Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026

07:59
Temporal Quantification of MAPK Induced Expression in Single Yeast Cells
Published on: October 4, 2013
Reagents for investigating MAPK signalling in model yeast species
David Pincus1, Kirsten Benjamin, Ian Burbulis
1Molecular Sciences Institute, 2168 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA.
Yeast (Chichester, England)
|February 18, 2010
Summary
Researchers developed bacterial expression plasmids and antibodies to study yeast mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. These new tools enable detection of pathway protein modifications and interactions in various yeast species.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Signaling
- Yeast Genetics
Background:
- Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways regulate crucial cellular processes in yeast.
- Investigating yeast MAPK pathways requires specific tools to detect protein dynamics and modifications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To generate and validate novel reagents, including bacterial expression plasmids and antibodies, for studying yeast MAPK signaling.
- To enable the detection of pheromone-induced changes in MAPK pathway proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Main Methods:
- Construction of bacterial expression plasmids for 25 yeast MAPK proteins.
- Expression, purification, and antibody generation against 13 pheromone MAPK pathway proteins.
- Antibody specificity verification and application in pheromone-stimulated yeast cells.
Main Results:
- Successfully generated and validated polyclonal antibodies against 13 MAPK pathway proteins.
- Demonstrated antibody utility in detecting pheromone-induced post-translational modifications and oligomeric state changes.
- Showcased antibody cross-reactivity with orthologs in Kluyveromyces lactis and Schizosaccharomyces pombe.
Conclusions:
- Developed a valuable set of resources (plasmids and antibodies) for yeast MAPK signaling research.
- These antibodies serve as effective tools for investigating MAPK signaling in model yeast species.
- The reagents may also find applications in studying MAPK signaling in higher eukaryotes.
Related Concept Videos
MAPK Signaling Cascades
Mitogen-activated protein kinase, or MAPK pathway, activates three sequential kinases to regulate cellular responses such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. The canonical MAPK pathway starts with a mitogen or growth factor binding to an RTK. The activated RTKs stimulate Ras, which recruits Raf or MAP3 Kinase (MAPKKK), the first kinase of the MAPK signaling cascade. Raf further phosphorylates and activates MEK or MAP2 Kinases (MAPKK), which in turn phosphorylates MAP...
Yeast Signaling
Yeasts are single-celled organisms, but unlike bacteria, they are eukaryotes (cells with a nucleus). Cell signaling in yeast is similar to signaling in other eukaryotic cells. A ligand, such as a protein or a small molecule released from a yeast cell, attaches to a receptor on the cell surface. The binding stimulates second-messenger kinases to activate or inactivate transcription factors that further regulate gene expression. Many of the yeast intracellular signaling cascades have similar...

