The Amino-terminal Domain of Desmoplakin Binds to Plakoglobin and Clusters Desmosomal Cadherin–Plakoglobin Complexes

The desmosome is a highly organized plasma membrane domain that couples intermediate filaments to the plasma membrane at regions of cell–cell adhesion. Desmosomes contain two classes of cadherins, desmogleins, and desmocollins, that bind to the cytoplasmic protein plakoglobin. Desmoplakin is a desmosomal component that plays a critical role in linking intermediate filament networks to the desmosomal plaque, and the amino-terminal domain of desmoplakin targets desmoplakin to the desmosome. However, the desmosomal protein(s) that bind the amino-terminal domain of desmoplakin have not been identified. To determine if the desmosomal cadherins and plakoglobin interact with the amino-terminal domain of desmoplakin, these proteins were co-expressed in L-cell fibroblasts, cells that do not normally express desmosomal components. When expressed in L-cells, the desmosomal cadherins and plakoglobin exhibited a diffuse distribution. However, in the presence of an amino-terminal desmoplakin polypeptide (DP-NTP), the desmosomal cadherins and plakoglobin were observed in punctate clusters that also contained DP-NTP. In addition, plakoglobin and DP-NTP were recruited to cell–cell interfaces in L-cells co-expressing a chimeric cadherin with the E-cadherin extracellular domain and the desmoglein-1 cytoplasmic domain, and these cells formed structures that were ultrastructurally similar to the outer plaque of the desmosome. In transient expression experiments in COS cells, the recruitment of DP-NTP to cell borders by the chimera required co-expression of plakoglobin. Plakoglobin and DP-NTP co-immunoprecipitated when extracted from L-cells, and yeast two hybrid analysis indicated that DP-NTP binds directly to plakoglobin but not Dsg1. These results identify a role for desmoplakin in organizing the desmosomal cadherin–plakoglobin complex and provide new insights into the hierarchy of protein interactions that occur in the desmosomal plaque.Desmosomes are highly organized adhesive intercellular junctions that couple intermediate filaments to the cell surface at sites of cell–cell adhesion (Farquhar and Palade, 1963; Staehelin, 1974; Schwarz et al., 1990; Garrod, 1993; Collins and Garrod, 1994; Cowin and Burke, 1996; Kowalczyk and Green, 1996). Desmosomes are prominent in tissues that experience mechanical stress, such as heart and epidermis, and the disruption of desmosomes or the intermediate filament system in these organs has devastating effects on tissue integrity (Steinert and Bale, 1993; Coulombe and Fuchs, 1994; Fuchs, 1994; McLean and Lane, 1995; Stanley, 1995; Bierkamp et al., 1996; Ruiz et al., 1996). Desmosomes are highly insoluble structures that can withstand harsh denaturing conditions (Skerrow and Matoltsy, 1974; Gorbsky and Steinberg, 1981; Jones et al., 1988; Schwarz et al., 1990). This property of desmosomes facilitated early identification of desmosomal components but has impaired subsequent biochemical analysis of the protein complexes that form between desmosomal components. Ultrastructurally, desmosomes contain a core region that includes the plasma membranes of adjacent cells and a cytoplasmic plaque that anchors intermediate filaments to the plasma membrane. The plaque can be further divided into an outer dense plaque subjacent to the plasma membrane and an inner dense plaque through which intermediate filaments appear to loop.Molecular genetic analysis has revealed that the desmosomal glycoproteins, the desmogleins and desmocollins, are members of the cadherin family of cell–cell adhesion molecules (for review see Buxton et al., 1993, 1994; Cowin and Mechanic, 1994; Kowalczyk et al., 1996). The classical cadherins, such as E-cadherin, mediate calcium-dependent, homophilic cell–cell adhesion (Nagafuchi et al., 1987). The mechanism by which the desmosomal cadherins mediate cell–cell adhesion remains elusive (Amagai et al., 1994; Chidgey et al., 1996; Kowalczyk et al., 1996), although heterophilic interactions have recently been detected between desmogleins and desmocollins (Chitaev and Troyanovsky, 1997). Both classes of the desmosomal cadherins associate with the cytoplasmic plaque protein plakoglobin (Kowalczyk et al., 1994; Mathur et al., 1994; Roh and Stanley, 1995b ; Troyanovsky et al., 1994), which is part of a growing family of proteins that share a repeated motif first identified in the Drosophila protein Armadillo (Peifer and Wieschaus, 1990). This multigene family also includes the desmosomal proteins band 6/plakophilin 1, plakophilin 2a and 2b, and p0071, which are now considered to comprise a subclass of the armadillo family of proteins (Hatzfeld et al., 1994; Heid et al., 1994; Schmidt et al., 1994; Hatzfeld and Nachtsheim, 1996; Mertens et al., 1996).The most abundant desmosomal plaque protein is desmoplakin, which is predicted to be a homodimer containing two globular end domains joined by a central α-helical coiled-coil rod domain (O''Keefe et al., 1989; Green et al., 1990; Virata et al., 1992). Previous studies have demonstrated that the carboxyl-terminal domain of desmoplakin interacts with intermediate filaments (Stappenbeck and Green, 1992; Stappenbeck et al., 1993; Kouklis et al., 1994; Meng et al., 1997), and the amino-terminal domain of desmoplakin is required for desmoplakin localization to the desmosomal plaque (Stappenbeck et al., 1993). Direct evidence supporting a role for desmoplakin in intermediate filament attachment to desmosomes was provided recently when expression of an amino-terminal polypeptide of desmoplakin was found to displace endogenous desmoplakin from cell borders and disrupt intermediate filament attachment to the cell surface in A431 epithelial cell lines (Bornslaeger et al., 1996).The classical cadherins, such as E-cadherin, bind directly to both β-catenin and plakoglobin (Aberle et al., 1994; Jou et al., 1995; for review see Cowin and Burke, 1996). β-Catenin is also an armadillo family member (McCrea et al., 1991; Peifer et al., 1992), and both plakoglobin and β-catenin bind directly to α-catenin (Aberle et al., 1994, 1996; Jou et al., 1995; Sacco et al., 1995; Obama and Ozawa, 1997). α-Catenin is a vinculin homologue (Nagafuchi et al., 1991) and associates with both α-actinin and actin (Knudson et al., 1995; Rimm et al., 1995; Nieset et al., 1997). Through interactions with β- and α-catenin, E-cadherin is coupled indirectly to the actin cytoskeleton, and this linkage is required for the adhesive activity of E-cadherin (Ozawa et al., 1990; Shimoyama et al., 1992). In addition, E-cadherin association with plakoglobin appears to be required for assembly of desmosomes (Lewis et al., 1997), underscoring the importance of E-cadherin in the overall program of intercellular junction assembly. However, the hierarchy of molecular interactions that couple the desmosomal cadherins to the intermediate filament cytoskeleton is largely unknown, although the desmocollin cytoplasmic domain appears to play an important role in recruiting components of the desmosomal plaque (Troyanovsky et al., 1993, 1994). Since desmosomal cadherins form complexes with plakoglobin and because the amino-terminal domain of desmoplakin is required for desmoplakin localization at desmosomes, we hypothesized that the amino-terminal domain of desmoplakin interacts with the desmosomal cadherin– plakoglobin complex.In previous studies, we used L-cell fibroblasts to characterize plakoglobin interactions with the cytoplasmic domains of the desmosomal cadherins and found that the desmosomal cadherins regulate plakoglobin metabolic stability (Kowalczyk et al., 1994) but do not mediate homophilic adhesion (Kowalczyk et al., 1996). To test the ability of the desmoplakin amino-terminal domain to interact with the desmosomal cadherin–plakoglobin complex, we established a series of L-cell lines expressing the desmosomal cadherins in the presence or absence of a desmoplakin amino-terminal polypeptide (DP-NTP).¹ The results indicate that one important function of the desmoplakin amino-terminal domain is to cluster desmosomal cadherin–plakoglobin complexes. In addition, DP-NTP and plakoglobin were found to form complexes that could be co-immunoprecipitated from L-cell lysates. Using the yeast two hybrid system, DP-NTP was found to bind directly to plakoglobin but not Dsg1. These data suggest that plakoglobin couples the amino-terminal domain of desmoplakin to the desmosomal cadherins and that desmoplakin plays an important role in organizing the desmosomal cadherin–plakoglobin complex into discrete plasma membrane domains.     

Ii Chain Controls the Transport of Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Molecules to and from Lysosomes

Major histocompatibility complex class II molecules are synthesized as a nonameric complex consisting of three αβ dimers associated with a trimer of invariant (Ii) chains. After exiting the TGN, a targeting signal in the Ii chain cytoplasmic domain directs the complex to endosomes where Ii chain is proteolytically processed and removed, allowing class II molecules to bind antigenic peptides before reaching the cell surface. Ii chain dissociation and peptide binding are thought to occur in one or more postendosomal sites related either to endosomes (designated CIIV) or to lysosomes (designated MIIC). We now find that in addition to initially targeting αβ dimers to endosomes, Ii chain regulates the subsequent transport of class II molecules. Under normal conditions, murine A20 B cells transport all of their newly synthesized class II I-A^b αβ dimers to the plasma membrane with little if any reaching lysosomal compartments. Inhibition of Ii processing by the cysteine/serine protease inhibitor leupeptin, however, blocked transport to the cell surface and caused a dramatic but selective accumulation of I-A^b class II molecules in lysosomes. In leupeptin, I-A^b dimers formed stable complexes with a 10-kD NH₂-terminal Ii chain fragment (Ii-p10), normally a transient intermediate in Ii chain processing. Upon removal of leupeptin, Ii-p10 was degraded and released, I-A^b dimers bound antigenic peptides, and the peptide-loaded dimers were transported slowly from lysosomes to the plasma membrane. Our results suggest that alterations in the rate or efficiency of Ii chain processing can alter the postendosomal sorting of class II molecules, resulting in the increased accumulation of αβ dimers in lysosome-like MIIC. Thus, simple differences in Ii chain processing may account for the highly variable amounts of class II found in lysosomal compartments of different cell types or at different developmental stages.The initiation of most immune responses requires antigen recognition by helper T lymphocytes. The antigen receptors on T cells can only recognize antigens as small peptides bound to major histocompatibility complex (MHC)¹ class II molecules at the surface of antigen presenting cells (Cresswell, 1994; Germain, 1994). The complexes between class II molecules and antigenic peptides are formed intracellularly somewhere along the endocytic pathway (Germain, 1994; Wolf and Ploegh, 1995). This process requires the internalization of protein antigen and its delivery to a site suitable for the generation of antigenic peptides. In addition, the peptides must be generated within, or transferred to, a site to which newly synthesized MHC class II molecules are delivered and rendered competent for peptide binding (Davidson et al., 1991).Invariant (Ii) chain plays a central role in controlling the intracellular transport of MHC class II (Cresswell, 1996). In the ER, Ii chain is synthesized as a trimer that complexes with three αβ dimers of MHC class II (Roche et al., 1991). Its NH₂-terminal cytoplasmic domain contains a wellknown targeting signal that directs class II–Ii chain complexes to endosomes after exit from the TGN (Bakke and Dobberstein, 1990; Lotteau et al., 1990; Neefjes et al., 1990; Odorizzi et al., 1994; Pieters et al., 1993). Once in endosomes, Ii chain is subjected to proteolysis by acid hydrolases (Roche and Cresswell, 1991). Degradation occurs in a stepwise fashion, resulting in the appearance of class II– bound NH₂-terminal intermediates containing the Ii chain cytoplasmic domain, membrane anchor, and parts of its luminal domain (Newcomb and Cresswell, 1993). The intermediates accumulate in the presence of protease inhibitors that interfere with Ii chain processing such as the serinecysteine protease inhibitor leupeptin, treatment with which can also block the transport of at least some class II haplotypes to the cell surface (Amigorena et al., 1995; Blum and Cresswell, 1988; Neefjes and Ploegh, 1992). How leupeptin inhibits surface appearance is unknown.In human cells, Ii chain degradation intermediates include a 21–22-kD fragment (designated LIP [leupeptininducible peptide]) and a 10–12-kD fragment (designated SLIP [small leupeptin-inducible peptide]) (Blum and Cresswell, 1988; Maric et al., 1994). In murine cells, only a 10– 12-kD fragment has been identified (Ii-p10) (Amigorena et al., 1995). Ii-p10 remains as a trimer associated with three αβ dimers and blocks the binding of antigenic peptides (Amigorena et al., 1995; Morton et al., 1995). It is thus likely that Ii-p10 includes a luminal region of Ii chain (designated CLIP) known to occupy the peptide binding groove of αβ dimers. Cleavage of Ii-p10 by a leupeptinsensitive protease causes its dissociation from αβ dimers, while leaving CLIP in the peptide binding groove. The removal of CLIP is favored at acidic pH but is additionally catalyzed by a second MHC gene product, HLA-DM (Sloan et al., 1995; Denzin and Cresswell, 1995; Karlsson et al., 1994; Roche, 1995). In mutant cells lacking HLA-DM, there is defective loading of antigenic peptides and the appearance of CLIP-αβ dimers on the plasma membrane (Mellins et al., 1994; Riberdy et al., 1992).The precise site(s) where these events occur remains unclear. In A20 B cells, a specialized population of endosome-like vesicles designated CIIV (for class II vesicles) represents a site through which a majority of newly synthesized class II molecules pass en route to the cell surface and a place where antigenic peptides bind αβ dimers of the I-A^d haplotype (Amigorena et al., 1994, 1995; Barnes and Mitchell, 1995). CIIV are physically distinct from the bulk of endosomes and lysosomes and contain at least some HLA-DM (Pierre et al., 1996). Despite the fact that most of the αβ dimers reaching CIIV are newly synthesized, CIIV contain little or no intact Ii chain (Amigorena et al., 1995). Thus, Ii chain–αβ complexes first may be delivered to endosomes where Ii chain is cleaved before being delivered to CIIV. That peptide loading can occur in CIIV has been demonstrated by experiments showing that leupeptin causes CIIV to transiently accumulate Ii-p10– containing complexes, which can then bind peptide (Amigorena et al., 1995).In human Epstein-Barr virus–transformed B lymphoblasts, most class II molecules have been localized to structures collectively designated MIIC (for MHC class II compartment) (Peters et al., 1991; Tulp et al., 1994; West et al., 1994). MIICs differ from CIIVs in that the latter contain endosomal but not lysosomal markers, while MIICs have most or all of the features of lysosomes (Peters et al., 1991, 1995; Pierre et al., 1996). Interestingly, the distribution of class II between endosomal (CIIV) and lysosomal (MIIC) compartments varies widely among cell types. Since lysosomes are classically defined as terminal degradative organelles (Kornfeld and Mellman, 1989), such variations may reflect differences in the rates at which class II is turned over in different cell types. On the other hand, MIICs also contain the bulk of HLA-DM and can host the loading of antigenic peptides onto class II molecules (Sanderson et al., 1994). The extent to which these complexes escape degradation and reach the cell surface is unclear. Nor is it at all clear how different cell types regulate the intracellular distribution of class II molecules between early and late endocytic compartments.We now show that murine A20 cells expressing endogenous I-A^d and transfected I-A^b normally localize little class II in lysosomes. Selective lysosomal accumulation of I-A^b αβ dimers can be induced after leupeptin treatment. Interestingly, I-A^b dimers, but not I-A^d dimers, are induced by leupeptin to form stable complexes with Ii-p10. Upon removal of the inhibitor, the Ii-p10 was removed and class II molecules were slowly transported from lysosomes to the cell surface. Thus, the rate of dissociation of Ii chain intermediates can regulate whether newly synthesized class II molecules are transported to the plasma membrane or to lysosomes.     

Tyrosine Phosphorylation at a Site Highly Conserved in the L1 Family of Cell Adhesion Molecules Abolishes Ankyrin Binding and Increases Lateral Mobility of Neurofascin

This paper presents evidence that a member of the L1 family of ankyrin-binding cell adhesion molecules is a substrate for protein tyrosine kinase(s) and phosphatase(s), identifies the highly conserved FIGQY tyrosine in the cytoplasmic domain as the principal site of phosphorylation, and demonstrates that phosphorylation of the FIGQY tyrosine abolishes ankyrin-binding activity. Neurofascin expressed in neuroblastoma cells is subject to tyrosine phosphorylation after activation of tyrosine kinases by NGF or bFGF or inactivation of tyrosine phosphatases with vanadate or dephostatin. Furthermore, both neurofascin and the related molecule Nr-CAM are tyrosine phosphorylated in a developmentally regulated pattern in rat brain. The FIGQY sequence is present in the cytoplasmic domains of all members of the L1 family of neural cell adhesion molecules. Phosphorylation of the FIGQY tyrosine abolishes ankyrin binding, as determined by coimmunoprecipitation of endogenous ankyrin and in vitro ankyrin-binding assays. Measurements of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching demonstrate that phosphorylation of the FIGQY tyrosine also increases lateral mobility of neurofascin expressed in neuroblastoma cells to the same extent as removal of the cytoplasmic domain. Ankyrin binding, therefore, appears to regulate the dynamic behavior of neurofascin and is the target for regulation by tyrosine phosphorylation in response to external signals. These findings suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation at the FIGQY site represents a highly conserved mechanism, used by the entire class of L1-related cell adhesion molecules, for regulation of ankyrin-dependent connections to the spectrin skeleton.Vertebrate L1, neurofascin, neuroglial cell adhesion molecule (Ng-CAM),¹ Ng-CAM–related cell adhesion molecule (Nr-CAM), and Drosophila neuroglian are members of a family of nervous system cell adhesion molecules that possess variable extracellular domains comprised of Ig and fibronectin type III domains and a relatively conserved cytoplasmic domain (Grumet, 1991; Hortsch and Goodman, 1991; Rathgen and Jessel, 1991; Sonderegger and Rathgen, 1992; Hortsch, 1996). Members of this family, including a number of alternatively spliced forms, are abundant in the nervous system during early development as well as in adults. Neurofascin and Nr-CAM, for example, constitute ∼0.5% of the total membrane protein in adult brain (Davis et al., 1993; Davis and Bennett, 1994). Cellular functions attributed to the L1 family include axon fasciculation (Stallcup and Beasley, 1985; Landmesser et al., 1988; Brummendorf and Rathjen, 1993; Bastmeyer et al., 1995; Itoh et al., 1995; Magyar-Lehmann et al., 1995), axonal guidance (van den Pol and Kim, 1993; Liljelund et al., 1994; Brittis and Silver, 1995; Brittis et al., 1995; Lochter et al., 1995; Wong et al., 1996), neurite extension (Chang et al., 1987; Felsenfeld et al., 1994; Hankin and Lagenaur, 1994; Ignelzi et al., 1994; Williams et al., 1994a ,b,c,d; Doherty et al., 1995; Zhao and Siu, 1995), a role in long term potentiation (Luthl et al., 1994), synaptogenesis (Itoh et al., 1995), and myelination (Wood et al., 1990). The potential clinical importance of this group of proteins has been emphasized by the findings that mutations in the L1 gene on the X chromosome are responsible for developmental anomalies including hydrocephalus and mental retardation (Rosenthal et al., 1992; Jouet et al., 1994; Wong et al., 1995).The conserved cytoplasmic domains of L1 family members include a binding site for the membrane skeletal protein ankyrin. This interaction was first described for neurofascin (Davis et. al., 1993) and subsequently has been observed for L1, Nr-CAM (Davis and Bennett, 1994), and Drosophila neuroglian (Dubreuil et al., 1996). The membrane-binding domain of ankyrin contains two distinct sites for neurofascin and has the potential to promote lateral association of neurofascin and presumably other L1 family members (Michaely and Bennett, 1995). Nodes of Ranvier are physiologically relevant axonal sites where ankyrin and L1 family members collaborate, based on findings of colocalization of a specialized isoform of ankyrin with alternatively spliced forms of neurofascin and NrCAM in adults (Davis et al., 1996) as well as in early axonal developmental intermediates (Lambert, S., J. Davis, P. Michael, and V. Bennett. 1995. Mol. Biol. Cell. 6:98a).L1, after homophilic and/or heterophilic binding, participates in signal transduction pathways that ultimately are associated with neurite extension and outgrowth (Ignelzi et al., 1994; Williams et al., 1994a ,b,c,d; Doherty et al., 1995). L1 copurifies with a serine–threonine protein kinase (Sadoul et al., 1989) and is phosphorylated on a serine residue that is not conserved among other family members (Wong et al., 1996). L1 pathway(s) may also involve G proteins, calcium channels, and tyrosine phosphorylation (Williams et al., 1994a ,b,c,d; Doherty et al., 1995). After homophilic interactions, L1 directly activates a tyrosine signaling cascade after a lateral association of its ectodomain with the fibroblast growth factor receptor (Doherty et al., 1995). Antibodies against L1 have also been shown to activate protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in growth cones (Klinz et al., 1995). However, details of the downstream substrates of L1-promoted phosphorylation and dephosphorylation and possible roles of the cytoplasmic domain are not known.Tyrosine phosphorylation is well established to modulate cell–cell and cell–extracellular matrix interactions involving integrins and their associated proteins (Akiyama et al., 1994; Arroyo et al., 1994; Schlaepfer et al., 1994; Law et al., 1996) as well as the cadherins (Balsamo et al., 1996; Krypta et al., 1996; Brady-Kalnay et al., 1995; Shibamoto et al., 1995; Hoschuetzky et al., 1994; Matsuyoshi et al., 1992). For example, the adhesive functions of the calciumdependent cadherin cell adhesion molecule are mediated by a dynamic balance between tyrosine phosphorylation of β-catenin by TrkA and dephosphorylation via the LARtype protein tyrosine phosphatase (Krypta et al., 1996). In this example the regulation of binding among the structural proteins is the result of a coordination between classes of protein kinases and protein phosphatases.This study presents evidence that neurofascin, expressed in a rat neuroblastoma cell line, is a substrate for both tyrosine kinases and protein tyrosine phosphatases at a tyrosine residue conserved among all members of the L1 family. Site-specific tyrosine phosphorylation promoted by both tyrosine kinase activators (NGF and bFGF) and protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors (dephostatin and vanadate) is a strong negative regulator of the neurofascin– ankyrin binding interaction and modulates the membrane dynamic behavior of neurofascin. Furthermore, neurofascin and, to a lesser extent Nr-CAM, are also shown here to be tyrosine phosphorylated in developing rat brain, implying a physiological relevance to this phenomenon. These results indicate that neurofascin may be a target for the coordinate control over phosphorylation that is elicited by protein kinases and phosphatases during in vivo tyrosine phosphorylation cascades. The consequent decrease in ankyrin-binding capacity due to phosphorylation of neurofascin could represent a general mechanism among the L1 family members for regulation of membrane–cytoskeletal interactions in both developing and adult nervous systems.     

A Small Conserved Domain in the Yeast Spa2p Is Necessary and Sufficient for Its Polarized Localization

SPA2 encodes a yeast protein that is one of the first proteins to localize to sites of polarized growth, such as the shmoo tip and the incipient bud. The dynamics and requirements for Spa2p localization in living cells are examined using Spa2p green fluorescent protein fusions. Spa2p localizes to one edge of unbudded cells and subsequently is observable in the bud tip. Finally, during cytokinesis Spa2p is present as a ring at the mother–daughter bud neck. The bud emergence mutants bem1 and bem2 and mutants defective in the septins do not affect Spa2p localization to the bud tip. Strikingly, a small domain of Spa2p comprised of 150 amino acids is necessary and sufficient for localization to sites of polarized growth. This localization domain and the amino terminus of Spa2p are essential for its function in mating. Searching the yeast genome database revealed a previously uncharacterized protein which we name, Sph1p (Spa2p homolog), with significant homology to the localization domain and amino terminus of Spa2p. This protein also localizes to sites of polarized growth in budding and mating cells. SPH1, which is similar to SPA2, is required for bipolar budding and plays a role in shmoo formation. Overexpression of either Spa2p or Sph1p can block the localization of either protein fused to green fluorescent protein, suggesting that both Spa2p and Sph1p bind to and are localized by the same component. The identification of a 150–amino acid domain necessary and sufficient for localization of Spa2p to sites of polarized growth and the existence of this domain in another yeast protein Sph1p suggest that the early localization of these proteins may be mediated by a receptor that recognizes this small domain.Polarized cell growth and division are essential cellular processes that play a crucial role in the development of eukaryotic organisms. Cell fate can be determined by cell asymmetry during cell division (Horvitz and Herskowitz, 1992; Cohen and Hyman, 1994; Rhyu and Knoblich, 1995). Consequently, the molecules involved in the generation and maintenance of cell asymmetry are important in the process of cell fate determination. Polarized growth can occur in response to external signals such as growth towards a nutrient (Rodriguez-Boulan and Nelson, 1989; Eaton and Simons, 1995) or hormone (Jackson and Hartwell, 1990a , b ; Segall, 1993; Keynes and Cook, 1995) and in response to internal signals as in Caenorhabditis elegans (Goldstein et al., 1993; Kimble, 1994; Priess, 1994) and Drosophila melanogaster (St Johnston and Nusslein-Volhard, 1992; Anderson, 1995) early development. Saccharomyces cerevisiae undergo polarized growth towards an external cue during mating and to an internal cue during budding. Polarization towards a mating partner (shmoo formation) and towards a new bud site requires a number of proteins (Chenevert, 1994; Chant, 1996; Drubin and Nelson, 1996). Many of these proteins are necessary for both processes and are localized to sites of polarized growth, identified by the insertion of new cell wall material (Tkacz and Lampen, 1972; Farkas et al., 1974; Lew and Reed, 1993) to the shmoo tip, bud tip, and mother–daughter bud neck. In yeast, proteins localized to growth sites include cytoskeletal proteins (Adams and Pringle, 1984; Kilmartin and Adams, 1984; Ford, S.K., and J.R. Pringle. 1986. Yeast. 2:S114; Drubin et al., 1988; Snyder, 1989; Snyder et al., 1991; Amatruda and Cooper, 1992; Lew and Reed, 1993; Waddle et al., 1996), neck filament components (septins) (Byers and Goetsch, 1976; Kim et al., 1991; Ford and Pringle, 1991; Haarer and Pringle, 1987; Longtine et al., 1996), motor proteins (Lillie and Brown, 1994), G-proteins (Ziman, 1993; Yamochi et al., 1994; Qadota et al., 1996), and two membrane proteins (Halme et al., 1996; Roemer et al., 1996; Qadota et al., 1996). Septins, actin, and actin-associated proteins localize early in the cell cycle, before a bud or shmoo tip is recognizable. How this group of proteins is localized to and maintained at sites of cell growth remains unclear.Spa2p is one of the first proteins involved in bud formation to localize to the incipient bud site before a bud is recognizable (Snyder, 1989; Snyder et al., 1991; Chant, 1996). Spa2p has been localized to where a new bud will form at approximately the same time as actin patches concentrate at this region (Snyder et al., 1991). An understanding of how Spa2p localizes to incipient bud sites will shed light on the very early stages of cell polarization. Later in the cell cycle, Spa2p is also found at the mother–daughter bud neck in cells undergoing cytokinesis. Spa2p, a nonessential protein, has been shown to be involved in bud site selection (Snyder, 1989; Zahner et al., 1996), shmoo formation (Gehrung and Snyder, 1990), and mating (Gehrung and Snyder, 1990; Chenevert et al., 1994; Yorihuzi and Ohsumi, 1994; Dorer et al., 1995). Genetic studies also suggest that Spa2p has a role in cytokinesis (Flescher et al., 1993), yet little is known about how this protein is localized to sites of polarized growth.We have used Spa2p green fluorescent protein (GFP)¹ fusions to investigate the early localization of Spa2p to sites of polarized growth in living cells. Our results demonstrate that a small domain of ∼150 amino acids of this large 1,466-residue protein is sufficient for targeting to sites of polarized growth and is necessary for Spa2p function. Furthermore, we have identified and characterized a novel yeast protein, Sph1p, which has homology to both the Spa2p amino terminus and the Spa2p localization domain. Sph1p localizes to similar regions of polarized growth and sph1 mutants have similar phenotypes as spa2 mutants.