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Regulation of G2/M progression by the STE mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in budding yeast filamentous

S H Ahn1, A Acurio, S J Kron

  • 1Center for Molecular Oncology and Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.

Molecular Biology of the Cell
|October 8, 1999
PubMed

Insights

The MAPK pathway in yeast controls filamentous growth by delaying the cell cycle at G2/M. This pathway inhibits mitotic cyclin/CDK complexes, influencing cell shape and connections.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Nitrogen-poor media induces filamentous growth in yeast via a MAPK pathway.
  • Filamentous yeast exhibit distinct gene expression, cell shape, budding, and cell cycle control.
  • The role of MAPK signaling in yeast morphogenesis and cell cycle regulation is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the MAPK pathway in regulating yeast cell cycle and morphogenesis during filamentous growth.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which MAPK signaling influences cell cycle progression and cell morphology.

Main Methods:

  • Ectopic activation of the MAPK signal pathway in yeast.
  • Overexpression of yeast mitotic cyclins Clb1 and Clb2.
  • Analysis of yeast mutants deficient for Clb2 or carrying the cdc28-1N allele.
  • Investigation of Swe1-mediated phosphorylation of Cdc28.
  • Assessment of cell cycle progression and filamentous differentiation.

Main Results:

  • Ectopic MAPK activation causes a G2/M cell cycle shift and filamentous characteristics.
  • Overexpression of Clb1/Clb2 abrogates MAPK-induced cell cycle effects.
  • Yeast deficient for Clb2 or with cdc28-1N show enhanced filamentous growth and MAPK sensitivity.
  • MAPK pathway effects on G2/M delay are independent of Swe1-mediated Cdc28 phosphorylation.
  • MAPK signaling inhibits mitotic cyclin/CDK complexes.

Conclusions:

  • The MAPK pathway promotes yeast filamentous growth through a novel mechanism involving inhibition of mitotic cyclin/CDK complexes.
  • This inhibition modulates yeast cell shape, budding pattern, and cell-cell connections.
  • The findings provide new insights into cell cycle control and morphogenesis in response to environmental cues.

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