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14-3-3 proteins are essential for RAS/MAPK cascade signaling during pseudohyphal development in S. cerevisiae

R L Roberts1, H U Mösch, G R Fink

  • 1Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge 02142, USA.

Cell
|June 27, 1997
PubMed

Insights

14-3-3 proteins are crucial for pseudohyphal development in yeast. These proteins specifically regulate RAS/MAPK cascade signaling, impacting cell processes beyond basic viability.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Yeast Genetics

Background:

  • 14-3-3 proteins are ubiquitous and highly conserved.
  • Their precise cellular functions remain largely undefined.
  • Understanding their roles is key to deciphering complex cellular signaling pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the specific functions of 14-3-3 proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
  • To determine the role of 14-3-3 homologs BMH1 and BMH2 in MAPK cascade signaling.
  • To elucidate the involvement of 14-3-3 proteins in pseudohyphal development.

Main Methods:

  • Genetic analysis of S. cerevisiae strains with mutations in BMH1 and BMH2.
  • Investigating the effects of activated RAS2 and CDC42 alleles.
  • Studying the association of 14-3-3 proteins (Bmh1p, Bmh2p) with Ste20p using in vivo methods.
  • Analyzing mutant alleles of BMH1 for specific signaling defects.

Main Results:

  • BMH1 and BMH2 are essential for pseudohyphal development MAPK cascade signaling, but not for viability or mating.
  • Activated RAS2 and CDC42 induce pseudohyphal development and FG(TyA)-lacZ signaling in wild-type strains, but not in bmh1 bmh2 mutants.
  • Bmh1p and Bmh2p physically associate with Ste20p in vivo.
  • Specific BMH1 alleles disrupt FG(TyA)-lacZ signaling and Ste20p association while retaining other 14-3-3 functions.

Conclusions:

  • 14-3-3 proteins are specifically required for RAS/MAPK cascade signaling during pseudohyphal development in S. cerevisiae.
  • The interaction between 14-3-3 proteins and Ste20p is critical for this signaling pathway.
  • These findings clarify a specific role for 14-3-3 proteins in developmental signaling.

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