Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of mutant alleles of the fission yeast cdc2 protein kinase gene: Implications for cdc2+ protein structure and function

Summary The cdc2 ⁺ gene function plays a central role in the control of the mitotic cell cycle of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Recessive temperature-sensitive mutations in the cdc2 gene cause cell cycle arrest when shifted to the restrictive temperature, while a second class of mutations within the cdc2 gene causes a premature advancement into mitosis. Previously the cdc2 ⁺ gene has been cloned and has been shown to encode a 34 kDa phosphoprotein with in vitro protein kinase activity. Here we describe the cloning of 11 mutant alleles of the cdc2 gene using two simple methods, one of which is presented here for the first time. We have sequenced these alleles and find a variety of single amino acid substitutions mapping throughtout the cdc2 protein. Analysis of these mutations has identified a number of regions within the cdc2 protein that are important for cdc2 ⁺ activity and regulation. These include regions which may be involved in the interaction of the cdc2 ⁺ gene product with the proteins encoded by the wee1 ⁺, cdc13 ⁺ and suc1 ⁺ genes.     

Mutational analysis of the fission yeast p34cdc2 protein kinase gene

Summary The p34^cdc2 protein serine-threonine kinase plays an essential role in the life cycle of fission yeast, being required for both the G1-S and G2-M transitions during mitotic growth, and also for the second meiotic nuclear division. Functional homologues of p34^cdc2 (each ca. 60 % identical to the fission yeast prototype) have been isolated from organisms as diverse as humans, insects and plants, and there is now considerable evidence supporting the view that fundamental aspects of the cell cycle controls uncovered in fission yeast will prove to be conserved in all eukaryotes. By comparing the amino acid sequences of fission yeast p34^cdc2 with its higher eukaryotic counterparts it is possible to identify conserved residues that are likely to be centrally important for p34^cdc2 function. Here the effects are described of mutating a number of these conserved residues. Twenty-three new mutant alleles have been constructed and tested. We show that replacing cysteine 67 with trypthophan renders the resulting mutant protein p80^cdc25-independent (while neither leucine, isoleucine nor valine has this effect) and that several of the amino acids within the highly conserved PSTAIRE region are not absolutely required for p34^cdc2 function. Five acidic amino acids have also been mutated within p34^cdc2, which are invariant across the eukaryotic protein kinase family. Acid-to-base mutations at three of these residues resulted in a dominant-negative, cell cycle arrest phenotype while similar mutations at the other two simply abolished p34^cdc2 protein function. The results are discussed with reference to the predicted tertiary structure of the p34^cdc2 enzyme.     

p 34cdc2 kinase homologue in the preprophase band

Summary Immunofluorescence microscopy with a monoclonal antibody raised against the PSTAIR sequence, which corresponds to a peptide conserved in the p 34^cdc2 protein kinase throughout the phylogenetic scale including higher plants, was used to study the intracellular localization of p 34^cdc2 during the cell cycle in onion root tip cells. Although p 34^cdc2 was evenly distributed in the cytoplasm throughout the cell cycle, a more intense staining was observed in the cortical region, where the preprophase band of microtubules (MTs) was located. Double staining with the PSTAIR and plant tubulin antibodies showed that the width of p 34^cdc2 band was narrower than that of MT band. These data raise the interesting question regarding the possible role of p 34^cdc2 protein kinase in determining the division site in plant cells.     

Identification of the DNA damage-responsive elements of therhp51+ gene, arecA andRAD51 homolog from the fission yeastSchizosaccharomyces pombe

TheSchizosaccharomyces pombe rhp51 ⁺ gene encodes a recombinational repair protein that shares significant sequence identities with the bacterial RecA and theSaccharomyces cerevisiae RAD51 protein. Levels ofrhp51 ⁺ mRNA increase following several types of DNA damage or inhibition of DNA synthesis. Anrhp51::ura4 fusion gene was used to identify the cis-acting promoter elements involved in regulatingrhp51 ⁺ expression in response to DNA damage. Two elements, designated DRE1 and DRE2 (fordamage-responsiveelement), match a decamer consensus URS (upstream repressing sequence) found in the promoters of many other DNA repair and metabolism genes fromS. cerevisiae. However, our results show that DRE1 and DRE2 each function as a UAS (upstream activating sequence) rather than a URS and are also required for DNA-damage inducibility of the gene. A 20-bp fragment located downstream of both DRE1 and DRE2 is responsible for URS function. The DRE1 and DRE2 elements cross-competed for binding to two proteins of 45 and 59 kDa. DNase I footprint analysis suggests that DRE1 and DRE2 bind to the same DNA-binding proteins. These results suggest that the DRE-binding proteins may play an important role in the DNA-damage inducibility ofrhp51 ⁺ expression.     

Fission yeast sta mutations that stabilize an unstable minichromosome are novel cdc2-interacting suppressors and are involved in regulation of spindle dynamics

Cytological observations have shown that the presence of unstable minichromosomes can delay progression through the early stages of mitosis in fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe), suggesting that such minichromosomes may provide a useful tool for examining the system that regulates the coordinated segregation of chromosomes. One such unstable minichromosome is a large circular minichromosome. We previously showed that the mitotic instability of this minichromosome is probably due to the frequent occurrence of catenated forms of DNA after replication. To identify genes involved in the regulation of chromosome behavior in mitosis, we isolated mutants which stabilized this minichromosome. Three loci (stal, sta2, and sta3) were identified. Two of them were found to be suppressors of temperature-sensitive mutations in cdc2, which encodes the catalytic subunit of muturation promoting factor (MPF). They show no linkage to, and are thus different from, sucl, and cdc13, previously identified as genes that interact with cdc2. The other mutation mapped to a gene previously identified as being required for the correct formation of the mitotic spindle. Data provided in this study suggest that the sta genes are involved in the regulation of spindle dynamics to ensure proper chromosome segregation during mitosis.     

The amiloride resistance gene, car1, of Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Amiloride, an inhibitor of various sodium transporters, is toxic to Schizosaccharomyces pombe at low concentration in minimal but not in rich media. Amiloride-resistant mutants were isolated and shown to represent a new locus (car1 for changed amiloride resistance) on chromosome I. The carl gene was cloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame of 526 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 58 545 Da. It has 52% hydrophobic residues and belongs to the class of 12-transmembrane-domain transport proteins. Gene disruption of carl results in increased amiloride resistance. earl has sequence similarity to proteins from Candida associated with resistance to benomyl, methotrexate and cycloheximide. No single physiologically identifiable component of sodium transport appeared to be lost. We propose that earl serves an uptake function, perhaps as a symport with an unknown substrate and this carrier may transport amiloride into the cell. Further, we suggest that amiloride toxicity at low concentrations is not due to its effect on sodium transport but, rather, depends on intracellular interference with an unknown biosynthetic pathway.     

Genetic analysis of human p34CDC2 function in fission yeast

The p34^cdc2 protein kinase plays a key role in the control of the mitotic cell cycle of fission yeast, being required for both entry into S-phase and for entry into mitosis in the mitotic cell cycle, as well as for the initiation of the second meiotic nuclear division. In recent years, structural and functional homologues of p34^cdc2, as well as several of the proteins that interact with and regulate p34^cdc2 function in fission yeast, have been identified in a wide range of higher eukaryotic cell types, suggesting that the control mechanisms uncovered in this simple eukaryote are likely to be well conserved across evolution. Here we describe the construction and characterisation of a fission yeast strain in which the endogenous p34^cdc2 protein is entirely absent and is replaced by its human functional homologue p34^CDC2, We have used this strain to analyse aspects of the function of the human p34^CDC2 protein genetically. We show that the function of the human p34^CDC2 protein in fission yeast cells is dependent upon the action of the protein tyrosine phosphatase p80^cdc25 that it responds to altered levels of both the mitotic inhibitor p107²³³¹ and the p34^cdc2-binding protein p13^suc1, and is lethal in combination with the mutant B-type cyclin p56^cdc13-117. In addition, we demonstrate that the human p34^CDC2 protein is proficient for fission yeast meiosis, and examine the behaviour of two mutant p34^CDC2 proteins in fission yeast.     

Sea urchin fertilization stimulates CaM kinase-II (multifunctional [type II] Ca2+/CaM kinase) activity and association with p34cdc2

Upon fertilization, the sea urchin egg synthesizes proteins which impart a Ca²⁺ dependence to M-phase onset. A potential target of this Ca²⁺ dependence may be CaM kinase-II (the multifunctional [type II] Ca²⁺/calmodulin [CaM]-dependent protein kinase) which is necessary for nuclear envelope breakdown in fertilized sea urchin eggs. This study was intended to determine whether sea urchin CaMK-II is activated after fertilization and whether it interacts with other known M-phase regulators, such as p34^cdc2. We report that total CaMK-II activity, measured by solution assays, increases after fertilization, peaking just prior to cleavage. Interestingly, total CaMK-II activity continues to fluctuate, peaking again prior to second and third cleavage. Gel assays also reveal enhanced levels of the 56 and 62 kDa potential CaMK-II phosphoproteins after fertilization. Finally, CaMK-II activity and only the 62 kDa phosphoprotein physically associate with p34^cdc2, but again only after fertilization. These changes in CaMK-II activity and p34^cdc2-association after fertilization may ensure that Ca²⁺ signals are targeted to the M-phase machinery at the appropriate developmental times.     

Theste13+ gene encoding a putative RNA helicase is essential for nitrogen starvation-induced G1 arrest and initiation of sexual development in the fission yeastSchizosaccharomyces pombe

When the fission yeastSchizosaccharomyces pombe is starved for nitrogen, the cells are arrested in the G1 phase, enter the G0 phase and initiate sexual development. Theste13 mutant, however, fails to undergo a G1 arrest when starved for nitrogen and since this mutant phenotype is not suppressed by a mutation in adenylyl cyclase (cyr1), it would appear thatste13 ⁺ either acts independently of the decrease in the cellular cAMP level induced by starvation for nitrogen, or functions downstream of this controlling event. We have used functional complementation to clone theste13 ⁺ gene from anS. pombe genomic library and show that its disruption is not lethal, indicating that, while the gene is required for sexual development, it is not essential for cell growth. Nucleotide sequencing predicts thatste13 ⁺ should encode a protein of 485 amino acids in which the consensus motifs of ATP-dependent RNA helicases of the DEAD box family are completely conserved. Point mutations introduced into these consensus motifs abolished theste13 ⁺ functions. The predicted Ste13 protein is 72% identical to theDrosophila melanogaster Me31B protein over a stretch of 391 amino acids. ME31B is a developmentally regulated gene that is expressed preferentially in the female germline and may be required for oogenesis. Expression of ME31B cDNA inS. pombe suppresses theste13 mutation. These two evolutionarily conserved genes encoding putative RNA helicases may play a pivotal role in sexual development.     

Isolation and initial characterization of a Schizosaccharomyces pombe mutant exhibiting temperature-dependent radiation sensitivity due to a mutation in a previously unidentified rad locus

Summary We have isolated a mutant of the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe which exhibits sensitivity to UV light when grown at either 30° or 37°C, as compared to the parental wild-type strain. This increased sensitivity is more pronounced when cells are grown at 37°C. The mutant is also sensitive to 18 MeV electrons at the high temperature. Tetrad analysis of spores generated by crossing the mutant and a Rad⁺ strain revealed that sensitivity to both types of radiation cosegregate 2:2, relative to wild-type resistance, indicating that a single altered chromosomal locus is responsible for the radiation sensitivities observed. In addition, analysis of spores resulting from crosses between the mutant and all other known S. pombe rad mutants indicates that the temperature-dependent sensitivity described in this report is mediated by a mutation in a previously unidentified rad locus.     

The Hermes transposon of Musca domestica and its use as a mutagen of Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Transposon mutagenesis allows for the discovery and characterization of genes by creating mutations that can be easily mapped and sequenced. Moreover, this method allows for a relatively unbiased approach to isolating genes of interest. Recently, a system of transposon based mutagenesis for Schizosaccharomyces pombe became available. This mutagenesis relies on Hermes, a DNA transposon from the house fly that readily integrates into the chromosomes of S. pombe. The Hermes system is distinct from the retrotransposons of S. pombe because it efficiently integrates into open reading frames. To mutagenize S. pombe, cells are transformed with a plasmid that contains a drug resistance marker flanked by the terminal inverted repeats of Hermes. The Hermes transposase expressed from a second plasmid excises the resistance marker with the inverted repeats and inserts this DNA into chromosomal sites. After S. pombe with these two plasmids grow 25 generations, approximately 2% of the cells contain insertions. Of the cells with insertions, 68% contain single integration events. The protocols listed here provide the detailed information necessary to mutagenize a strain of interest, screen for specific phenotypes, and sequence the positions of insertion.     

Effect of Mg2+ concentrations on phosphorylation/activation of phosphorylase b kinase by cAMP/Ca2+-independent, autophosphorylation-dependent protein kinase

In a previous report (Yu and Yang,Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 207, 140–147 (1995)], phosphorylase b kinase from rabbit skeletal muscle was found to be phosphorylated and activated by a cyclic nucleotide- and Ca²⁺-independent protein kinase previously identified as an autophosphorylation-dependent multifunctional protein kinase (autokinase) from brain and liver (Yanget al, J. Biol. Chem. 262, 7034–7040, 9421–9427 (1987)]. In this report, the effect of Mg²⁺ ion concentration on the auto-kinase-catalyzed activation of phosphorylase b kinase is investigated. The levels of phosphorylation and activation of phosphorylase b kinase catalyzed by auto-kinase are found to be dependent on the concentration of Mg²⁺ ion used. Phosphorylation of phosphorylase b kinase at high Mg²⁺ ion (>9 mM) is 2–3 times higher than that observed at low Mg²⁺ ion (1 mM) and this results in a further 2- to 3-fold activation of the enzyme activity at high Mg²⁺ ion. Analysis of the phosphorylation stoichiometry of and subunits of phosphorylase b kinase at different Mg²⁺ ion concentrations further reveals that the phosphorylation level of the subunit remains almost unchanged, whereas the phosphorylation level of the subunit increases dramatically and correlates with the increased enzyme activity. In similarity with the subunit, phosphorylations of myelin basic protein and histone 2A by auto-kinase are also unaffected by Mg²⁺ ion. Taken together, the results provide initial evidence that Mg²⁺ ion may specifically render thea subunit a better substrate for auto-kinase to cause further phosphorylation/activation of phosphorylase b kinase, representing a new mode of control mechanism for the regulation of auto-kinase involved in the phosphorylation and concurrent activation of phosphorylase b kinase.     

A Drosophila gene encoding a DEAD box RNA helicase can suppress loss of wee1/mik1 function in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

We describe a screen to isolate cDNAs encoding Drosophila mitosis inhibitors capable of suppressing the mitotic catastrophe phenotype resulting in Schizosaccharomyces pombe from the combination of the weel-50 mutation with either a deletion allele of mil1, or with overexpression of cdc25 ⁺. One plasmid was isolated which could suppress the temperature sensitive lethality of both these strains. The cDNA in this plasmid encodes a protein highly homologous to the DEAD-box family of ATP-dependent RNA helicases, rather than to protein kinases as might be expected. It is possible that the RNA helicase described here may regulate entry into mitosis by down regulating the expression of other genes whose activity may be rate-limiting for entry into mitosis.     

Sid2p, a spindle pole body kinase that regulates the onset of cytokinesis.

The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe divides by medial fission through the use of an actomyosin contractile ring. Precisely at the end of anaphase, the ring begins to constrict and the septum forms. Proper coordination of cell division with mitosis is crucial to ensure proper segregation of chromosomes to daughter cells. The Sid2p kinase is one of several proteins that function as part of a novel signaling pathway required for initiation of medial ring constriction and septation. Here, we show that Sid2p is a component of the spindle pole body at all stages of the cell cycle and localizes transiently to the cell division site during medial ring constriction and septation. A medial ring and an intact microtubule cytoskeleton are required for the localization of Sid2p to the division site. We have established an in vitro assay for measuring Sid2p kinase activity, and found that Sid2p kinase activity peaks during medial ring constriction and septation. Both Sid2p localization to the division site and activity depend on the function of all of the other septation initiation genes: cdc7, cdc11, cdc14, sid1, spg1, and sid4. Thus, Sid2p, a component of the spindle pole body, by virtue of its transient localization to the division site, appears to determine the timing of ring constriction and septum delivery in response to activating signals from other Sid gene products.