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Yeast Puf3p-mediated mRNA decay is regulated by carbon source-specific differential interaction of Puf3p with Pop2p

Ariel S Bulmash1, Anthony D Fischer1, Joseph Russo1

  • 1Department of Biology, University of Missouri-St. Louis, MO, USA.

FEBS Letters
|April 15, 2023
PubMed

Insights

The Puf3p protein controls mRNA decay in yeast. Yak1p kinase phosphorylates Pop2p, altering Puf3p-Pop2p interactions and stabilizing mRNAs when yeast rely on mitochondria.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Yeast Genetics
  • Post-transcriptional Gene Regulation

Background:

  • Puf3p is a key regulator of mRNA stability for mitochondrial genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
  • mRNA decay is crucial for cellular adaptation to changing metabolic conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanism by which Puf3p-mediated mRNA decay is regulated by environmental cues.
  • To identify novel factors involved in Puf3p-dependent mRNA turnover.

Main Methods:

  • Yeast genetics and molecular biology techniques.
  • Analysis of mRNA half-life and protein-protein interactions.
  • Phosphorylation site mapping and mutational analysis.

Main Results:

  • Phosphorylation of Pop2p by Yak1p is critical for Puf3p-mediated mRNA decay.
  • Yak1p kinase phosphorylates Pop2p at threonine 97.
  • The Puf3p-Pop2p interaction is reduced upon phosphorylation, leading to mRNA stabilization.

Conclusions:

  • A metabolism-driven regulatory switch controls Puf3p-mediated mRNA decay.
  • Yak1p acts as a sensor of metabolic state, modulating mRNA stability.
  • This mechanism allows yeast to adapt gene expression to varying carbon sources and mitochondrial reliance.
Keywords:
Pop2pPuf proteinsRNA decayYak1pmitochondrial regulationpost-transcriptional regulation

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