Psk1, an AGC kinase family member in fission yeast, is directly phosphorylated and controlled by TORC1 and functions as S6 kinase

Novel TORC1 inhibitor Ecl1 is regulated by phosphorylation in fission yeast

Extender of chronological lifespan 1 (Ecl1) inhibits target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) and is necessary for appropriate cellular responses to various stressors, such as starvation, in fission yeast. However, little is known about the effect of posttranslational modifications on Ecl1 regulation. Thus, we investigated the phosphorylation levels of Ecl1 extracted from yeast under conditions of sulfur or metal starvation. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that Ecl1 was phosphorylated at Thr7, and the level was decreased by starvation. The phosphorylation-mimetic mutation of Thr7 significantly reduced the effects of Ecl1-induced cellular responses to starvation, suggesting that Ecl1 function was suppressed by Thr7 phosphorylation. By contrast, regardless of starvation exposure, TORC1 was significantly suppressed, even when Thr7 phosphorylation-mimetic Ecl1 was overexpressed. This indicated that Ecl1 suppressed TORC1 regardless of Thr7 phosphorylation. We newly identified that Ecl1 physically interacted with TORC1 subunit RAPTOR (Mip1). Based on these evidences, we propose that, Ecl1 has dual functional modes: quantity-dependent TORC1 inhibition and Thr7 phosphorylation-dependent control of cellular function.

The Central FacilitaTOR: Coordinating Transcription and Translation in Eukaryotes

One of the biggest challenges to eukaryotic gene expression is coordinating transcription in the nucleus and protein synthesis in the cytoplasm. However, little is known about how these major steps in gene expression are connected. The Target of Rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathway is crucial in connecting these critical phases of gene expression. Highly conserved among eukaryotic cells, TOR regulates growth, metabolism, and cellular equilibrium in response to changes in nutrients, energy levels, and stress conditions. This review examines the extensive role of TOR in gene expression regulation. We highlight how TOR is involved in phosphorylation, remodeling chromatin structure, and managing the factors that facilitate transcription and translation. Furthermore, the critical functions of TOR extend to processing RNA, assembling RNA-protein complexes, and managing their export from the nucleus, demonstrating its wide-reaching impact throughout the cell. Our discussion emphasizes the integral roles of TOR in bridging the processes of transcription and translation and explores how it orchestrates these complex cellular processes.

Rapamycin Abrogates Aggregation of Human α-Synuclein Expressed in Fission Yeast via an Autophagy-Independent Mechanism

Aggregation of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) is implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and Dementia with Lewy bodies, collectively termed synucleinopathies. Thus, tremendous efforts are being made to develop strategies to prevent or inhibit α-Syn aggregation. Here, we genetically engineered fission yeast to express human α-Syn C-terminally fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP) at low and high levels. α-Syn was localized at the cell tips and septa at low-level expression. At high-level expression, α-Syn was observed to form cytoplasmic aggregates. Notably, rapamycin, a natural product that allosterically inhibits the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) by forming a complex with FKBP12, and Torin1, a synthetic mTOR inhibitor that blocks ATP binding to mTOR, markedly reduced the number of cells harboring α-Syn aggregates. These mTOR inhibitors abrogate α-Syn aggregation without affecting α-Syn expression levels. Rapamycin, but not Torin1, failed to reduce α-Syn aggregation in the deletion cells of fkh1+, encoding FKBP12, indicating the requirement of FKBP12 for rapamycin-mediated inhibition of α-Syn aggregation. Importantly, the effect of rapamycin was also observed in the cells lacking atg1+, a key regulator of autophagy. Collectively, rapamycin abrogates human α-Syn aggregation expressed in fission yeast via an autophagy-independent mechanism mediated by FKBP12.

Characterization of Ksg1 protein kinase-dependent phosphoproteome in the fission yeast S. pombe

Ksg1 is an essential protein kinase of the fission yeast S. pombe that belongs to the AGC kinase family and is homologous to the mammalian PDPK1 kinase. Previous studies have shown that Ksg1 functions in the nutrient-sensing TOR signaling pathway and is involved in the phosphorylation and activation of other AGC kinases, thereby affecting various downstream targets related to metabolism, cell division, stress response, and gene expression. To date, the molecular function of Ksg1 has been analyzed using its temperature sensitive mutants or mutants expressing its truncated isoforms, which are not always suitable for functional studies of Ksg1 and the identification of its targets. To overcome these limitations, we employed a chemical genetic strategy and used a conditional ksg1as mutant sensitive to an ATP analog. Combining this mutant with quantitative phosphoproteomics analysis, we identified 1986 phosphosites that were differentially phosphorylated when Ksg1as kinase was inhibited by an ATP analog. We found that proteins whose phosphorylation was dysregulated after inhibition of Ksg1as kinase were mainly represented by those involved in the regulation of cytokinesis, contractile ring contraction, cell division, septation initiation signaling cascade, intracellular protein kinase cascade, barrier septum formation, protein phosphorylation, intracellular signal transduction, cytoskeleton organization, cellular response to stimulus, or in RNA, ncRNA and rRNA processing. Importantly, proteins with significantly down-regulated phosphorylation were specifically enriched for R-X-X-S and R-X-R-X-X-S motifs, which are typical consensus substrate sequences for phosphorylation by the AGC family of kinases. The results of this study provide a basis for further analysis of the role of the Ksg1 kinase and its targets in S. pombe and may also be useful for studying Ksg1 orthologs in other organisms.

Proteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses reveal that TORC1 is reactivated by pheromone signaling during sexual reproduction in fission yeast

Starvation, which is associated with inactivation of the growth-promoting TOR complex 1 (TORC1), is a strong environmental signal for cell differentiation. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, nitrogen starvation has distinct physiological consequences depending on the presence of mating partners. In their absence, cells enter quiescence, and TORC1 inactivation prolongs their life. In presence of compatible mates, TORC1 inactivation is essential for sexual differentiation. Gametes engage in paracrine pheromone signaling, grow towards each other, fuse to form the diploid zygote, and form resistant, haploid spore progenies. To understand the signaling changes in the proteome and phospho-proteome during sexual reproduction, we developed cell synchronization strategies and present (phospho-)proteomic data sets that dissect pheromone from starvation signals over the sexual differentiation and cell-cell fusion processes. Unexpectedly, these data sets reveal phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 during sexual development, which we establish requires TORC1 activity. We demonstrate that TORC1 is re-activated by pheromone signaling, in a manner that does not require autophagy. Mutants with low TORC1 re-activation exhibit compromised mating and poorly viable spores. Thus, while inactivated to initiate the mating process, TORC1 is reactivated by pheromone signaling in starved cells to support sexual reproduction.

Fission yeast Pib2 localizes to vacuolar membranes and regulates TOR complex 1 through evolutionarily conserved domains

TOR complex 1 (TORC1) is a multi-protein kinase complex that coordinates cellular growth with environmental cues. Recent studies have identified Pib2 as a critical activator of TORC1 in budding yeast. Here, we show that loss of Pib2 causes severe growth defects in fission yeast cells, particularly when basal TORC1 activity is diminished by hypomorphic mutations in tor2, the gene encoding the catalytic subunit of TORC1. Consistently, TORC1 activity is significantly compromised in the tor2 hypomorphic mutants lacking Pib2. Moreover, as in budding yeast, fission yeast Pib2 localizes to vacuolar membranes via its FYVE domain, with its tail motif indispensable for TORC1 activation. These results strongly suggest that Pib2-mediated positive regulation of TORC1 is evolutionarily conserved between the two yeast species.

TORC2 is required for the accumulation of γH2A in response to DNA damage

TOR protein kinases serve as the catalytic subunit of the TORC1 and TORC2 complexes, which regulate cellular growth, proliferation, and survival. In the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, cells lacking TORC2 or its downstream kinase Gad8 (AKT or SGK1 in human cells) exhibit sensitivity to a wide range of stress conditions, including DNA damage stress. One of the first responses to DNA damage is the phosphorylation of C-terminal serine residues within histone H2AX in human cells (γH2AX), or histone H2A in yeast cells (γH2A). The kinases responsible for γH2A in S. pombe are the two DNA damage checkpoint kinases Rad3 and Tel1 (ATR and ATM, respectively, in human cells). Here we report that TORC2-Gad8 signaling is required for accumulation of γH2A in response to DNA damage and during quiescence. Using the TOR-specific inhibitor, Torin1, we demonstrate that the effect of TORC2 on γH2A in response to DNA damage is immediate, rather than adaptive. The lack of γH2A is restored by deletion mutations of transcription and chromatin modification factors, including loss of components of Paf1C, SAGA, Mediator, and the bromo-domain proteins Bdf1/Bdf2. Thus, we suggest that TORC2-Gad8 may affect the accumulation of γH2A by regulating chromatin structure and function.

The absence of the ribosomal protein Rpl2702 elicits the MAPK-mTOR signaling to modulate mitochondrial morphology and functions

Ribosomes mediate protein synthesis, which is one of the most energy-demanding activities within the cell, and mitochondria are one of the main sources generating energy. How mitochondrial morphology and functions are adjusted to cope with ribosomal defects, which can impair protein synthesis and affect cell viability, is poorly understood. Here, we used the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces Pombe as a model organism to investigate the interplay between ribosome and mitochondria. We found that a ribosomal insult, caused by the absence of Rpl2702, activates a signaling pathway involving Sty1/MAPK and mTOR to modulate mitochondrial morphology and functions. Specifically, we demonstrated that Sty1/MAPK induces mitochondrial fragmentation in a mTOR-independent manner while both Sty1/MAPK and mTOR increases the levels of mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS). Moreover, we demonstrated that Sty1/MAPK acts upstream of Tor1/TORC2 and Tor1/TORC2 and is required to activate Tor2/TORC1. The enhancements of mitochondrial membrane potential and mROS function to promote proliferation of cells bearing ribosomal defects. Hence, our study reveals a previously uncharacterized Sty1/MAPK-mTOR signaling axis that regulates mitochondrial morphology and functions in response to ribosomal insults and provides new insights into the molecular and physiological adaptations of cells to impaired protein synthesis.

Metarhizium robertsii COH1 functionally complements Schizosaccharomyces pombe Ecl family proteins

The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe ecl family genes respond to various starvation signals and induce appropriate intracellular responses, including the extension of chronological lifespan and induction of sexual differentiation. Herein, we propose that the colonization of hemocoel 1 (COH1) protein of Metarhizium robertsii, an insect-pathogenic fungus, is a functional homolog of S. pombe Ecl1 family proteins.

TOR regulates variability of protein synthesis rates

Cellular processes are subject to inherent variability, but the extent to which cells can regulate this variability has received little investigation. Here, we explore the characteristics of the rate of cellular protein synthesis in single cells of the eukaryote fission yeast. Strikingly, this rate is highly variable despite protein synthesis being dependent on hundreds of reactions which might be expected to average out at the overall cellular level. The rate is variable over short time scales, and exhibits homoeostatic behaviour at the population level. Cells can regulate the level of variability through processes involving the TOR pathway, suggesting there is an optimal level of variability conferring a selective advantage. While this could be an example of bet-hedging, but we propose an alternative explanation: regulated 'loose' control of complex processes of overall cellular metabolism such as protein synthesis, may lead to this variability. This could ensure cells are fluid in control and agile in response to changing conditions, and may constitute a novel organisational principle of complex metabolic cellular systems.

Rapamycin-sensitive mechanisms confine the growth of fission yeast below the temperatures detrimental to cell physiology

Cells cease to proliferate above their growth-permissible temperatures, a ubiquitous phenomenon generally attributed to heat damage to cellular macromolecules. We here report that, in the presence of rapamycin, a potent inhibitor of Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (TORC1), the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe can proliferate at high temperatures that usually arrest its growth. Consistently, mutations to the TORC1 subunit RAPTOR/Mip1 and the TORC1 substrate Sck1 significantly improve cellular heat resistance, suggesting that TORC1 restricts fission yeast growth at high temperatures. Aiming for a more comprehensive understanding of the negative regulation of high-temperature growth, we conducted genome-wide screens, which identified additional factors that suppress cell proliferation at high temperatures. Among them is Mks1, which is phosphorylated in a TORC1-dependent manner, forms a complex with the 14-3-3 protein Rad24, and suppresses the high-temperature growth independently of Sck1. Our study has uncovered unexpected mechanisms of growth restraint even below the temperatures deleterious to cell physiology.

Fission Yeast TORC1 Promotes Cell Proliferation through Sfp1, a Transcription Factor Involved in Ribosome Biogenesis

Target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) is activated in response to nutrient availability and growth factors, promoting cellular anabolism and proliferation. To explore the mechanism of TORC1-mediated proliferation control, we performed a genetic screen in fission yeast and identified Sfp1, a zinc-finger transcription factor, as a multicopy suppressor of temperature-sensitive TORC1 mutants. Our observations suggest that TORC1 phosphorylates Sfp1 and protects Sfp1 from proteasomal degradation. Transcription analysis revealed that Sfp1 positively regulates genes involved in ribosome production together with two additional transcription factors, Ifh1/Crf1 and Fhl1. Ifh1 physically interacts with Fhl1, and the nuclear localization of Ifh1 is regulated in response to nutrient levels in a manner dependent on TORC1 and Sfp1. Taken together, our data suggest that the transcriptional regulation of the genes involved in ribosome biosynthesis by Sfp1, Ifh1, and Fhl1 is one of the key pathways through which nutrient-activated TORC1 promotes cell proliferation.

Cellular responses to compound stress induced by atmospheric-pressure plasma in fission yeast

The stress response is one of the most fundamental cellular processes. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying responses to a single stressor have been extensively studied, cellular responses to multiple stresses remain largely unknown. Here, we characterized fission yeast cellular responses to a novel stress inducer, non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma. Plasma irradiation generates ultraviolet radiation, electromagnetic fields and a variety of chemically reactive species simultaneously, and thus can impose multiple stresses on cells. We applied direct plasma irradiation to fission yeast and showed that strong plasma irradiation inhibited fission yeast growth. We demonstrated that mutants lacking sep1 and ace2, both of which encode transcription factors required for proper cell separation, were resistant to plasma irradiation. Sep1-target transcripts were downregulated by mild plasma irradiation. We also demonstrated that plasma irradiation inhibited the target of rapamycin kinase complex 1 (TORC1). These observations indicate that two pathways, namely the Sep1-Ace2 cell separation pathway and TORC1 pathway, operate when fission yeast cope with multiple stresses induced by plasma irradiation.

ecl family genes: Factors linking starvation and lifespan extension in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the duration of survival in the stationary phase, termed the chronological lifespan (CLS), is affected by various environmental factors and the corresponding gene activities. The ecl family genes were identified in the genomic region encoding non-coding RNA as positive regulators of CLS in S. pombe, and subsequently shown to encode relatively short proteins. Several studies revealed that ecl family genes respond to various nutritional starvation conditions via different mechanisms, and they are additionally involved in stress resistance, autophagy, sexual differentiation, and cell cycle control. Recent studies reported that Ecl family proteins strongly suppress target of rapamycin complex 1, which is a conserved eukaryotic nutrient-sensing kinase complex that also regulates longevity in a variety of organisms. In this review, we introduce the regulatory mechanisms of Ecl family proteins and discuss their emerging findings.

The ecl family gene ecl3+ is induced by phosphate starvation and contributes to sexual differentiation in fission yeast

In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, ecl family genes are induced by several signals, such as starvation of various nutrients, including sulfur, amino acids and Mg2+, and environmental stress, including heat or oxidative stress. These genes mediate appropriate cellular responses and contribute to the maintenance of cell viability and induction of sexual differentiation. Although this yeast has three ecl family genes with overlapping functions, any environmental conditions that induce ecl3+ remain unidentified. We demonstrate that ecl3+ is induced by phosphate starvation, similar to its chromosomally neighboring genes, pho1+ and pho84+, which respectively encode an extracellular acid phosphatase and an inorganic phosphate transporter. ecl3+ expression was induced by the transcription factor Pho7 and affected by the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)-activating kinase Csk1. Phosphate starvation induced G1 arrest and sexual differentiation via ecl family genes. Biochemical analyses suggested that this G1 arrest was mediated by the stabilization of the CDK inhibitor Rum1, which was dependent on ecl family genes. This study shows that ecl family genes are required for appropriate responses to phosphate starvation and provides novel insights into the diversity and similarity of starvation responses.

TORC1 Signaling in Fungi: From Yeasts to Filamentous Fungi

Target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) is an important regulator of various signaling pathways. It can control cell growth and development by integrating multiple signals from amino acids, glucose, phosphate, growth factors, pressure, oxidation, and so on. In recent years, it has been reported that TORC1 is of great significance in regulating cytotoxicity, morphology, protein synthesis and degradation, nutrient absorption, and metabolism. In this review, we mainly discuss the upstream and downstream signaling pathways of TORC1 to reveal its role in fungi.

Critical role of Wat1/Pop3 in regulating the TORC1 signalling pathway in fission yeast S. pombe

The target of rapamycin (TOR), a major pathway for the regulation of cell growth and proliferation is conserved from yeast to humans. Fission yeast contains two tor complexes, TORC1 is crucial for cell growth while TORC2 gets activated under stress conditions. Pop3/Wat1, a mammalian Lst8 ortholog is an important component of both TOR complexes and has been implicated in the oxidative stress response pathway. Here in this study, the genetic interaction analysis revealed a synthetic lethal interaction of wat1 with tor2-287 mutant cells. Co-immunoprecipitation analysis revealed Wat1 interacts with TORC1 components Tor2, Mip1, and Tco89 while wat1-17 mutant protein fails to interact with these proteins. In the absence of Wat1, the cells arrest at G1 phase with reduced cell size at non-permissive temperature reminiscent of tor2-287 mutant phenotype. Similarly, inactivation of Wat1 results in the failure of TORC1 mediated phosphorylation of Psk1 and Rps602, leading to dysregulation of amino acid permeases and delocalization of Gaf1, a DNA binding transcription factor. Overall, we have hypothesized that Wat1/Pop3 is required to execute the function of TORC1.

The Greatwall-Endosulfine Switch Accelerates Autophagic Flux during the Cell Divisions Leading to G1 Arrest and Entry into Quiescence in Fission Yeast

Entry into quiescence in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is induced by nitrogen starvation. In the absence of nitrogen, proliferating fission yeast cells divide twice without cell growth and undergo cell cycle arrest in G1 before becoming G0 quiescent cells. Under these conditions, autophagy is induced to produce enough nitrogen for the two successive cell divisions that take place before the G1 arrest. In parallel to the induction of autophagy, the Greatwall-Endosulfine switch is activated upon nitrogen starvation to down-regulate protein phosphatase PP2A/B55 activity, which is essential for cell cycle arrest in G1 and implementation of the quiescent program. Here we show that, although inactivation of PP2A/B55 by the Greatwall-Endosulfine switch is not required to promote autophagy initiation, it increases autophagic flux at least in part by upregulating the expression of a number of autophagy-related genes.

The Rheb GTPase promotes pheromone blindness via a TORC1-independent pathway in the phytopathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis

The target of the rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathway plays a negative role in controlling virulence in phytopathogenic fungi. However, the actual targets involved in virulence are currently unknown. Using the corn smut fungus Ustilago maydis, we tried to address the effects of the ectopic activation of TOR on virulence. We obtained gain-of-function mutations in the Rheb GTPase, one of the conserved TOR kinase regulators. We have found that unscheduled activation of Rheb resulted in the alteration of the proper localization of the pheromone receptor, Pra1, and thereby pheromone insensitivity. Since pheromone signaling triggers virulence in Ustilaginales, we believe that the Rheb-induced pheromone blindness was responsible for the associated lack of virulence. Strikingly, although these effects required the concourse of the Rsp5 ubiquitin ligase and the Art3 α-arrestin, the TOR kinase was not involved. Several eukaryotic organisms have shown that Rheb transmits environmental information through TOR-dependent and -independent pathways. Therefore, our results expand the range of signaling manners at which environmental conditions could impinge on the virulence of phytopathogenic fungi.

Response to leucine in Schizosaccharomyces pombe (fission yeast)

Leucine (Leu) is a branched-chain, essential amino acid in animals, including humans. Fungi, including the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, can biosynthesize Leu, but deletion of any of the genes in this biosynthesis leads to Leu auxotrophy. In this yeast, although a mutation in the Leu biosynthetic pathway, leu1-32, is clearly inconvenient for this species, it has increased its usefulness as a model organism in laboratories worldwide. Leu auxotrophy produces intracellular responses and phenotypes different from those of the prototrophic strains, depending on the growing environment, which necessitates a certain degree of caution in the analysis and interpretation of the experimental results. Under amino acid starvation, the amino acid-auxotrophic yeast induces cellular responses, which are conserved in higher organisms without the ability of synthesizing amino acids. This mini-review focuses on the roles of Leu in S. pombe and discusses biosynthetic pathways, contribution to experimental convenience using a plasmid specific for Leu auxotrophic yeast, signaling pathways, and phenotypes caused by Leu starvation. An accurate understanding of the intracellular responses brought about by Leu auxotrophy can contribute to research in various fields using this model organism and to the understanding of intracellular responses in higher organisms that cannot synthesize Leu.

The Fission Yeast Cell Integrity Pathway: A Functional Hub for Cell Survival upon Stress and Beyond

The survival of eukaryotic organisms during environmental changes is largely dependent on the adaptive responses elicited by signal transduction cascades, including those regulated by the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathways. The Cell Integrity Pathway (CIP), one of the three MAPK pathways found in the simple eukaryote fission of yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, shows strong homology with mammalian Extracellular signal-Regulated Kinases (ERKs). Remarkably, studies over the last few decades have gradually positioned the CIP as a multi-faceted pathway that impacts multiple functional aspects of the fission yeast life cycle during unperturbed growth and in response to stress. They include the control of mRNA-stability through RNA binding proteins, regulation of calcium homeostasis, and modulation of cell wall integrity and cytokinesis. Moreover, distinct evidence has disclosed the existence of sophisticated interplay between the CIP and other environmentally regulated pathways, including Stress-Activated MAP Kinase signaling (SAPK) and the Target of Rapamycin (TOR). In this review we present a current overview of the organization and underlying regulatory mechanisms of the CIP in S. pombe, describe its most prominent functions, and discuss possible targets of and roles for this pathway. The evolutionary conservation of CIP signaling in the dimorphic fission yeast S. japonicus will also be addressed.

Fission yeast TOR complex 1 phosphorylates Psk1 through an evolutionarily conserved interaction mediated by the TOS motif

TOR complex 1 (TORC1) is a multi-subunit protein kinase complex that controls cellular growth in response to environmental cues. The regulatory subunits of mammalian TORC1 (mTORC1) include RAPTOR (also known as RPTOR), which recruits mTORC1 substrates, such as S6K1 (also known as RPS6KB1) and 4EBP1 (EIF4EBP1), by interacting with their TOR signaling (TOS) motif. Despite the evolutionary conservation of TORC1, no TOS motif has been described in lower eukaryotes. In the present study, we show that the fission yeast S6 kinase Psk1 contains a TOS motif that interacts with Mip1, a RAPTOR ortholog. The TOS motif in Psk1 resembles those in mammals, including the conserved phenylalanine and aspartic acid residues essential for the Mip1 interaction and TORC1-dependent phosphorylation of Psk1. The binding of the TOS motif to Mip1 is dependent on Mip1 Tyr-533, whose equivalent in RAPTOR is known to interact with the TOS motif in their co-crystals. Furthermore, we utilized the mip1-Y533A mutation to screen the known TORC1 substrates in fission yeast and successfully identified Atg13 as a novel TOS-motif-containing substrate. These results strongly suggest that the TOS motif represents an evolutionarily conserved mechanism of the substrate recognition by TORC1.

Summary: By analyzing S6 kinase in fission yeast, we have demonstrated that the TOR signaling (TOS) motif-mediated substrate recognition by TOR complex 1 is conserved from yeast to humans.

Identification of ksg1 mutation showing long-lived phenotype in fission yeast

Fission yeast is a good model organism for the study of lifespan. To elucidate the mechanism, we screened for long-lived mutants. We found a nonsense mutation in the ksg1⁺ gene, which encodes an ortholog of mammalian PDK1 (phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase). The mutation was in the PH domain of Ksg1 and caused defect in membrane localization and protein stability. Analysis of the ksg1 mutant revealed that the reduced amounts and/or activity of the Ksg1 protein are responsible for the increased lifespan. Ksg1 is essential for growth and known to phosphorylate multiple substrates, but the substrate responsible for the long-lived phenotype of ksg1 mutation is not yet known. Genetic analysis showed that deletion of pck2 suppressed the long-lived phenotype of ksg1 mutant, suggesting that Pck2 might be involved in the lifespan extension caused by ksg1 mutation.

The TOR-dependent phosphoproteome and regulation of cellular protein synthesis

Cell growth is orchestrated by a number of interlinking cellular processes. Components of the TOR pathway have been proposed as potential regulators of cell growth, but little is known about their immediate effects on protein synthesis in response to TOR-dependent growth inhibition. Here, we present a resource providing an in-depth characterisation of Schizosaccharomyces pombe phosphoproteome in relation to changes observed in global cellular protein synthesis upon TOR inhibition. We find that after TOR inhibition, the rate of protein synthesis is rapidly reduced and that notable phosphorylation changes are observed in proteins involved in a range of cellular processes. We show that this reduction in protein synthesis rates upon TOR inhibition is not dependent on S6K activity, but is partially dependent on the S. pombe homologue of eIF4G, Tif471. Our study demonstrates the impact of TOR-dependent phospho-regulation on the rate of protein synthesis and establishes a foundational resource for further investigation of additional TOR-regulated targets both in fission yeast and other eukaryotes.

TOR and MAP kinase pathways synergistically regulate autophagy in response to nutrient depletion in fission yeast

General autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved process in eukaryotes, by which intracellular materials are transported into and degraded inside lysosomes or vacuoles, with the main goal of recycling those materials during periods of starvation. The molecular bases of autophagy have been widely described in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and the specific roles of Atg proteins in the process were first characterized in this model system. Important contributions have been made in Schizosaccharomyces pombe highlighting the evolutionary similarity and, at the same time, diversity of Atg components in autophagy. However, little is known regarding signals, pathways and role of autophagy in this distant yeast. Here, we undertake a global approach to investigate the signals, the pathways and the consequences of autophagy activation. We demonstrate that not only nitrogen but several nutritional deprivations including lack of carbon, sulfur, phosphorus or leucine sources, trigger autophagy, and that the TORC1, TORC2 and MAP kinase Sty1 pathways control the onset of autophagy. Furthermore, we identify an unexpected phenotype of autophagy-defective mutants, namely their inability to survive in the absence of leucine when biosynthesis of this amino acid is impaired.Abbreviations: ATG: autophagy-related; cAMP: cyclic adenosine monophosphate; cDNA: complementary deoxyribonucleic acid; GFP: green fluorescence protein; Gluc: glucose; Leu: leucine; MAP: mitogen-activated protein; MM: minimal medium; PI: propidium iodine; PKA: protein kinase A; RNA: ribonucleic acid; RT-qPCR: real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction; S. cerevisiae: Saccharomyces cerevisiae; S. pombe: Schizosaccharomyces pombe; TCA: trichloroacetic acid; TOR: target of rapamycin; TORC1: target of rapamycin complex 1; TORC2: target of rapamycin complex 2; YE5S: yeast extract 5 amino acid supplemented.

Regulation of inorganic polyphosphate is required for proper vacuolar proteolysis in fission yeast

Regulation of cellular proliferation and quiescence is a central issue in biology that has been studied using model unicellular eukaryotes, such as the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. We previously reported that the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway and autophagy are essential to maintain quiescence induced by nitrogen deprivation in S. pombe; however, specific ubiquitin ligases that maintain quiescence are not fully understood. Here we investigated the SPX-RING-type ubiquitin ligase Pqr1, identified as required for quiescence in a genetic screen. Pqr1 is found to be crucial for vacuolar proteolysis, the final step of autophagy, through proper regulation of phosphate and its polymer polyphosphate. Pqr1 restricts phosphate uptake into the cell through ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of phosphate transporters on plasma membranes. We hypothesized that Pqr1 may act as the central regulator for phosphate control in S. pombe, through the function of the SPX domain involved in phosphate sensing. Deletion of pqr1⁺ resulted in hyperaccumulation of intracellular phosphate and polyphosphate and in improper autophagy-dependent proteolysis under conditions of nitrogen starvation. Polyphosphate hyperaccumulation in pqr1⁺-deficient cells was mediated by the polyphosphate synthase VTC complex in vacuoles. Simultaneous deletion of VTC complex subunits rescued Pqr1 mutant phenotypes, including defects in proteolysis and loss of viability during quiescence. We conclude that excess polyphosphate may interfere with proteolysis in vacuoles by mechanisms that as yet remain unknown. The present results demonstrate a connection between polyphosphate metabolism and vacuolar functions for proper autophagy-dependent proteolysis, and we propose that polyphosphate homeostasis contributes to maintenance of cellular viability during quiescence.

Wake-up alarm: virtual time-lapse gene expression landscape illuminates mechanisms underlying dormancy breaking of germinating spores

Dormancy breaking is a common physiological phenomenon that is shared by eukaryotes. Germination of spores in fungi is one of the most representative cases of dormancy breaking. Understanding the mechanisms of spore germination is therefore fundamental to basic studies on the control of cell proliferation and differentiation, as well as agricultural applications and medical investigation of fungal pathogenesis. In fission yeast, spores are generated as a consequence of sexual differentiation under nutrient starvation, remaining dormant until further nourishment, but little is known about how dormant spores germinate in response to environmental change. In a breakthrough, methods for single-cell-based gene expression profiling have recently been introduced. Several mRNA expression profiles were assembled from single spore cells during dormancy or germination. Single-cell RNA-seq profiles were aligned sequentially according to their similarities. The alignment of transcriptomes visualised how gene expression varies over time upon dormancy breaking. In this review, we revisit knowledge from previous studies on germination, select candidate genes that may be involved in germination, and query their expression from the temporal transcriptomic dataset so that studies on S. pombe germination can be extended further.

Tripartite suppression of fission yeast TORC1 signaling by the GATOR1-Sea3 complex, the TSC complex, and Gcn2 kinase

Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) is controlled by the GATOR complex composed of the GATOR1 subcomplex and its inhibitor, the GATOR2 subcomplex, sensitive to amino acid starvation. Previously, we identified fission yeast GATOR1 that prevents deregulated activation of TORC1 (Chia et al., 2017). Here, we report identification and characterization of GATOR2 in fission yeast. Unexpectedly, the GATOR2 subunit Sea3, an ortholog of mammalian WDR59, is physically and functionally proximal to GATOR1, rather than GATOR2, attenuating TORC1 activity. The fission yeast GATOR complex is dispensable for TORC1 regulation in response to amino acid starvation, which instead activates the Gcn2 pathway to inhibit TORC1 and induce autophagy. On the other hand, nitrogen starvation suppresses TORC1 through the combined actions of the GATOR1-Sea3 complex, the Gcn2 pathway, and the TSC complex, another conserved TORC1 inhibitor. Thus, multiple, parallel signaling pathways implement negative regulation of TORC1 to ensure proper cellular starvation responses.

Genes affecting the extension of chronological lifespan in Schizosaccharomyces pombe (fission yeast)

So far, more than 70 genes involved in the chronological lifespan (CLS) of Schizosaccharomyces pombe (fission yeast) have been reported. In this mini‐review, we arrange and summarize these genes based on the reported genetic interactions between them and the physical interactions between their products. We describe the signal transduction pathways that affect CLS in S. pombe: target of rapamycin complex 1, cAMP‐dependent protein kinase, Sty1, and Pmk1 pathways have important functions in the regulation of CLS extension. Furthermore, the Php transcription complex, Ecl1 family proteins, cyclin Clg1, and the cyclin‐dependent kinase Pef1 are important for the regulation of CLS extension in S. pombe. Most of the known genes involved in CLS extension are related to these pathways and genes. In this review, we focus on the individual genes regulating CLS extension in S. pombe and discuss the interactions among them.

TOR Complex 2- independent mutations in the regulatory PIF pocket of Gad8AKT1/SGK1 define separate branches of the stress response mechanisms in fission yeast

The Target of rapamycin (TOR) protein kinase forms part of TOR complex 1 (TORC1) and TOR complex 2 (TORC2), two multi-subunit protein complexes that regulate growth, proliferation, survival and developmental processes by phosphorylation and activation of AGC-family kinases. In the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, TORC2 and its target, the AGC kinase Gad8 (an orthologue of human AKT or SGK1) are required for viability under stress conditions and for developmental processes in response to starvation cues. In this study, we describe the isolation of gad8 mutant alleles that bypass the requirement for TORC2 and reveal a separation of function of TORC2 and Gad8 under stress conditions. In particular, osmotic and nutritional stress responses appear to form a separate branch from genotoxic stress responses downstream of TORC2-Gad8. Interestingly, TORC2-independent mutations map into the regulatory PIF pocket of Gad8, a highly conserved motif in AGC kinases that regulates substrate binding in PDK1 (phosphoinositide dependent kinase-1) and kinase activity in several AGC kinases. Gad8 activation is thought to require a two-step mechanism, in which phosphorylation by TORC2 allows further phosphorylation and activation by Ksg1 (an orthologue of PDK1). We focus on the Gad8-K263C mutation and demonstrate that it renders the Gad8 kinase activity independent of TORC2 in vitro and independent of the phosphorylation sites of TORC2 in vivo. Molecular dynamics simulations of Gad8-K263C revealed abnormal high flexibility at T387, the phosphorylation site for Ksg1, suggesting a mechanism for the TORC2-independent Gad8 activity. Significantly, the K263 residue is highly conserved in the family of AGC-kinases, which may suggest a general way of keeping their activity in check when acting downstream of TOR complexes.

Protein kinases catalyze the transfer of phosphate from high-energy, phosphate-donating molecules, such as ATP, to their substrates. This process is pivotal for regulation of almost any aspect of cellular biology. Many human diseases are associated with aberrant functions of protein kinases due to mutations. Accordingly, there is a growing number of kinase inhibitors that have been approved for clinical use. A better understanding of how protein kinases become active and how their activity is relayed to regulate their cellular functions is much needed for rational design of kinase inhibitors and for their optimal use in the clinic. The AGC-family of protein kinases play key roles in regulating cellular growth, proliferation and survival. In human cells, as well as in the fission yeast, our cellular model system, a subgroup of the AGC kinases is activated by the TOR protein kinases. Here we report the isolation of mutations in the AGC kinase Gad8 (AKT or SGK1 in human) that bypass the requirement for activation by TOR. Analyses of how these mutations affect cellular growth revealed separate branches of stress response mechanisms downstream of Gad8, while computer simulation methods suggested a molecular mechanism that keeps the activity of Gad8 in check.

Caffeine Stabilises Fission Yeast Wee1 in a Rad24-Dependent Manner but Attenuates Its Expression in Response to DNA Damage

The widely consumed neuroactive compound caffeine has generated much interest due to its ability to override the DNA damage and replication checkpoints. Previously Rad3 and its homologues was thought to be the target of caffeine’s inhibitory activity. Later findings indicate that the Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (TORC1) is the preferred target of caffeine. Effective Cdc2 inhibition requires both the activation of the Wee1 kinase and inhibition of the Cdc25 phosphatase. The TORC1, DNA damage, and environmental stress response pathways all converge on Cdc25 and Wee1. We previously demonstrated that caffeine overrides DNA damage checkpoints by modulating Cdc25 stability. The effect of caffeine on cell cycle progression resembles that of TORC1 inhibition. Furthermore, caffeine activates the Sty1 regulated environmental stress response. Caffeine may thus modulate multiple signalling pathways that regulate Cdc25 and Wee1 levels, localisation and activity. Here we show that the activity of caffeine stabilises both Cdc25 and Wee1. The stabilising effect of caffeine and genotoxic agents on Wee1 was dependent on the Rad24 chaperone. Interestingly, caffeine inhibited the accumulation of Wee1 in response to DNA damage. Caffeine may modulate cell cycle progression through increased Cdc25 activity and Wee1 repression following DNA damage via TORC1 inhibition, as TORC1 inhibition increased DNA damage sensitivity.

The S. pombe CDK5 ortholog Pef1 regulates sexual differentiation through control of the TORC1 pathway and autophagy

In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, a general strategy for survival in response to environmental changes is sexual differentiation, which is triggered by TORC1 inactivation. However, mechanisms of TORC1 regulation in fission yeast remain poorly understood. In this study, we found that Pef1, which is an ortholog of mammalian CDK5, regulates the initiation of sexual differentiation through positive regulation of TORC1 activity. Conversely, deletion of pef1 leads to activation of autophagy and subsequent excessive TORC1 reactivation during the early phases of the nitrogen starvation response. This excessive TORC1 reactivation results in the silencing of the Ste11-Mei2 pathway and mating defects. Additionally, we found that pef1 genetically interacts with tsc1 and tsc2 for TORC1 regulation, and physically interacts with three cyclins, Clg1, Pas1 and Psl1. The double deletion of clg1 and pas1 promotes activation of autophagy and TORC1 during nitrogen starvation, similar to what is seen in pef1Δ cells. Overall, our work suggests that Pef1-Clg1 and Pef1-Pas1 complexes regulate initiation of sexual differentiation through control of the TSC-TORC1 pathway and autophagy.

Maf1-dependent transcriptional regulation of tRNAs prevents genomic instability and is associated with extended lifespan

Maf1 is the master repressor of RNA polymerase III responsible for transcription of tRNAs and 5S rRNAs. Maf1 is negatively regulated via phosphorylation by the mTOR pathway, which governs protein synthesis, growth control, and lifespan regulation in response to nutrient availability. Inhibiting the mTOR pathway extends lifespan in various organisms. However, the downstream effectors for the regulation of cell homeostasis that are critical to lifespan extension remain elusive. Here we show that fission yeast Maf1 is required for lifespan extension. Maf1's function in tRNA repression is inhibited by mTOR-dependent phosphorylation, whereas Maf1 is activated via dephosphorylation by protein phosphatase complexes, PP4 and PP2A. Mutational analysis reveals that Maf1 phosphorylation status influences lifespan, which is correlated with elevated tRNA and protein synthesis levels in maf1∆ cells. However, mTOR downregulation, which negates protein synthesis, fails to rescue the short lifespan of maf1∆ cells, suggesting that elevated protein synthesis is not a cause of lifespan shortening in maf1∆ cells. Interestingly, maf1∆ cells accumulate DNA damage represented by formation of Rad52 DNA damage foci and Rad52 recruitment at tRNA genes. Loss of the Rad52 DNA repair protein further exacerbates the shortened lifespan of maf1∆ cells. Strikingly, PP4 deletion alleviates DNA damage and rescues the short lifespan of maf1∆ cells even though tRNA synthesis is increased in this condition, suggesting that elevated DNA damage is the major cause of lifespan shortening in maf1∆ cells. We propose that Maf1-dependent inhibition of tRNA synthesis controls fission yeast lifespan by preventing genomic instability that arises at tRNA genes.

The cytosolic form of aspartate aminotransferase is required for full activation of TOR complex 1 in fission yeast

The evolutionarily conserved TOR complex 1 (TORC1) activates cell growth and proliferation in response to nutritional signals. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, TORC1 is essential for vegetative growth, and its activity is regulated in response to nitrogen quantity and quality. Yet, how TORC1 senses nitrogen is poorly understood. Rapamycin, a specific TOR inhibitor, inhibits growth in S. pombe only under conditions in which the activity of TORC1 is compromised. In a genetic screen for rapamycin-sensitive mutations, we isolated caa1-1, a loss-of-function mutation of the cytosolic form of aspartate aminotransferase (Caa1). We demonstrate that loss of caa1 ⁺ partially mimics loss of TORC1 activity and that Caa1 is required for full TORC1 activity. Disruption of caa1 ⁺ resulted in aspartate auxotrophy, a finding that prompted us to assess the role of aspartate in TORC1 activation. We found that the amino acids glutamine, asparagine, arginine, aspartate, and serine activate TORC1 most efficiently following nitrogen starvation. The glutamine synthetase inhibitor l-methionine sulfoximine abolished the ability of asparagine, arginine, aspartate, or serine, but not that of glutamine, to induce TORC1 activity, consistent with a central role for glutamine in activating TORC1. Neither addition of aspartate nor addition of glutamine restored TORC1 activity in caa1-deleted cells or in cells carrying a Caa1 variant with a catalytic site substitution, suggesting that the catalytic activity of Caa1 is required for TORC1 activation. Taken together, our results reveal the contribution of the key metabolic enzyme Caa1 to TORC1 activity in S. pombe.

The TOR pathway modulates cytoophidium formation in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

CTP synthase (CTPS) has been demonstrated to form evolutionarily-conserved filamentous structures termed cytoophidia whose exact cellular functions remain unclear, but they may play a role in intracellular compartmentalization. We have previously shown that the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1)-S6K1 pathway mediates cytoophidium assembly in mammalian cells. Here, using the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe as a model of a unicellular eukaryote, we demonstrate that the target of rapamycin (TOR)-signaling pathway regulates cytoophidium formation (from the S. pombe CTPS ortholog Cts1) also in S. pombe Conducting a systematic analysis of all viable single TOR subunit-knockout mutants and of several major downstream effector proteins, we found that Cts1 cytoophidia are significantly shortened and often dissociate when TOR is defective. We also found that the activities of the downstream effector kinases of the TORC1 pathway, Sck1, Sck2, and Psk1 S6, as well as of the S6K/AGC kinase Gad8, the major downstream effector kinase of the TORC2 pathway, are necessary for proper cytoophidium filament formation. Interestingly, we observed that the Crf1 transcriptional corepressor for ribosomal genes is a strong effector of Cts1 filamentation. Our findings connect TOR signaling, a major pathway required for cell growth, with the compartmentalization of the essential nucleotide synthesis enzyme CTPS, and we uncover differences in the regulation of its filamentation among higher multicellular and unicellular eukaryotic systems.

TORC1 regulates autophagy induction in response to proteotoxic stress in yeast and human cells

Misfolded and aggregated proteins are eliminated to maintain protein homeostasis. Autophagy contributes to the removal of protein aggregates. However, if and how proteotoxic stress induces autophagy is poorly understood. Here we show that proteotoxic stress after treatment with azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (AZC), a toxic proline analog, induces autophagy in budding yeast. AZC treatment attenuated target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) activity, resulting in the dephosphorylation of Atg13, a key factor of autophagy. By contrast, AZC treatment did not affect target of rapamycin complex 2 (TORC2). Proteotoxic stress also induced TORC1 inactivation and autophagy in fission yeast and human cells. This study suggested that TORC1 is a conserved key factor to cope with proteotoxic stress in eukaryotic cells.

The contribution of non-essential Schizosaccharomyces pombe genes to fitness in response to altered nutrient supply and target of rapamycin activity

Nutrient fluctuations in the cellular environment promote changes in cell metabolism and growth to adapt cell proliferation accordingly. The target of rapamycin (TOR) signalling network plays a key role in the coordination of growth and cell proliferation with the nutrient environment and, importantly, nutrient limitation reduces TOR complex 1 (TORC1) signalling. We have performed global quantitative fitness profiling of the collection of Schizosaccharomyces pombe strains from which non-essential genes have been deleted. We identified genes that regulate fitness when cells are grown in a nutrient-rich environment compared with minimal environments, with varying nitrogen sources including ammonium, glutamate and proline. In addition, we have performed the first global screen for genes that regulate fitness when both TORC1 and TORC2 signalling is reduced by Torin1. Analysis of genes whose deletions altered fitness when nutrients were limited, or when TOR signalling was compromised, identified a large number of genes that regulate transmembrane transport, transcription and chromatin organization/regulation and vesicle-mediated transport. The ability to tolerate reduced TOR signalling placed demands upon a large number of biological processes including autophagy, mRNA metabolic processing and nucleocytoplasmic transport. Importantly, novel biological processes and all processes known to be regulated by TOR were identified in our screens. In addition, deletion of 62 genes conserved in humans gave rise to strong sensitivity or resistance to Torin1, and 29 of these 62 genes have novel links to TOR signalling. The identification of chromatin and transcriptional regulation, nutritional uptake and transport pathways in this powerful genetic model now paves the way for a molecular understanding of how cells adapt to the chronic and acute fluctuations in nutrient supply that all eukaryotes experience at some stage, and which is a key feature of cancer cells within solid tumours.

tRNA production links nutrient conditions to the onset of sexual differentiation through the TORC1 pathway

Target of rapamycin (TOR) kinase controls cell growth and metabolism in response to nutrient availability. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, TOR complex 1 (TORC1) promotes vegetative growth and inhibits sexual differentiation in the presence of ample nutrients. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of mutants with similar phenotypes as TORC1 mutants, in that they initiate sexual differentiation even in nutrient-rich conditions. In most mutants identified, TORC1 activity is downregulated and the mutated genes are involved in tRNA expression or modification. Expression of tRNA precursors decreases when cells undergo sexual differentiation. Furthermore, overexpression of tRNA precursors prevents TORC1 downregulation upon nitrogen starvation and represses the initiation of sexual differentiation. Based on these observations, we propose that tRNA precursors operate in the S. pombe TORC1 pathway to switch growth mode from vegetative to reproductive.

Ragulator and GATOR1 complexes promote fission yeast growth by attenuating TOR complex 1 through Rag GTPases

TOR complex 1 (TORC1) is an evolutionarily conserved protein kinase complex that promotes cellular macromolecular synthesis and suppresses autophagy. Amino-acid-induced activation of mammalian TORC1 is initiated by its recruitment to the RagA/B-RagC/D GTPase heterodimer, which is anchored to lysosomal membranes through the Ragulator complex. We have identified in the model organism Schizosaccharomyces pombe a Ragulator-like complex that tethers the Gtr1-Gtr2 Rag heterodimer to the membranes of vacuoles, the lysosome equivalent in yeasts. Unexpectedly, the Ragulator-Rag complex is not required for the vacuolar targeting of TORC1, but the complex plays a crucial role in attenuating TORC1 activity independently of the Tsc1-Tsc2 complex, a known negative regulator of TORC1 signaling. The GATOR1 complex, which functions as Gtr1 GAP, is essential for the TORC1 attenuation by the Ragulator-Rag complex, suggesting that Gtr1^GDP-Gtr2 on vacuolar membranes moderates TORC1 signaling for optimal cellular response to nutrients.

Target of Rapamycin (TOR) Regulates Growth in Response to Nutritional Signals

All organisms can respond to the availability of nutrients by regulating their metabolism, growth, and cell division. Central to the regulation of growth in response to nutrient availability is the target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling that is composed of two structurally distinct complexes: TOR complex 1 (TORC1) and TOR complex 2 (TORC2). The TOR genes were first identified in yeast as target of rapamycin, a natural product of a soil bacterium, which proved beneficial as an immunosuppressive and anticancer drug and is currently being tested for a handful of other pathological conditions including diabetes, neurodegeneration, and age-related diseases. Studies of the TOR pathway unraveled a complex growth-regulating network. TOR regulates nutrient uptake, transcription, protein synthesis and degradation, as well as metabolic pathways, in a coordinated manner that ensures that cells grow or cease growth in response to nutrient availability. The identification of specific signals and mechanisms that stimulate TOR signaling is an active and exciting field of research that has already identified nitrogen and amino acids as key regulators of TORC1 activity. The signals, as well as the cellular functions of TORC2, are far less well understood. Additional open questions in the field concern the relationships between TORC1 and TORC2, as well as the links with other nutrient-responsive pathways. Here I review the main features of TORC1 and TORC2, with a particular focus on yeasts as model organisms.

Coupling TOR to the Cell Cycle by the Greatwall-Endosulfine-PP2A-B55 Pathway

Cell growth and division are two processes tightly coupled in proliferating cells. While Target of Rapamycin (TOR) is the master regulator of growth, the cell cycle is dictated by the activity of the cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). A long-standing question in cell biology is how these processes may be connected. Recent work has highlighted that regulating the phosphatases that revert CDK phosphorylations is as important as regulating the CDKs for cell cycle progression. At mitosis, maintaining a low level of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A)-B55 activity is essential for CDK substrates to achieve the correct level of phosphorylation. The conserved Greatwall–Endosulfine pathway has been shown to be required for PP2A-B55 inhibition at mitosis in yeasts and multicellular organisms. Interestingly, in yeasts, the Greatwall–Endosulfine pathway is negatively regulated by TOR Complex 1 (TORC1). Moreover, Greatwall–Endosulfine activation upon TORC1 inhibition has been shown to regulate the progression of the cell cycle at different points: the G1 phase in budding yeast, the G2/M transition and the differentiation response in fission yeast, and the entry into quiescence in both budding and fission yeasts. In this review, we discuss the recent findings on how the Greatwall–Endosulfine pathway may provide a connection between cell growth and the cell cycle machinery.

Distinct functional relevance of dynamic GTPase cysteine methylation in fission yeast

The final step in post-translational processing of Ras and Rho GTPases involves methylation of the prenylated cysteine residue by an isoprenylcysteine-O-carboxyl methyltransferase (ICMT). ICMT activity is essential for cell growth and development in higher eukaryotes, and inhibition of GTPase methylation has become an attractive target in cancer therapy to inactivate prenylated oncoproteins. However, the specificity and dynamics of the GTPase methylation process remain to be fully clarified. Notably, cells lacking Mam4, the ICMT ortholog in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, are viable. We have exploited this feature to analyze the role of methylation on GTPase localization and function. We show that methylation differentially affects GTPase membrane localization, being particularly relevant for plasma membrane tethering and downstream signaling of palmitoylated and farnesylated GTPases Ras1 and Rho2 lacking C-terminal polybasic motifs. Indeed, Ras1 and Rho2 cysteine methylation is required for proper regulation of differentiation elicited by MAPK Spk1 and for stress-dependent activation of the cell integrity pathway (CIP) and its main effector MAPK Pmk1. Further, Mam4 negatively regulates TORC2 signaling by a cross-inhibitory mechanism relying on Rho GTPase methylation. These results highlight the requirement for a tight control of GTPase methylation in vivo to allow adequate GTPase function.

TORC1-Dependent Phosphorylation Targets in Fission Yeast

Target of rapamycin (TOR) kinase controls cell metabolism and growth in response to environmental cues such as nutrients, growth factors, and stress. TOR kinase is widely conserved across eukaryotes. As in other organisms, the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe has two types of TOR complex, namely TOR complex 1 (TORC1) and TORC2. It is interesting that the two TOR complexes in S. pombe have opposite roles in sexual differentiation, which is induced by nutrient starvation. TORC1, which contains Tor2 as a catalytic subunit, promotes vegetative growth and represses sexual differentiation in nutrient-rich conditions, while TORC2 is required for the initiation of sexual differentiation. Multiple targets of TORC1 have been identified. Some of these, such as S6 kinase and an autophagy regulator Atg13, are known targets in other organisms. In addition, there is a novel group of TORC1 targets involved in the regulation of sexual differentiation. Here, we review recent findings on phosphorylation targets of TORC1 in S. pombe. Furthermore, we briefly report a novel S. pombe target of TORC1.

Genome-wide screen for cell growth regulators in fission yeast

Cellular growth control is important for all living organisms, but experimental investigation into this problem is difficult because of the complex range of growth regulatory mechanisms. Here, we have used the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe to identify potential master regulators of growth. At the restrictive temperature, the S. pombe pat1^ts mei4Δ strain enters the meiotic developmental program, but arrests in meiotic G2 phase as mei4⁺ is essential for meiotic progression. These cells do not grow, even in an abundance of nutrients. To identify regulators of growth that can reverse this growth arrest, we introduced an ORFeome plasmid library into the pat1^tsmei4Δ strain. Overexpression of eight genes promoted cell growth; two of these were core RNA polymerase subunits, and one was sck2⁺ , an S6 kinase thought to contribute to TORC1 signalling. Sck2 had the greatest effect on cell growth, and we also show that it significantly increases the cellular transcription rate. These findings indicate, for the first time, that global transcriptional control mediated through S6 kinase signalling is central to cellular growth control.

Genetic interactions and functional analyses of the fission yeast gsk3 and amk2 single and double mutants defective in TORC1-dependent processes

The Target of Rapamycin (TOR) signalling network plays important roles in aging and disease. The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and the Gsk3 kinase inhibit TOR during stress. We performed genetic interaction screens using synthetic genetic arrays (SGA) with gsk3 and amk2 as query mutants, the latter encoding the regulatory subunit of AMPK. We identified 69 negative and 82 positive common genetic interactors, with functions related to cellular growth and stress. The 120 gsk3-specific negative interactors included genes functioning in translation and ribosomes. The 215 amk2-specific negative interactors included genes functioning in chromatin silencing and DNA damage repair. Both amk2- and gsk3-specific interactors were enriched in phenotype categories related to abnormal cell size and shape. We also performed SGA screen with the amk2 gsk3 double mutant as a query. Mutants sensitive to 5-fluorouracil, an anticancer drug are under-represented within the 305 positive interactors specific for the amk2 gsk3 query. The triple-mutant SGA screen showed higher number of negative interactions than the double mutant SGA screens and uncovered additional genetic network information. These results reveal common and specialized roles of AMPK and Gsk3 in mediating TOR-dependent processes, indicating that AMPK and Gsk3 act in parallel to inhibit TOR function in fission yeast.

Ste12/Fab1 phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate 5-kinase is required for nitrogen-regulated mitotic commitment and cell size control

Tight coupling of cell growth and cell cycle progression enable cells to adjust their rate of division, and therefore size, to the demands of proliferation in varying nutritional environments. Nutrient stress promotes inhibition of Target Of Rapamycin Complex 1 (TORC1) activity. In fission yeast, reduced TORC1 activity advances mitotic onset and switches growth to a sustained proliferation at reduced cell size. A screen for mutants, that failed to advance mitosis upon nitrogen stress, identified a mutant in the PIKFYVE 1-phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate 5-kinase fission yeast homolog Ste12. Ste12PIKFYVE deficient mutants were unable to advance the cell cycle to reduce cell size after a nitrogen downshift to poor nitrogen (proline) growth conditions. While it is well established that PI(3,5)P2 signalling is required for autophagy and that Ste12PIKFYVE mutants have enlarged vacuoles (yeast lysosomes), neither a block to autophagy or mutants that independently have enlarged vacuoles had any impact upon nitrogen control of mitotic commitment. The addition of rapamycin to Ste12PIKFYVE deficient mutants reduced cell size at division to suggest that Ste12PIKFYVE possibly functions upstream of TORC1. ste12 mutants display increased Torin1 (TOR inhibitor) sensitivity. However, no major impact on TORC1 or TORC2 activity was observed in the ste12 deficient mutants. In summary, Ste12PIKFYVE is required for nitrogen-stress mediated advancement of mitosis to reduce cell size at division.

Substrate specificity of TOR complex 2 is determined by a ubiquitin-fold domain of the Sin1 subunit

The target of rapamycin (TOR) protein kinase forms multi-subunit TOR complex 1 (TORC1) and TOR complex 2 (TORC2), which exhibit distinct substrate specificities. Sin1 is one of the TORC2-specific subunit essential for phosphorylation and activation of certain AGC-family kinases. Here, we show that Sin1 is dispensable for the catalytic activity of TORC2, but its conserved region in the middle (Sin1CRIM) forms a discrete domain that specifically binds the TORC2 substrate kinases. Sin1CRIM fused to a different TORC2 subunit can recruit the TORC2 substrate Gad8 for phosphorylation even in the sin1 null mutant of fission yeast. The solution structure of Sin1CRIM shows a ubiquitin-like fold with a characteristic acidic loop, which is essential for interaction with the TORC2 substrates. The specific substrate-recognition function is conserved in human Sin1CRIM, which may represent a potential target for novel anticancer drugs that prevent activation of the mTORC2 substrates such as AKT.

Phosphorylation of the amino-terminus of the AGC kinase Gad8 prevents its interaction with TORC2

Cell proliferation, metabolism, migration and survival are coordinated through the tight control of two target of rapamycin (TOR) kinase complexes: TORC1 and TORC2. Here, we show that a novel phosphorylation of fission yeast Gad8 (AGC kinase) on the evolutionarily conserved threonine 6 (Thr6) prevents the physical association between Gad8 and TORC2. Accordingly, this block to protein interactions by Gad8 Thr6 phosphorylation decreases TORC2-controlled activation of Gad8. Likewise, phosphorylation of Gad8 Thr6, possibly by PKC, prevents the association of Gad8 with TORC2 thereby increasing TORC2 activity, because it reduces Gad8-mediated feedback inhibition of TORC2. Consistently, the introduction of a Gad8 T6D mutant, that mimics phosphorylation, increased TORC2 activity. Increased PKC^Pck2 expression prevented Gad8–TORC2 binding and so reduced the TORC2-mediated phosphorylation of Gad8 serine 546 that activates Gad8. Interestingly, independent of the Ser546 phosphorylation status, Gad8 Thr6 phosphorylation is important for remodelling the actin cytoskeleton and survival upon potassium ion and heat stresses. In contrast, Ser546 phosphorylation is required for the control of G1 arrest, mating, cell length at division and vascular size. Finally, these findings reveal a novel mode of TORC2 activation that is essential for cell survival following stress.