The RHO1-GAPs SAC7, BEM2 and BAG7 control distinct RHO1 functions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the small GTPase RHO1 plays an essential role in the control of cell wall synthesis and organization of the actin cytoskeleton. Several regulators for RHO1 are known, including the GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) SAC7 and BEM2. Here we show that BAG7, identified as the closest homologue of SAC7, also acts as a GAP for RHO1 in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we find that BAG7, SAC7, and BEM2 are functionally different in vivo. Overexpression of BAG7 or SAC7,but not BEM2, suppresses the cold sensitivity of a sac7 mutation and the lethality of RHO1 hyperactivation in response to cell wall damage. In contrast, overexpression of BEM2 or SAC7, but not BAG7, downregulates the RHO1-controlled PKC1-MPK1 pathway, and disruption of BEM2 or SAC7, but not BAG7, results in increased MPK1 activation. We conclude that BEM2 and SAC7, but not BAG7, are involved in the control of the RHO1-mediated activation of MPK1, whereas BAG7 and SAC7, but not BEM2, are involved in the regulation of other RHO1 functions. This suggests that different RHO1GAPs control different RHO1 effector pathways, thus ensuring their individual regulation at the appropriate place and time.