gene dosage effect of L-proline biosynthetic enzymes on L-proline accumulation and freeze tolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have previously reported that L-proline has cryoprotective activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A freeze-tolerant mutant with L-proline accumulation was recently shown to carry an allele of the PRO1 gene encoding gamma-glutamyl kinase, which resulted in a single amino acid substitution (Asp154Asn). Interestingly, this mutation enhanced the activities of gamma-glutamyl kinase and gamma-glutamyl phosphate reductase, both of which catalyze the first two steps of L-proline synthesis and which together may form a complex in vivo. Here, we found that the Asp154Asn mutant gamma-glutamyl kinase was more thermostable than the wild-type enzyme, which suggests that this mutation elevated the apparent activities of two enzymes through a stabilization of the complex. We next examined the gene dosage effect of three L-proline biosynthetic enzymes, including Delta(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase, which converts Delta(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate into L-proline, on L-proline accumulation and freeze tolerance in a non-L-proline-utilizing strain. Overexpression of the wild-type enzymes has no influence on L-proline accumulation, which suggests that the complex is very unstable in nature. However, co-overexpression of the mutant gamma-glutamyl kinase and the wild-type gamma-glutamyl phosphate reductase was effective for L-proline accumulation, probably due to a stabilization of the complex. These results indicate that both enzymes, not Delta(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase, are rate-limiting enzymes in yeast cells. A high tolerance for freezing clearly correlated with higher levels of L-proline in yeast cells. Our findings also suggest that, in addition to its cryoprotective activity, intracellular L-proline could protect yeast cells from damage by oxidative stress. The approach described here provides a valuable method for breeding novel yeast strains that are tolerant of both freezing and oxidative stresses.

L-proline accumulation and freeze tolerance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are caused by a mutation in the PRO1 gene encoding gamma-glutamyl kinase

We previously isolated a mutant which showed a high tolerance to freezing that correlated with higher levels of intracellular L-proline derived from L-proline analogue-resistant mutants. The mutation responsible for the analogue resistance and L-proline accumulation was a single nuclear dominant mutation. By introducing the mutant-derived genomic library into a non-L-proline-utilizing strain, the mutant was found to carry an allele of the wild-type PRO1 gene encoding gamma-glutamyl kinase, which resulted in a single amino acid replacement; Asp (GAC) at position 154 was replaced by Asn (AAC). Interestingly, the allele of PRO1 was shown to enhance the activities of gamma-glutamyl kinase and gamma-glutamyl phosphate reductase, both of which catalyze the first two steps of L-proline synthesis from L-glutamate and which together may form a complex in vivo. When cultured in liquid minimal medium, yeast cells expressing the mutated gamma-glutamyl kinase were found to accumulate intracellular L-proline and showed a prominent increase in cell viability after freezing at -20 degrees C compared to the viability of cells harboring the wild-type PRO1 gene. These results suggest that the altered gamma-glutamyl kinase results in stabilization of the complex or has an indirect effect on gamma-glutamyl phosphate reductase activity, which leads to an increase in L-proline production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The approach described in this paper could be a practical method for breeding novel freeze-tolerant yeast strains.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae sigma 1278b has novel genes of the N-acetyltransferase gene superfamily required for L-proline analogue resistance

We discovered on the chromosome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Sigma 1278b novel genes involved in L-proline analogue L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid resistance which are not present in the standard laboratory strains. The 5.4 kb-DNA fragment was cloned from the genomic library of the L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid-resistant mutant derived from a cross between S. cerevisiae strains S288C and Sigma 1278b. The nucleotide sequence of a 4.5-kb segment exhibited no identity with the sequence in the genome project involving strain S288C. Deletion analysis indicated that one open reading frame encoding a predicted protein of 229 amino acids is indispensable for L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid resistance. The protein sequence was found to be a member of the N-acetyltransferase superfamily. Genomic Southern analysis and gene disruption showed that two copies of the novel gene with one amino acid change at position 85 required for L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid resistance were present on chromosomes X and XIV of Sigma 1278b background strains. When this novel MPR1 or MPR2 gene (sigma 1278b gene for L-proline analogue resistance) was introduced into the other S. cerevisiae strains, all of the recombinants were resistant to L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, indicating that both MPR1 and MPR2 are expressed and have a global function in S. cerevisiae.

Cross-pathway regulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: activation of the proline utilization pathway by Ga14p in vivo

The Put3p and Gal4p transcriptional activators are members of a distinct class of fungal regulators called the Cys(6) Zn(II)(2) binuclear cluster family. This family includes over 50 different Saccharomyces cerevisiae proteins that share a similar domain organization. Gal4p activates the genes of the galactose utilization pathway permitting the use of galactose as the sole source of carbon and energy. Put3p controls the expression of the proline utilization pathway that allows yeast cells to grow on proline as the sole nitrogen source. We report that Gal4p can activate the PUT structural genes in a strain lacking Put3p. We also show that the activation of PUT2 by Gal4p depends on the presence of the inducer galactose and the Put3p binding site and that activation increases with increased dosage of Gal4p. Put3p cannot activate the GAL genes in the absence of Gal4p. Our in vivo results confirm previously published in vitro data showing that Gal4p is more promiscuous than Put3p in its DNA binding ability. The results also suggest that under appropriate circumstances, Gal4p may be able to function in place of a related family member to activate expression.

Nitrogen catabolite repression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae the expression of all known nitrogen catabolite pathways are regulated by four regulators known as Gln3, Gat1, Dal80, and Deh1. This is known as nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR). They bind to motifs in the promoter region to the consensus sequence 5'GATAA 3'. Gln3 and Gat1 act positively on gene expression whereas Dal80 and Deh1 act negatively. Expression of nitrogen catabolite pathway genes known to be regulated by these four regulators are glutamine, glutamate, proline, urea, arginine. GABA, and allantonie. In addition, the expression of the genes encoding the general amino acid permease and the ammonium permease are also regulated by these four regulatory proteins. Another group of genes whose expression is also regulated by Gln3, Gat1, Dal80, and Deh1 are some proteases, CPS1, PRB1, LAP1, and PEP4, responsible for the degradation of proteins into amino acids thereby providing a nitrogen source to the cell. In this review, all known promoter sequences related to expression of nitrogen catabolite pathways are discussed as well as other regulatory proteins. Overview of metabolic pathways and promotors are presented.

Cha4p of Saccharomyces cerevisiae activates transcription via serine/threonine response elements

The CHA1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes the catabolic L-serine (L-threonine) deaminase responsible for the utilization of serine/threonine as nitrogen sources. Previously, we identified two serine/threonine response elements in the CHA1 promoter, UASCHA. We report isolation of a mutation, cha4-1, that impairs serine/threonine induction of CHA1 transcription. The cha4-1 allele causes noninducibility of a CHA1 p-lacZ translational gene fusion, indicating that Cha4p exerts its action through the CHA1 promoter. Molecular and genetic mapping positioned the cha4 locus 17 cM centromere proximal to put1 on chromosome XII. The coding region of CHA4 predicts a 648-amino acid protein with a DNA-binding motif (residues 43-70) belonging to the Cys6 zinc cluster class. Gel retardation employing a recombinant peptide, Cha4p1-174, demonstrated that the peptide in vitro specifically binds UASCHA. Binding is abolished by a G-C to T-A mutation in the middle bases of the two CEZ-elements in UASCHA. The transcriptional activating ability of UASCHA derivatives in vivo correlates with their ability to bind Cha4p1-174 in vitro. We conclude that Cha4p is a positive regulator of CHA1 transcription and that Cha4p alone, or as part of a complex, is binding UASCHA.

Environmental and developmental signals modulate proline homeostasis: evidence for a negative transcriptional regulator

In many plants, osmotic stress induces a rapid accumulation of proline through de novo synthesis from glutamate. This response is thought to play a pivotal role in osmotic stress tolerance [Kishor, P. B. K., Hong, Z., Miao, G.-H., Hu, C.-A. A. and Verma, D. P. S. (1995) Plant Physiol. 108, 1387-1394]. During recovery from osmotic stress, accumulated proline is rapidly oxidized to glutamate and the first step of this process is catalyzed by proline oxidase. We have isolated a full-length cDNA from Arabidopsis thaliana, At-POX, which maps to a single locus on chromosome 3 and that encodes a predicted polypeptide of 499 amino acids showing significant similarity with proline oxidase sequences from Drosophila and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (55.5% and 45.1%, respectively). The predicted location of the encoded polypeptide is the inner mitochondrial membrane. RNA gel blot analysis revealed that At-POX mRNA levels declined rapidly upon osmotic stress and this decline preceded proline accumulation. On the other hand, At-POX mRNA levels rapidly increased during recovery. Free proline, exogenously added to plants, was found to be an effective inducer of At-POX expression; indeed, At-POX was highly expressed in flowers and mature seeds where the proline level is higher relative to other organs of Arabidopsis. Our results indicate that stress- and developmentally derived signals interact to determine proline homeostasis in Arabidopsis.

A regulatory element in the CHA1 promoter which confers inducibility by serine and threonine on Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes

CHA1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the gene for the catabolic L-serine (L-threonine) dehydratase, which is responsible for biodegradation of serine and threonine. We have previously shown that expression of the CHA1 gene is transcriptionally induced by serine and threonine. Northern (RNA) analysis showed that the additional presence of good nitrogen sources affects induction. This may well be due to inducer exclusion. To identify interactions of cis-acting elements with trans activators of the CHA1 promoter, we performed band shift assays of nuclear protein extracts with CHA1 promoter fragments. By this approach, we identified a protein-binding site of the CHA1 promoter. The footprint of this protein contains the ABF1-binding site consensus sequence. This in vitro binding activity is present irrespectively of CHA1 induction. By deletion analysis, two other elements of the CHA1 promoter, UAS1CHA and UAS2CHA, which are needed for induction of the CHA1 gene were identified. Each of the two sequence elements is sufficient to confer serine and threonine induction upon the CYC1 promoter when substituting its upstream activating sequence. Further, in a cha4 mutant strain which is unable to grow with serine or threonine as the sole nitrogen source, the function of UAS1CHA, as well as that of UAS2CHA, is obstructed.

A regulatory element in the CHA1 promoter which confers inducibility by serine and threonine on Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes

CHA1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the gene for the catabolic L-serine (L-threonine) dehydratase, which is responsible for biodegradation of serine and threonine. We have previously shown that expression of the CHA1 gene is transcriptionally induced by serine and threonine. Northern (RNA) analysis showed that the additional presence of good nitrogen sources affects induction. This may well be due to inducer exclusion. To identify interactions of cis-acting elements with trans activators of the CHA1 promoter, we performed band shift assays of nuclear protein extracts with CHA1 promoter fragments. By this approach, we identified a protein-binding site of the CHA1 promoter. The footprint of this protein contains the ABF1-binding site consensus sequence. This in vitro binding activity is present irrespectively of CHA1 induction. By deletion analysis, two other elements of the CHA1 promoter, UAS1CHA and UAS2CHA, which are needed for induction of the CHA1 gene were identified. Each of the two sequence elements is sufficient to confer serine and threonine induction upon the CYC1 promoter when substituting its upstream activating sequence. Further, in a cha4 mutant strain which is unable to grow with serine or threonine as the sole nitrogen source, the function of UAS1CHA, as well as that of UAS2CHA, is obstructed.

Serine and threonine catabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: the CHA1 polypeptide is homologous with other serine and threonine dehydratases

The catabolic L-serine (L-threonine) dehydratase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae allows the yeast to grow on media with L-serine or L-threonine as sole nitrogen source. Previously we have cloned the CHA1 gene by complementation of a mutant, cha1, lacking the dehydratase activity. Here we present the DNA sequence of a 1,766-bp fragment of the CHA1 region encompassing an open reading frame of 1080 bp. Comparison of the predicted amino acid sequence of the CHA1 polypeptide with that of other serine/threonine dehydratases revealed several blocks of sequence homology. Thus, the amino acid sequence of rat liver serine dehydratase (SDH2) and the CHA1 polypeptide are 44% homologous allowing for conservative substitutions, while 36% similarity is found between the catabolic threonine dehydratase (tdcB) of Escherichia coli and the CHA1 protein. This strongly suggests that CHA1 is the structural gene for the yeast catabolic serine (threonine) dehydratase. S1-nuclease mapping of the CHA1 mRNA ends showed a major transcription initiation site corresponding to an untranslated leader of about 19 nucleotides, while a major polyadenylation site was located about 86 nucleotides downstream from the open reading frame. Furthermore, we have mapped the chromosomal position of the CHA1 gene to less than 0.5 kb centromere proximal to HML on the left arm of chromosome III.

Proline-independent binding of PUT3 transcriptional activator protein detected by footprinting in vivo

The PUT3 gene product is a transcriptional activator required for expression of the enzymes of the proline utilization pathway. Using two methods of footprinting in vivo, we have determined that PUT3 protein is poised at the promoters of the genes encoding these enzymes and that proline-mediated induction modulates the activity of constitutively bound PUT3.

Proline-independent binding of PUT3 transcriptional activator protein detected by footprinting in vivo

The PUT3 gene product is a transcriptional activator required for expression of the enzymes of the proline utilization pathway. Using two methods of footprinting in vivo, we have determined that PUT3 protein is poised at the promoters of the genes encoding these enzymes and that proline-mediated induction modulates the activity of constitutively bound PUT3.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae PUT3 activator protein associates with proline-specific upstream activation sequences

The PUT1 and PUT2 genes encoding the enzymes of the proline utilization pathway of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are induced by proline and activated by the product of the PUT3 gene. Two upstream activation sequences (UASs) in the PUT1 promoter were identified by homology to the PUT2 UAS. Deletion analysis of the two PUT1 UASs showed that they were functionally independent and additive in producing maximal levels of gene expression. The consensus PUT UAS is a 21-base-pair partially palindromic sequence required in vivo for induction of both genes. The results of a gel mobility shift assay demonstrated that the proline-specific UAS is the binding site of a protein factor. In vitro complex formation was observed in crude extracts of yeast strains carrying either a single genomic copy of the PUT3 gene or the cloned PUT3 gene on a 2 microns plasmid, and the binding was dosage dependent. DNA-binding activity was not observed in extracts of strains carrying either a put3 mutation that caused a noninducible (Put-) phenotype or a deletion of the gene. Wild-type levels of complex formation were observed in an extract of a strain carrying an allele of PUT3 that resulted in a constitutive (Put+) phenotype. Extracts from a strain carrying a PUT3-lacZ gene fusion formed two complexes of slower mobility than the wild-type complex. We conclude that the PUT3 product is either a DNA-binding protein or part of a DNA-binding complex that recognizes the UASs of both PUT1 and PUT2. Binding was observed in extracts of a strain grown in the presence or absence of proline, demonstrating the constitutive nature of the DNA-protein interaction.

Isolation of constitutive mutations affecting the proline utilization pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and molecular analysis of the PUT3 transcriptional activator

The enzymes of the proline utilization pathway (the products of the PUT1 and PUT2 genes) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are coordinately regulated by proline and the PUT3 transcriptional activator. To learn more about the control of this pathway, constitutive mutations in PUT3 as well as in other regulators were sought. A scheme using a gene fusion between PUT1 (S. cerevisiae proline oxidase) and galK (Escherichia coli galactokinase) was developed to select directly for constitutive mutations affecting the PUT1 promoter. These mutations were secondarily screened for their effects in trans on the promoter of the PUT2 (delta 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase) gene by using a PUT2-lacZ (E. coli beta-galactosidase) gene fusion. Three different classes of mutations were isolated. The major class consisted of semidominant constitutive PUT3 mutations that caused PUT2-lacZ expression to vary from 2 to 22 times the uninduced level. A single dominant mutation in a new locus called PUT5 resulted in low-level constitutive expression of PUT2-lacZ; this mutation was epistatic to the recessive, noninducible put3-75 allele. Recessive constitutive mutations were isolated that had pleiotropic growth defects; it is possible that these mutations are not specific to the proline utilization pathway but may be in genes that control several pathways. Since the PUT3 gene appears to have a major role in the regulation of this pathway, a molecular analysis was undertaken. This gene was cloned by functional complementation of the put3-75 mutation. Strains carrying a complete deletion of this gene are viable, proline nonutilizing, and indistinguishable in phenotype from the original put3-75 allele. The PUT3 gene encodes a 2.8-kilobase-pair transcript that is not regulated by proline at the level of RNA accumulation. The presence of the gene on a high-copy-number plasmid did not alter the regulation of one of its target genes, PUT2-lacZ, suggesting that the PUT3 gene product is not limiting and that a titratable repressor is not involved in the regulation of this pathway.

Isolation of constitutive mutations affecting the proline utilization pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and molecular analysis of the PUT3 transcriptional activator

The enzymes of the proline utilization pathway (the products of the PUT1 and PUT2 genes) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are coordinately regulated by proline and the PUT3 transcriptional activator. To learn more about the control of this pathway, constitutive mutations in PUT3 as well as in other regulators were sought. A scheme using a gene fusion between PUT1 (S. cerevisiae proline oxidase) and galK (Escherichia coli galactokinase) was developed to select directly for constitutive mutations affecting the PUT1 promoter. These mutations were secondarily screened for their effects in trans on the promoter of the PUT2 (delta 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase) gene by using a PUT2-lacZ (E. coli beta-galactosidase) gene fusion. Three different classes of mutations were isolated. The major class consisted of semidominant constitutive PUT3 mutations that caused PUT2-lacZ expression to vary from 2 to 22 times the uninduced level. A single dominant mutation in a new locus called PUT5 resulted in low-level constitutive expression of PUT2-lacZ; this mutation was epistatic to the recessive, noninducible put3-75 allele. Recessive constitutive mutations were isolated that had pleiotropic growth defects; it is possible that these mutations are not specific to the proline utilization pathway but may be in genes that control several pathways. Since the PUT3 gene appears to have a major role in the regulation of this pathway, a molecular analysis was undertaken. This gene was cloned by functional complementation of the put3-75 mutation. Strains carrying a complete deletion of this gene are viable, proline nonutilizing, and indistinguishable in phenotype from the original put3-75 allele. The PUT3 gene encodes a 2.8-kilobase-pair transcript that is not regulated by proline at the level of RNA accumulation. The presence of the gene on a high-copy-number plasmid did not alter the regulation of one of its target genes, PUT2-lacZ, suggesting that the PUT3 gene product is not limiting and that a titratable repressor is not involved in the regulation of this pathway.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae PUT3 activator protein associates with proline-specific upstream activation sequences

The PUT1 and PUT2 genes encoding the enzymes of the proline utilization pathway of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are induced by proline and activated by the product of the PUT3 gene. Two upstream activation sequences (UASs) in the PUT1 promoter were identified by homology to the PUT2 UAS. Deletion analysis of the two PUT1 UASs showed that they were functionally independent and additive in producing maximal levels of gene expression. The consensus PUT UAS is a 21-base-pair partially palindromic sequence required in vivo for induction of both genes. The results of a gel mobility shift assay demonstrated that the proline-specific UAS is the binding site of a protein factor. In vitro complex formation was observed in crude extracts of yeast strains carrying either a single genomic copy of the PUT3 gene or the cloned PUT3 gene on a 2 microns plasmid, and the binding was dosage dependent. DNA-binding activity was not observed in extracts of strains carrying either a put3 mutation that caused a noninducible (Put-) phenotype or a deletion of the gene. Wild-type levels of complex formation were observed in an extract of a strain carrying an allele of PUT3 that resulted in a constitutive (Put+) phenotype. Extracts from a strain carrying a PUT3-lacZ gene fusion formed two complexes of slower mobility than the wild-type complex. We conclude that the PUT3 product is either a DNA-binding protein or part of a DNA-binding complex that recognizes the UASs of both PUT1 and PUT2. Binding was observed in extracts of a strain grown in the presence or absence of proline, demonstrating the constitutive nature of the DNA-protein interaction.

Meiotic segregation of circular plasmid-minichromosomes from intact chromosomes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Distributive disjunction is defined by first meiotic division segregation of either two nonhomologous chromosomes that lack homologous pairing partners, or of two homologous chromosomes that have failed to undergo crossing-over. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, plasmid minichromosomes, synthetic linear chromosomes and a fragment of a real chromosome have been observed to segregate from nonhomologous DNA species at the first meiotic divisions. Suggesting that this organism may have a distributive mechanism for chromosome segregation. However, it is not known whether intact chromosomes also participate in a distributive process. To determine whether intact, full length, S. cerevisiae chromosomes could segregate from nonhomologous chromosomal species, the meiotic behavior of an unpaired intact copy of chromosome I has been analyzed with respect to several centromere-containing circular plasmid minichromosomes. Strains monosomic or trisomic for chromosome I were transformed with centromere plasmids containing either homologous or nonhomologous inserts, sporulated, and analyzed genetically both for the presence of plasmid and for the number of copies of chromosome I. Each plasmid segregated from an intact unpaired copy of chromosome I at the first meiotic division in a significant majority (63-93%) of the asci examined. These results suggest that intact chromosomes from S. cerevisiae are capable of distributive disjunction.

A regulatory region responsible for proline-specific induction of the yeast PUT2 gene is adjacent to its TATA box

Deletion analysis of the promoter of the PUT2 gene that functions in the proline utilization pathway of Saccharomyces cerevisiae identified a PUT2 upstream activation site (UAS). It is contained within a single 40-base-pair (bp) region located immediately upstream of the TATA box and is both necessary and sufficient for proline induction. When placed upstream of a CYC7-lacZ gene fusion, the 40-bp sequence conferred proline regulation on CYC7-lacZ. A 35-bp deletion within the PUT2 UAS in an otherwise intact PUT2 promoter resulted in noninducible expression of a PUT2-lacZ gene fusion. When a plasmid bearing this UAS-deleted promoter was placed in a strain carrying a constitutive mutation in the positive regulatory gene PUT3, expression of PUT2-lacZ was not constitutive but occurred at levels below those found under noninducing conditions. In heterologous as well as homologous gene fusions, the PUT2 UAS appeared to be responsible for uninduced as well as proline-induced levels of expression. Although located immediately adjacent to the PUT2 UAS, the TATA box did not appear to play a regulatory role, as indicated by the results of experiments in which it was replaced by the CYC7 TATA box. A 26-bp sequence containing this TATA box was critical to the expression of PUT2, since a deletion of this region completely abolished transcriptional activity of the gene under both inducing and noninducing conditions. Our results indicate that the PUT2 promoter has a comparatively simple structure, requiring UAS and TATA sequences as well as the PUT3 gene product (directly or indirectly) for its expression.

A regulatory region responsible for proline-specific induction of the yeast PUT2 gene is adjacent to its TATA box

Deletion analysis of the promoter of the PUT2 gene that functions in the proline utilization pathway of Saccharomyces cerevisiae identified a PUT2 upstream activation site (UAS). It is contained within a single 40-base-pair (bp) region located immediately upstream of the TATA box and is both necessary and sufficient for proline induction. When placed upstream of a CYC7-lacZ gene fusion, the 40-bp sequence conferred proline regulation on CYC7-lacZ. A 35-bp deletion within the PUT2 UAS in an otherwise intact PUT2 promoter resulted in noninducible expression of a PUT2-lacZ gene fusion. When a plasmid bearing this UAS-deleted promoter was placed in a strain carrying a constitutive mutation in the positive regulatory gene PUT3, expression of PUT2-lacZ was not constitutive but occurred at levels below those found under noninducing conditions. In heterologous as well as homologous gene fusions, the PUT2 UAS appeared to be responsible for uninduced as well as proline-induced levels of expression. Although located immediately adjacent to the PUT2 UAS, the TATA box did not appear to play a regulatory role, as indicated by the results of experiments in which it was replaced by the CYC7 TATA box. A 26-bp sequence containing this TATA box was critical to the expression of PUT2, since a deletion of this region completely abolished transcriptional activity of the gene under both inducing and noninducing conditions. Our results indicate that the PUT2 promoter has a comparatively simple structure, requiring UAS and TATA sequences as well as the PUT3 gene product (directly or indirectly) for its expression.

Proline utilization in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: sequence, regulation, and mitochondrial localization of the PUT1 gene product

The PUT1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, believed to encode proline oxidase, has been completely sequenced and contains an open reading frame capable of encoding a polypeptide of 476 amino acids in length. The amino terminus of the protein deduced from the DNA sequence has a characteristic mitochondrial import signal; two PUT1-lacZ gene fusions were constructed that produced mitochondrially localized beta-galactosidase in vivo. The transcription initiation and termination sites of the PUT1 mRNA were determined. By using a PUT1-lacZ gene fusion that makes a cytoplasmic beta-galactosidase, the regulation of the PUT1 gene was studied. PUT1 is inducible by proline, responds only slightly to carbon catabolite repression, and is not regulated by the cytochrome activator proteins HAP1 and HAP2. The PUT1 gene is under oxygen regulation; expression in anaerobically grown cells is 10-fold lower than in aerobically grown cells. Oxygen regulation is abolished when cells are respiratory deficient. PUT1 expression in a [rho-] strain grown either aerobically or anaerobically is as high as that seen in a [rho+] strain grown aerobically. Studies on PUT1 promoter deletions define a region between positions -458 and -293 from the translation initiation site that is important for full expression of the PUT1 gene and required for oxygen regulation.

Proline utilization in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: sequence, regulation, and mitochondrial localization of the PUT1 gene product

The PUT1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, believed to encode proline oxidase, has been completely sequenced and contains an open reading frame capable of encoding a polypeptide of 476 amino acids in length. The amino terminus of the protein deduced from the DNA sequence has a characteristic mitochondrial import signal; two PUT1-lacZ gene fusions were constructed that produced mitochondrially localized beta-galactosidase in vivo. The transcription initiation and termination sites of the PUT1 mRNA were determined. By using a PUT1-lacZ gene fusion that makes a cytoplasmic beta-galactosidase, the regulation of the PUT1 gene was studied. PUT1 is inducible by proline, responds only slightly to carbon catabolite repression, and is not regulated by the cytochrome activator proteins HAP1 and HAP2. The PUT1 gene is under oxygen regulation; expression in anaerobically grown cells is 10-fold lower than in aerobically grown cells. Oxygen regulation is abolished when cells are respiratory deficient. PUT1 expression in a [rho-] strain grown either aerobically or anaerobically is as high as that seen in a [rho+] strain grown aerobically. Studies on PUT1 promoter deletions define a region between positions -458 and -293 from the translation initiation site that is important for full expression of the PUT1 gene and required for oxygen regulation.