RESUMO
The PKC1 gene in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes protein kinase C that is known to control a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade consisting of Bck1, Mkk1 and Mkk2, and Mpk1. This cascade affects the cell wall integrity but the phenotype of Pkc1 mutants suggests additional targets which have not yet been identified. We show that a pkc1Delta mutant, as opposed to mutants in the MAP kinase cascade, displays two major defects in the control of carbon metabolism. It shows a delay in the initiation of fermentation upon addition of glucose and a defect in derepression of SUC2 gene after exhaustion of glucose from the medium. After addition of glucose the production of both ethanol and glycerol started very slowly. The V(max) of glucose transport dropped considerably and Northern blot analysis showed that induction of the HXT1, HXT2 and HXT4 genes was strongly reduced. Growth of the pkc1Delta mutant was absent on glycerol and poor on galactose and raffinose. Oxygen uptake was barely present. Derepression of invertase activity and SUC2 transcription upon transfer of cells from glucose to raffinose was deficient in the pkc1Delta mutant as opposed to the wild-type. Our results suggest an involvement of Pkc1p in the control of carbon metabolism which is not shared by the downstream MAP kinase cascade.
Assuntos
Glucose/metabolismo , Glicosídeo Hidrolases/genética , Proteína Quinase C/fisiologia , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/enzimologia , Fatores de Transcrição/biossíntese , Fatores de Transcrição Hélice-Alça-Hélice Básicos , Northern Blotting , Regulação Fúngica da Expressão Gênica , Mutação , Proteína Quinase C/genética , Proteínas Repressoras/metabolismo , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genética , Transdução de Sinais/fisiologia , Fatores de Transcrição/genética , Transcrição Gênica , beta-FrutofuranosidaseRESUMO
Preference for specific protein substrates together with differential sensitivity to activators and inhibitors has allowed classification of serine/threonine protein phosphatases (PPs) into four major types designated types 1, 2A, 2B and 2C (PP1, PP2A, PP2B and PP2C, respectively). Comparison of sequences within their catalytic domains has indicated that PP1, PP2A and PP2B are members of the same gene family named PPP. On the other hand, the type 2C enzyme does not share sequence homology with the PPP members and thus represents another gene family, known as PPM. In this report we briefly summarize some of our studies about the role of serine/threonine phosphatases in growth and differentiation of three different eukaryotic models: Blastocladiella emersonii, Neurospora crassa and Dictyostelium discoideum. Our observations suggest that PP2C is the major phosphatase responsible for dephosphorylation of amidotransferase, an enzyme that controls cell wall synthesis during Blastocladiella emersonii zoospore germination. We also report the existence of a novel acid- and thermo-stable protein purified from Neurospora crassa mycelia, which specifically inhibits the PP1 activity of this fungus and mammals. Finally, we comment on our recent results demonstrating that Dictyostelium discoideum expresses a gene that codes for PP1, although this activity has never been demonstrated biochemically in this organism.
Assuntos
Blastocladiella/enzimologia , Dictyostelium/enzimologia , Neurospora crassa/enzimologia , Fosfotreonina/metabolismo , Animais , Especificidade por SubstratoRESUMO
Preference for specific protein substrates together with differential sensitivity to activators and inhibitors has allowed classification of serine/threonine protein phosphatases (PPs) into four major types designated types 1, 2A, 2B and 2C (PP1, PP2A, PP2B and PP2C, respectively). Comparison of sequences within their catalytic domains has indicated that PP1, PP2A and PP2B are members of the same gene family named PPP. On the other hand, the type 2C enzyme does not share sequence homology with the PPP members and thus represents another gene family, known as PPM. In this report we briefly summarize some of our studies about the role of serine/threonine phosphatases in growth and differentiation of three different eukaryotic models: Blastocladiella emersonii, Neurospora crassa and Dictyostelium discoideum. Our observations suggest that PP2C is the major phosphatase responsible for dephosphorylation of amidotransferase, an enzyme that controls cell wall synthesis during Blastocladiella emersonii zoospore germination. We also report the existence of a novel acid- and thermo-stable protein purified from Neurospora crassa mycelia, which specifically inhibits the PP1 activity of this fungus and mammals. Finally, we comment on our recent results demonstrating that Dictyostelium discoideum expresses a gene that codes for PP1, although this activity has never been demonstrated biochemically in this organism
Assuntos
Blastocladiella/enzimologia , Dictyostelium/enzimologia , Células Eucarióticas/enzimologia , Neurospora crassa/enzimologia , Fosfotreonina/metabolismo , Germinação/fisiologia , Especificidade por SubstratoRESUMO
Extracts of the aquatic fungus Blastocladiella emersonii were found to contain protein phosphatases type 1, type 2A, and type 2C with properties analogous to those found in mammalian tissues. The activities of all three protein phosphatases are developmentally regulated, increasing during sporulation, with maximum level in zoospores. Protein phosphatases 2A and 2C, present in zoospore extracts, catalyze the dephosphorylation of L-glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (EC 2.6.1.16, amidotransferase), a key regulatory enzyme in hexosamine biosynthesis. The protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid induces encystment and inhibits germ tube formation but does not affect the synthesis of the chitinous cell wall. These results strongly suggest that phosphatase 2C is responsible for the dephosphorylation of amidotransferase in vivo. This dephosphorylation is inhibited by uridine-5'-diphospho-N-acetylglucosamine, the end product of hexosamine synthesis and the substrate for chitin synthesis. This result demonstrates a dual role of uridine-5'-diphospho-N-acetylglucosamine by inhibiting the activity of the phosphorylated form of amidotransferase and by preventing its dephosphorylation by protein phosphatases.
Assuntos
Blastocladiella/metabolismo , Regulação Fúngica da Expressão Gênica , Glutamina-Frutose-6-Fosfato Transaminase (Isomerizante)/metabolismo , Hexosaminas/biossíntese , Fosfoproteínas Fosfatases/metabolismo , Blastocladiella/enzimologia , Blastocladiella/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Parede Celular/metabolismo , Quitina/metabolismo , Éteres Cíclicos/farmacologia , Ácido Okadáico , Fosfoproteínas Fosfatases/antagonistas & inibidores , Esporos Fúngicos/enzimologia , Esporos Fúngicos/metabolismoRESUMO
The enzyme amidotransferase [2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose-6-phosphate ketol isomerase (amino-transferring); EC 2.6.1.16] catalyzes the first step in the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway. In Blastocladiella emersonii the sensitivity of the enzyme to the inhibitor uridine-5'-diphospho-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) is developmentally regulated. The inhibitable form of amidotransferase activity present in the zoospore is converted to a noninhibitable form during germination. The latter form is present throughout the growth phase and sensitivity to UDP-GlcNAc gradually returns to the zoospore level during sporulation [C.P. Selitrennikoff, N.E. Dalley, and D.R. Sonneborn (1980) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77, 5998-6002]. The following evidence suggests that a phosphorylation/dephosphorylation mechanism underlies this interconversion: (i) Both the vegetative and zoospore enzymes have the same molecular weight of 140,000, but the vegetative enzyme elutes significantly earlier on a DEAE-cellulose column than does the zoospore enzyme. (ii) The increased sensitivity to UDP-GlcNAc occurring in vivo and in vitro correlates with increased phosphorylation of a polypeptide of apparent Mr 76,000. This component copurifies with amidotransferase activity through ion-exchange chromatography and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. (iii) Desensitization and concurrent dephosphorylation of sensitive amidotransferase can be observed in vitro after treatment with a partially purified magnesium-dependent phosphoprotein phosphatase from zoospores.