Relationship of the Camp-Dependent Protein Kinase Pathway to the Snf1 Protein Kinase and Invertase Expression in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

The SNF1 protein kinase and the associated SNF4 protein are required for release of glucose repression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To identify functionally related proteins, we selected genes that in multicopy suppress the raffinose growth defect of snf4 mutants. Among the nine genes recovered were two genes from the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAPK) pathway, MSI1 and PDE2. Increased dosage of these genes partially compensates for defects in nutrient utilization and sporulation in snf1 and snf4 null mutants, but does not restore invertase expression. These results suggest that SNF1 and cAPK affect some of the same cellular responses to nutrients. To examine the role of the cAPK pathway in regulation of invertase, we assayed mutants in which the cAPK is not modulated by cAMP. Expression of invertase was regulated in response to glucose and was dependent on SNF1 function. Thus, a cAMP-responsive cAPK is dispensable for regulation of invertase.     

Genes Affecting the Regulation of SUC2 Gene Expression by Glucose Repression in SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE

Mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with defects in sucrose or raffinose fermentation were isolated. In addition to mutations in the SUC2 structural gene for invertase, we recovered 18 recessive mutations that affected the regulation of invertase synthesis by glucose repression. These mutations included five new snf1 (sucrose nonfermenting) alleles and also defined five new complementation groups, designated snf2, snf3, snf4, snf5, and snf6. The snf2, snf4, and snf5 mutants produced little or no secreted invertase under derepressing conditions and were pleiotropically defective in galactose and glycerol utilization, which are both regulated by glucose repression. The snf6 mutant produced low levels of secreted invertase under derepressing conditions, and no pleiotropy was detected. The snf3 mutants derepressed secreted invertase to 10-35% the wild-type level but grew less well on sucrose than expected from their invertase activity; in addition, snf3 mutants synthesized some invertase under glucose-repressing conditions.--We examined the interactions between the different snf mutations and ssn6, a mutation causing constitutive (glucose-insensitive) high-level invertase synthesis that was previously isolated as a suppressor of snf1. The ssn6 mutation completely suppressed the defects in derepression of invertase conferred by snf1, snf3, snf4 and snf6, and each double mutant showed the constitutivity for invertase typical of ssn6 single mutants. In contrast, snf2 ssn6 and snf5 ssn6 strains produced only moderate levels of invertase under derepressing conditions and very low levels under repressing conditions. These findings suggest roles for the SNF1 through SNF6 and SSN6 genes in the regulation of SUC2 gene expression by glucose repression.     

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.     

A Suppressor of snf1 Mutations Causes Constitutive High-Level Invertase Synthesis in Yeast

The SNF1 gene product of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is required to derepress expression of many glucose-repressible genes, including the SUC2 structural gene for invertase. Strains carrying a recessive snf1 mutation are unable to ferment sucrose. We have isolated 30 partial phenotypic revertants of a snf1 mutant that were able to ferment sucrose. Genetic characterization of these revertants showed that the suppressor mutations were all recessive and defined eight complementation groups, designated ssn1 through ssn8 (suppressor of snf1 ). The revertants were assayed for secreted invertase activity, and although activity was detected in members of each complementation group, only the ssn6 strains contained wild-type levels. Synthesis of secreted invertase in ssn6 strains was found to be constitutive, that is, insensitive to glucose repression; moreover, the ssn6 mutations also conferred constitutivity in a wild-type ( SNF1 ) genetic background and are, therefore, not merely suppressors of snf1 . Pleiotropic defects were observed in ssn6 mutants. Genetic analysis suggested that the ssn6 mutations are allelic to the cyc8 mutation isolated by R. J. Rothstein and F. Sherman, which causes increased production of iso-2-cytochrome c. The data suggest a regulatory function for SSN6 .     

Molecular and Genetic Analysis of the Snf7 Gene in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

Mutations in the SNF7 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae prevent full derepression of the SUC2 (invertase) gene in response to glucose limitation. We report the molecular cloning of the SNF7 gene by complementation. Sequence analysis predicts that the gene product is a 27-kDa acidic protein. Disruption of the chromosomal locus causes a fewfold decrease in invertase derepression, a growth defect on raffinose, temperature-sensitive growth on glucose, and a sporulation defect in homozygous diploids. Genetic analysis of the interactions of the snf7 null mutation with ssn6 and spt6/ssn20 suppressor mutations distinguished SNF7 from the SNF2, SNF5 and SNF6 genes. The snf7 mutation also behaved differently from mutations in SNF1 and SNF4 in that snf7 ssn6 double mutants displayed a synthetic phenotype of severe temperature sensitivity for growth. We also mapped SNF7 to the right arm of chromosome XII near the centromere.     

Cloning and genetic mapping of SNF1, a gene required for expression of glucose-repressible genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A functional SNF1 gene product is required to derepress expression of many glucose-repressible genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Strains carrying a snf1 mutation are unable to grow on sucrose, galactose, maltose, melibiose, or nonfermentable carbon sources; utilization of these carbon sources is regulated by glucose repression. The inability of snf1 mutants to utilize sucrose results from failure to derepress expression of the structural gene for invertase at the RNA level. We isolated recombinant plasmids carrying the SNF1 gene by complementation of the snf1 defect in S. cerevisiae. A 3.5-kilobase region is common to the DNA segments cloned in five different plasmids. Transformation of S. cerevisiae with an integrating vector carrying a segment of the cloned DNA resulted in integration of the plasmid at the SNF1 locus. This result indicates that the cloned DNA is homologous to sequences at the SNF1 locus. By mapping a plasmid marker linked to SNF1 in this transformant, we showed that the SNF1 gene is located on chromosome IV. We then mapped snf1 to a position 5.6 centimorgans distal to rna3 on the right arm; snf1 is not extremely closely linked to any previously mapped mutation.     

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.     

New Snf Genes, Gal11 and Grr1 Affect Suc2 Expression in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

To identify new genes required for depression of the SUC2 (invertase) gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we have isolated mutants with defects in raffinose utilization. In addition to mutations in SUC2 and previously identified SNF genes, we recovered recessive mutations that define four new complementation groups, designated snf7 through snf10. These mutations cause defects in the derepression of SUC2 in response to glucose limitation. We also recovered five alleles of gal11 and showed that a gal11 null mutation decreases SUC2 expression to 30% of the wild-type level. Finally, one of the mutants carries a grr1 allele that converts SUC2 from a glucose-inducible gene.     

Deletion of Snf1 Affects the Nutrient Response of Yeast and Resembles Mutations Which Activate the Adenylate Cyclase Pathway

We have isolated a snf1/ccr1 mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae which loses viability upon starvation and fails to accumulate glycogen in response to abrupt depletion of phosphate or glucose. A snf1 null mutant is sensitive to heat stress and starvation and fails to accumulate glycogen during growth in rich medium. The phenotypes of the snf1 mutants are those commonly associated with an overactivation of the adenylate cyclase pathway. Mutations in adenylate cyclase or RAS2 which decrease the level of cAMP in the cell moderate the snf1 phenotype. In contrast, a mutation in RAS2 (RAS2val19) which increases the level of cAMP or a mutation in the regulatory subunit (BCY1) of cAMP-dependent protein kinase which results in unregulated cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity accentuates the snf1 phenotype. However, the action of SNF1 in the stress response appears at least partly independent of cAMP-dependent protein kinase because a snf1 phenotype is observed in a strain that lacks all three of the genes that encode the catalytic subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. SNF1 therefore acts at least in part through a cAMP-independent pathway.     

Molecular analysis of SNF2 and SNF5, genes required for expression of glucose-repressible genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The SNF2 and SNF5 genes are required for derepression of SUC2 and other glucose-repressible genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in response to glucose deprivation. Previous genetic evidence suggested that SNF2 and SNF5 have functionally related roles. We cloned both genes by complementation and showed that the cloned DNA was tightly linked to the corresponding chromosomal locus. Both genes in multiple copy complemented only the cognate snf mutation. The SNF2 gene encodes a 5.7-kilobase RNA, and the SNF5 gene encodes a 3-kilobase RNA. Both RNAs contained poly(A) and were present in low abundance. Neither was regulated by glucose repression, and the level of SNF2 RNA was not dependent on SNF5 function or vice versa. Disruption of either gene at its chromosomal locus still allowed low-level derepression of secreted invertase activity, suggesting that these genes are required for high-level expression but are not directly involved in regulation. Further evidence was the finding that snf2 and snf5 mutants failed to derepress acid phosphatase, which is not regulated by glucose repression. The SNF2 and SNF5 functions were required for derepression of SUC2 mRNA.     

Suppressors of snf2 Mutations Restore Invertase Derepression and Cause Temperature-Sensitive Lethality in Yeast

Mutations in the SNF2 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae prevent derepression of the SUC2 (invertase) gene, and other glucose-repressible genes, in response to glucose deprivation. We have isolated 25 partial phenotypic revertants of a snf2 mutant that are able to derepress secreted invertase. These revertants all carried suppressor mutations at a single locus, designated SSN20 (suppressor of snf2). Alleles with dominant, partially dominant and recessive suppressor phenotypes were recovered, but all were only partial suppressors of snf2, reversing the defect in invertase synthesis but not other defects. All alleles also caused recessive, temperature-sensitive lethality and a recessive defect in galactose utilization, regardless of the SNF2 genotype. No significant effect on SUC2 expression was detected in a wild-type (SNF2) genetic background. The ssn20 mutations also suppressed the defects in invertase derepression caused by snf5 and snf6 mutations, and selection for invertase-producing revertants of snf5 mutants yielded only additional ssn20 alleles. These findings suggest that the roles of the SNF2, SNF5 and SNF6 genes in regulation of SUC2 are functionally related and that SSN20 plays a role in expression of a variety of yeast genes.     

Antagonistic controls of autophagy and glycogen accumulation by Snf1p, the yeast homolog of AMP-activated protein kinase, and the cyclin-dependent kinase Pho85p

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, glycogen is accumulated as a carbohydrate reserve when cells are deprived of nutrients. Yeast mutated in SNF1, a gene encoding a protein kinase required for glucose derepression, has diminished glycogen accumulation and concomitant inactivation of glycogen synthase. Restoration of synthesis in an snf1 strain results only in transient glycogen accumulation, implying the existence of other SNF1-dependent controls of glycogen storage. A genetic screen revealed that two genes involved in autophagy, APG1 and APG13, may be regulated by SNF1. Increased autophagic activity was observed in wild-type cells entering the stationary phase, but this induction was impaired in an snf1 strain. Mutants defective for autophagy were able to synthesize glycogen upon approaching the stationary phase, but were unable to maintain their glycogen stores, because subsequent synthesis was impaired and degradation by phosphorylase, Gph1p, was enhanced. Thus, deletion of GPH1 partially reversed the loss of glycogen accumulation in autophagy mutants. Loss of the vacuolar glucosidase, SGA1, also protected glycogen stores, but only very late in the stationary phase. Gph1p and Sga1p may therefore degrade physically distinct pools of glycogen. Pho85p is a cyclin-dependent protein kinase that antagonizes SNF1 control of glycogen synthesis. Induction of autophagy in pho85 mutants entering the stationary phase was exaggerated compared to the level in wild-type cells, but was blocked in apg1 pho85 mutants. We propose that Snf1p and Pho85p are, respectively, positive and negative regulators of autophagy, probably via Apg1 and/or Apg13. Defective glycogen storage in snf1 cells can be attributed to both defective synthesis upon entry into stationary phase and impaired maintenance of glycogen levels caused by the lack of autophagy.     

Mutations Causing Constitutive Invertase Synthesis in Yeast: Genetic Interactions with snf Mutations

We have selected 210 mutants able to grow on sucrose in the presence of 2-deoxyglucose. We identified recessive mutations in three major complementation groups that cause constitutive (glucose-insensitive) secreted invertase synthesis. Two groups comprise alleles of the previously identified HXK2 and REG1 genes, and the third group was designated cid1 (constitutive invertase derepression). The effect of cid1 on SUC2 expression is mediated by the SUC2 upstream regulatory region, as judged by the constitutive expression of a SUC2-LEU2-lacZ fusion in which the LEU2 promoter is under control of SUC2 upstream sequences. A cid1 mutation also causes glucose-insensitive expression of maltase. The previously isolated constitutive mutation ssn6 is epistatic to cid1, reg1 and hxk2 for very high level constitutive invertase expression. Mutations in SNF genes that prevent derepression of invertase are epistatic to cid1, reg1 and hxk2; we have previously shown that ssn6 has different epistasis relationships with snf mutations. The constitutive mutation tup1 was found to resemble ssn6 in its genetic interactions with snf mutations. These findings suggest that CID1, REG1 and HXK2 are functionally distinct from SSN6 and TUP1.