Mutational analysis of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae SNF1 protein kinase and evidence for functional interaction with the SNF4 protein.

The SNF1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a protein-serine/threonine kinase that is required for derepression of gene expression in response to glucose limitation. We present evidence that the protein kinase activity is essential for SNF1 function: substitution of Arg for Lys in the putative ATP-binding site results in a mutant phenotype. A polyhistidine tract near the N terminus was found to be dispensable. Deletion of the large region C terminal to the kinase domain only partially impaired SNF1 function, causing expression of invertase to be somewhat reduced but still glucose repressible. The function of the SNF4 gene, another component of the regulatory system, was required for maximal in vitro activity of the SNF1 protein kinase. Increased SNF1 gene dosage partially alleviated the requirement for SNF4. C-terminal deletions of SNF1 also reduced dependence on SNF4. Our findings suggest that SNF4 acts as a positive effector of the kinase but does not serve a regulatory function in signaling glucose availability.     

Molecular analysis of the SNF4 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: evidence for physical association of the SNF4 protein with the SNF1 protein kinase.

The SNF4 gene is required for expression of glucose-repressible genes in response to glucose deprivation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Previous evidence suggested that SNF4 is functionally related to SNF1, another essential gene in this global regulatory system that encodes a protein kinase. Increased SNF1 gene dosage partially compensates for a mutation in SNF4, and the SNF4 function is required for maximal SNF1 protein kinase activity in vitro. We have cloned SNF4 and identified its 1.2-kilobase RNA, which is not regulated by glucose repression. A 36-kilodalton SNF4 protein is predicted from the nucleotide sequence. Disruption of the chromosomal SNF4 locus revealed that the requirement for SNF4 function is less stringent at low temperature (23 degrees C). A bifunctional SNF4-lacZ gene fusion that includes almost the entire SNF4 coding sequence was constructed. The fusion protein was shown by immunofluorescence microscopy to be distributed throughout the cell, with partial localization to the nucleus. The SNF4-beta-galactosidase protein coimmunoprecipitated with the SNF1 protein kinase, thus providing evidence for the physical association of the two proteins.     

Molecular analysis of SSN6, a gene functionally related to the SNF1 protein kinase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Mutations in the SSN6 gene suppress the invertase derepression defect caused by a lesion in the SNF1 protein kinase gene. We cloned the SSN6 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and identified its 3.3-kilobase poly(A)-containing RNA. Disruption of the gene caused phenotypes similar to, but more severe than, those caused by missense mutations: high-level constitutivity for invertase, clumpiness, temperature-sensitive growth, alpha-specific mating defects, and failure to homozygous diploids to sporulate. In contrast, the presence of multiple copies of SSN6 interfered with derepression of invertase. An ssn6 mutation was also shown to cause glucose-insensitive expression of a GAL10-lacZ fusion and maltase. The mating defects of MAT alpha ssn6 strains were associated with production of two a-specific products, a-factor and barrier, and reduced levels of alpha-factor; no deficiency of MAT alpha 2 RNA was detected. We showed that ssn6 partially restored invertase expression in a cyr1-2 mutant, although ssn6 was clearly not epistatic to cyr1-2. We also determined the nucleotide sequence of SSN6, which is predicted to encode a 107-kilodalton protein with stretches of polyglutamine and poly(glutamine-alanine). Possible functions of the SSN6 product are discussed.     

Tor1 regulates protein solubility in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Accumulation of insoluble protein in cells is associated with aging and aging-related diseases; however, the roles of insoluble protein in these processes are uncertain. The nature and impact of changes to protein solubility during normal aging are less well understood. Using quantitative mass spectrometry, we identify 480 proteins that become insoluble during postmitotic aging in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and show that this ensemble of insoluble proteins is similar to those that accumulate in aging nematodes. SDS-insoluble protein is present exclusively in a nonquiescent subpopulation of postmitotic cells, indicating an asymmetrical distribution of this protein. In addition, we show that nitrogen starvation of young cells is sufficient to cause accumulation of a similar group of insoluble proteins. Although many of the insoluble proteins identified are known to be autophagic substrates, induction of macroautophagy is not required for insoluble protein formation. However, genetic or chemical inhibition of the Tor1 kinase is sufficient to promote accumulation of insoluble protein. We conclude that target of rapamycin complex 1 regulates accumulation of insoluble proteins via mechanisms acting upstream of macroautophagy. Our data indicate that the accumulation of proteins in an SDS-insoluble state in postmitotic cells represents a novel autophagic cargo preparation process that is regulated by the Tor1 kinase.     

SIRT1 regulates hepatocyte lipid metabolism through activating AMP-activated protein kinase

Resveratrol may protect against metabolic disease through activating SIRT1 deacetylase. Because we have recently defined AMPK activation as a key mechanism for the beneficial effects of polyphenols on hepatic lipid accumulation, hyperlipidemia, and atherosclerosis in type 1 diabetic mice, we hypothesize that polyphenol-activated SIRT1 acts upstream of AMPK signaling and hepatocellular lipid metabolism. Here we show that polyphenols, including resveratrol and the synthetic polyphenol S17834, increase SIRT1 deacetylase activity, LKB1 phosphorylation at Ser(428), and AMPK activity. Polyphenols substantially prevent the impairment in phosphorylation of AMPK and its downstream target, ACC (acetyl-CoA carboxylase), elevation in expression of FAS (fatty acid synthase), and lipid accumulation in human HepG2 hepatocytes exposed to high glucose. These effects of polyphenols are largely abolished by pharmacological and genetic inhibition of SIRT1, suggesting that the stimulation of AMPK and lipid-lowering effect of polyphenols depend on SIRT1 activity. Furthermore, adenoviral overexpression of SIRT1 stimulates the basal AMPK signaling in HepG2 cells and in the mouse liver. AMPK activation by SIRT1 also protects against FAS induction and lipid accumulation caused by high glucose. Moreover, LKB1, but not CaMKKbeta, is required for activation of AMPK by polyphenols and SIRT1. These findings suggest that SIRT1 functions as a novel upstream regulator for LKB1/AMPK signaling and plays an essential role in the regulation of hepatocyte lipid metabolism. Targeting SIRT1/LKB1/AMPK signaling by polyphenols may have potential therapeutic implications for dyslipidemia and accelerated atherosclerosis in diabetes and age-related diseases.     

Regulation of dimorphism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: involvement of the novel protein kinase homolog Elm1p and protein phosphatase 2A.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes ELM1, ELM2, and ELM3 were identified on the basis of the phenotype of constitutive cell elongation. Mutations in any of these genes cause a dimorphic transition to a pseudohyphal growth state characterized by formation of expanded, branched chains of elongated cells. Furthermore, elm1, elm2, and elm3 mutations cause cells to grow invasively under the surface of agar medium. S. cerevisiae is known to be a dimorphic organism that grows either as a unicellular yeast or as filamentous cells termed pseudohyphae; although the yeast-like form usually prevails, pseudohyphal growth may occur during conditions of nitrogen starvation. The morphologic and physiological properties caused by elm1, elm2, and elm3 mutations closely mimic pseudohyphal growth occurring in conditions of nitrogen starvation. Therefore, we propose that absence of ELM1, ELM2, or ELM3 function causes constitutive execution of the pseudohyphal differentiation pathway that occurs normally in conditions of nitrogen starvation. Supporting this hypothesis, heterozygosity at the ELM2 or ELM3 locus significantly stimulated the ability to form pseudohyphae in response to nitrogen starvation. ELM1 was isolated and shown to code for a novel protein kinase homolog. Gene dosage experiments also showed that pseudohyphal differentiation in response to nitrogen starvation is dependent on the product of CDC55, a putative B regulatory subunit of protein phosphatase 2A, and a synthetic phenotype was observed in elm1 cdc55 double mutants. Thus, protein phosphorylation is likely to regulate differentiation into the pseudohyphal state.     

A downstream target of RHO1 small GTP-binding protein is PKC1, a homolog of protein kinase C, which leads to activation of the MAP kinase cascade in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The RHO1 gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a homolog of the mammalian RhoA small GTP-binding protein, which is implicated in various actin cytoskeleton-dependent cell functions. In yeast, Rho1p is involved in bud formation. A yeast strain in which RHO1 is replaced with RhoA shows a recessive temperature-sensitive growth phenotype. A dominant suppressor mutant was isolated from this strain. Molecular cloning of the suppressor gene revealed that the mutation occurred at the pseuodosubstrate site of PKC1, a yeast homolog of mammalian protein kinase C. Two-hybrid analysis demonstrated that GTP-Rho1p, but not GDP-Rho1p, interacted with the region of Pkc1p containing the pseudosubstrate site and the C1 domain. MKK1 and MPK1 encode MAP kinase kinase and MAP kinase homologs, respectively, and function downstream of PKC1. A dominant active MKK1-6 mutation or overexpression of MPK1 suppressed the temperature sensitivity of the RhoA mutant. The dominant activating mutation of PKC1 suppressed the temperature sensitivity of the RhoA mutant. The dominant activating mutation of PKC1 suppressed the temperature sensitivity of two effector mutants of RHO1, rho1(F44Y) and rho1(E451), but not that of rho1(V43T). These results indicate that there are at least two signaling pathways regulated by Rho1p and that one of the downstream targets is Pkc1p, leading to the activation of the MAP kinase cascade.     

Dominant mutations in a gene encoding a putative protein kinase (BCK1) bypass the requirement for a Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein kinase C homolog.

The PKC1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a homolog of mammalian protein kinase C that is required for yeast cell growth and division. To identify additional components of the pathway in which PKC1 functions, we isolated extragenic suppressors of a pkc1 deletion mutant. All of the suppressor mutations were dominant for suppressor function and defined a single locus, which was designated BCK1 (for bypass of C kinase). A molecular clone of one suppressor allele, BCK1-20, was isolated on a centromere-containing plasmid through its ability to rescue a conditional pkc1 mutant. The BCK1 gene possesses a 4.4-kb uninterrupted open reading frame predicted to encode a 163-kDa protein kinase. The BCK1 gene product is not closely related to any known protein kinase, sharing only 45% amino acid identity with its closest known relative (the STE11-encoded protein kinase) through a region restricted to its putative C-terminal catalytic domain. Deletion of BCK1 resulted in a temperature-sensitive cell lysis defect, which was suppressed by osmotic stabilizing agents. Because pkc1 mutants also display a cell lysis defect, we suggest that PKC1 and BCK1 may normally function within the same pathway. Suppressor alleles of BCK1 differed from the wild-type gene in a region surrounding a potential PKC phosphorylation site immediately upstream of the predicted catalytic domain. This region may serve as a hinge between domains whose interaction is regulated by PKC1.     

Prostaglandin E2 negatively regulates AMP-activated protein kinase via protein kinase A signaling pathway

We investigated possible involvement of prostaglandin (PG) E2 in regulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). When osteoblastic MG63 cells were cultured in serum-deprived media, Thr-172 phosphorylation of AMPK alpha-subunit was markedly increased. Treatment of the cells with PGE2 significantly reduced the phosphorylation. Ser-79 phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, a direct target for AMPK, was also reduced by PGE2. On the other hand, PGE2 reciprocally increased Ser-485 phosphorylation of the alpha-subunit that could be associated with inhibition of AMPK activity. These effects of PGE2 were mimicked by PGE2 receptor EP2 and EP4 agonists and forskolin, but not by EP1 and EP3 agonists, and the effects were suppressed by an adenylate cyclase inhibitor SQ22536 and a protein kinase A inhibitor H89. Additionally, the PGE2 effects were duplicated in primary calvarial osteoblasts. Together, the present study demonstrates that PGE2 negatively regulates AMPK activity via activation of protein kinase A signaling pathway.     

Saccharomyces cerevisiae GTPase complex: Gtr1p-Gtr2p regulates cell-proliferation through Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ran-binding protein, Yrb2p

A Gtr1p GTPase, the GDP mutant of which suppresses both temperature-sensitive mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae RanGEF/Prp20p and RanGAP/Rna1p, was presently found to interact with Yrb2p, the S. cerevisiae homologue of mammalian Ran-binding protein 3. Gtr1p bound the Ran-binding domain of Yrb2p. In contrast, Gtr2p, a partner of Gtr1p, did not bind Yrb2p, although it bound Gtr1p. A triple mutant: yrb2delta gtr1delta gtr2delta was lethal, while a double mutant: gtr1delta gtr2delta survived well, indicating that Yrb2p protected cells from the killing effect of gtr1delta gtr2delta. Recombinant Gtr1p and Gtr2p were purified as a complex from Escherichia coli. The resulting Gtr1p-Gtr2p complex was comprised of an equal amount of Gtr1p and Gtr2p, which inhibited the Rna1p/Yrb2 dependent RanGAP activity. Thus, the Gtr1p-Gtr2p cycle was suggested to regulate the Ran cycle through Yrb2p.     

AMP-activated protein kinase regulates beta-catenin transcription via histone deacetylase 5

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key regulator of energy metabolism; it is inhibited under obese conditions and is activated by exercise and by many anti-diabetic drugs. Emerging evidence also suggests that AMPK regulates cell differentiation, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We hypothesized that AMPK regulates cell differentiation via altering β-catenin expression, which involves phosphorylation of class IIa histone deacetylase 5 (HDAC5). In both C3H10T1/2 cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), AMPK activity was positively correlated with β-catenin content. Chemical inhibition of HDAC5 increased β-catenin mRNA expression. HDAC5 overexpression reduced and HDAC5 knockdown increased H3K9 acetylation and cellular β-catenin content. HDAC5 formed a complex with myocyte enhancer factor-2 to down-regulate β-catenin mRNA expression. AMPK phosphorylated HDAC5, which promoted HDAC5 exportation from the nucleus; mutation of two phosphorylation sites in HDAC5, Ser-259 and -498, abolished the regulatory role of AMPK on β-catenin expression. In conclusion, AMPK promotes β-catenin expression through phosphorylation of HDAC5, which reduces HDAC5 interaction with the β-catenin promoter via myocyte enhancer factor-2. Thus, the data indicate that AMPK regulates cell differentiation and development via cross-talk with the wingless and Int (Wnt)/β-catenin signaling pathway.     

Activation of protein kinase C zeta by peroxynitrite regulates LKB1-dependent AMP-activated protein kinase in cultured endothelial cells

We previously reported the phosphoinositide 3-kinase-dependent activation of the 5'-AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) by peroxynitrite (ONOO-) and hypoxia-reoxygenation in cultured endothelial cells. Here we show the molecular mechanism of activation of this pathway. Exposure of bovine aortic endothelial cells to ONOO- significantly increased the phosphorylation of both Thr172 of AMPK and Ser1179 of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase, a known downstream enzyme of AMPK. In addition, activation of AMPK by ONOO- was accompanied by increased phosphorylation of protein kinase Czeta (PKCzeta) (Thr410/403) and translocation of cytosolic PKCzeta into the membrane. Further, inhibition of PKCzeta abrogated ONOO- -induced AMPK-Thr172 phosphorylation as that of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase. Furthermore, overexpression of a constitutively active PKCzeta mutant enhanced the phosphorylation of AMPK-Thr172, suggesting that PKCzeta is upstream of AMPK activation. In contrast, ONOO- activated PKCzeta in LKB1-deficient HeLa-S3 but affected neither AMPK-Thr172 nor AMPK activity. These data suggest that LKB1 is required for PKCzeta-enhanced AMPK activation. In vitro, recombinant PKCzeta phosphorylated LKB1 at Ser428, resulting in phosphorylation of AMPK at Thr172. Further, direct mutation of Ser428 of LKB1 into alanine, like the kinase-inactive LKB1 mutant, abolished ONOO- -induced AMPK activation. In several cell types originating from human, rat, and mouse, inhibition of PKCzeta significantly attenuated the phosphorylation of both LKB1-Ser428 and AMPK-Thr172 that were enhanced by ONOO-. Taken together, we conclude that PKCzeta can regulate AMPK activity by increasing the Ser428 phosphorylation of LKB1, resulting in association of LKB1 with AMPK and consequent AMPK Thr172 phosphorylation by LKB1.