The Novel Fission Yeast (1,3)Β-D-Glucan Synthase Catalytic

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Novel Fission Yeast (1,3)Β-D-Glucan Synthase Catalytic Research Article 157 The novel fission yeast (1,3)β-D-glucan synthase catalytic subunit Bgs4p is essential during both cytokinesis and polarized growth Juan Carlos G. Cortés1, Elena Carnero1, Junpei Ishiguro2, Yolanda Sánchez1, Angel Durán1 and Juan Carlos Ribas1,* 1Instituto de Microbiología Bioquímica and Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) / Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain 2Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Okamoto 8-9-1, Kobe 658-8501, Japan *Author for correspondence (e-mail: [email protected]) Accepted 7 October 2004 Journal of Cell Science 118, 157-174 Published by The Company of Biologists 2005 doi:10.1242/jcs.01585 Summary Schizosaccharomyces pombe contains four putative (1,3)β- germination. Bgs4p timing and requirements for proper D-glucan synthase (GS) catalytic subunits, Bgs1p-4p. In positioning during cytokinesis and its localization pattern this work, we cloned bgs4+ and show that Bgs4p is the only during spore maturation differ from those of Bgs1p. Bgs4p subunit found to be a part of the GS enzyme and essential localizes overlapping the contractile ring once Bgs1p is for maintaining cell integrity during cytokinesis and present and a Calcofluor white-stained septum material is polarized growth. Here we show that bgs4+, cwg1+ (cwg1-1 detected, suggesting that Bgs4p is involved in a late process shows reduced cell-wall β-glucan and GS catalytic activity) of secondary or general septum synthesis. Unlike Bgs1p, and orb11+ (orb11-59 is defective in cell morphogenesis) are Bgs4p needs the medial ring but not the septation initiation the same gene. bgs4+ is essential for spore germination and network proteins to localize with the other septation bgs4+ shut-off produces cell lysis at growing poles and components. Furthermore, Bgs4p localization depends on mainly at the septum prior to cytokinesis, suggesting that the polarity establishment proteins. Finally, F-actin is Bgs4p is essential for cell wall growth and to compensate necessary for Bgs4p delocalization from and relocalization for an excess of cell wall degradation during cytokinesis. to the growing regions, but it is not needed for the stable Shut-off and overexpression analysis suggest that Bgs4p maintenance of Bgs4p at the growing sites, poles and forms part of a GS catalytic multiprotein complex and that septum. All these data show for the first time an essential Journal of Cell Science Bgs4p-promoted cell-wall β-glucan alterations induce role for a Bgs subunit in the synthesis of a (1,3)β-D-glucan compensatory mechanisms from other Bgs subunits necessary to preserve cell integrity when cell wall synthesis and (1,3)α-D-glucan synthase. Physiological localization or repair are needed. studies showed that Bgs4p localizes to the growing ends, the medial ring and septum, and at each stage of wall synthesis or remodeling that occurs during sexual differentiation: Key words: Cell integrity, Cell wall, Cytokinesis, Fission yeast, mating, zygote and spore formation, and spore Glucan, (1,3)-β-D-Glucan Synthase Introduction (Schmidt et al., 2002), and flanked at both sides by the The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe provides an secondary septum. Once the septum has formed, cell division ideal model to study cell morphogenesis (Brunner and Nurse, proceeds by dissolution of the primary septum (Martin- 2000). The cells are cylindrical and grow from their ends in a Cuadrado et al., 2003). polarized fashion (Chang and Peter, 2003; Hayles and Nurse, The S. pombe cell wall is a well-organized structure 2001). Genetic studies have identified many genes important consisting of an outer layer enriched in glycoproteins and an for the different steps of cytokinesis, a process similar to that inner layer of carbohydrates, including (1,3)β-D-, (1,6)β-D- in animal cells, such as the positioning and assembly of the and (1,3)α-D-glucans (for a review, see Duran and Perez, actomyosin ring, the recruitment of actin patches to the medial 2004; Perez and Ribas, 2004). (1,3)β-D-glucan is the major ring and the activation of ring contraction by a network of contributor to the cell wall framework. In situ localization regulatory proteins referred to as the septation initiation studies (Humbel et al., 2001) have indicated that (1,6)β-D- network (SIN) (Balasubramanian et al., 2004; Guertin et al., branched (1,3)β-D-glucan is localized, forming filamentous 2002; Krapp et al., 2004). Centripetal ring contraction and structures all over the cell wall non-dense layer and throughout septum synthesis are perfectly coordinated, resulting in a three- the septum; (1,6)β-D-glucan appears in the same cell wall non- layered septum structure between the membranes of both dense layer and in the secondary septum, whereas linear daughter cells that is composed of a middle disk structure (1,3)β-D-glucan is only present at the primary septum. called the primary septum, analogous to that of budding yeast The enzyme complex involved in (1,3)β-D-glucan synthesis 158 Journal of Cell Science 118 (1) in yeast is (1,3)β-D-glucan synthase (GS). It is formed by at positioning during septum formation as well as the localization least two components: a regulatory and a catalytic subunit pattern during spore maturation differ from those of Bgs1p. All (Kang and Cabib, 1986; Ribas et al., 1991). The regulatory the above data suggest that Bgs4p plays a role in each cell wall subunit is the GTPase Rho1p, which not only activates the GS synthesis process of the S. pombe life cycle by synthesizing a (Arellano et al., 1996; Drgonova et al., 1996) but is also (1,3)β-D-glucan that is essential for preserving cell integrity involved in other morphogenetic processes, such as and reinforce its importance as an essential target for the design organization of the actin cytoskeleton and genesis of the of specific antifungal drugs. In addition, the lytic phenotype growing regions (Arellano et al., 1999a; Cabib et al., 2001; observed during bgs4+ shut-off may be biotechnologically Drgonova et al., 1999). useful as an efficient and controlled cell-free system for S. pombe contains four putative GS catalytic subunits named heterologous protein expression and purification (Priority Bgs1p-4p. bgs1+, bgs2+ and bgs3+ have been reported to be patent application ES200401042; April 30, 2004). essential genes, at least for ascospore revival (Cortes et al., 2002; Liu et al., 2000; Liu et al., 1999; Martin et al., 2003; Materials and Methods Martin et al., 2000), but nothing is known about bgs4+. The + Strains and culture conditions first gene to be identified was bgs1 and this was initially ∆ named cps1+. It was cloned by complementation of several The S. pombe strains used in this work are listed in Table 1. bgs4 strain 561 containing an integrated GFP-bgs4+ copy was made by mutants unable to assemble the division septum, and it was transforming strain 498 (bgs4∆ pJG33, his3+ selection) with StuI- suggested to be involved in cytokinesis, polarity and in a digested pJG53 (leu1+ selection, see below), which directs its septation checkpoint that coordinates cytokinesis and the cell integration at the StuI site adjacent to bgs4∆::ura4+, at position –1320 cycle (Ishiguro et al., 1997; Le Goff et al., 1999; Liu et al., of the bgs4+ promoter sequence. The GFP-bgs4+ and bgs4::ura4+ 1999). Recently, Bgs1p has been localized to the contractile sequences are separated by a pJK148 backbone. In order to eliminate ring and septum in a manner dependent on the actomyosin ring pJG33, to analyze GFP-Bgs4p functionality and to confirm that and SIN (Cortes et al., 2002; Liu et al., 2002), as well as to the integration was in the bgs4+ promoter sequence, this strain was – – – growing poles and to other regions of cell wall synthesis during crossed with strain 285 (Leu , Ura , His ) and tetrad analysis was + the sexual phase of the life cycle (Cortes et al., 2002). However, performed. Leu and Ura phenotypes always co-segregated 2 :2–. neither GS activity nor cell wall (1,3)β-D-glucan synthesis has pJG33 was lost in most of the clones as result of the sporulation process. The GFP-bgs4+ bgs4∆ strain obtained displayed a wild-type been shown to depend on Bgs1p function. Therefore, the β phenotype under all conditions tested and expressed GFP-Bgs4p at involvement of Bgs1p in (1,3) -D-glucan synthesis remains to physiological levels from a single integrated GFP-bgs4+ gene under + be clarified. bgs2 is not expressed in vegetative cells but is the control of its own promoter. essential for proper spore wall maturation (Liu et al., 2000; Standard complete yeast growth (YES), selective (EMM) Martin et al., 2000). bgs3+ is also essential for vegetative cells supplemented with the appropriate amino acids (Alfa et al., 1993) and and Bgs3p has also been shown to be localized to sites of cell sporulation media (SPA) (Egel, 1984) have been described elsewhere. + wall growth. Similarly, bgs3 shut-off does not produce any EMM-N is EMM (0.5% NH4Cl) from which NH4Cl has been omitted. β Stable sterile diploids for complementation analyses were obtained apparent decrease in GS activity or cell wall (1,3) -D-glucan, – although the overall cell wall structure is altered (Martin et al., by mating mat2P-B102 and h strains (Egel, 1984). The general Journal of Cell Science 2003). Saccharomyces cerevisiae contain two putative GS procedures for yeast culture and genetic manipulations were carried out as described (Moreno et al., 1991). Latrunculin A (Lat A) was catalytic subunits, Fks1p and Fks2p, whose sequences share a from Sigma and was used at 100 µM final concentration (from a stock high homology with Bgs proteins. FKS1 and FKS2 are solution of 10 mM in DMSO).
Recommended publications
  • Carbohydrates As Structural Constituents of Yeast Cell Wall and Septum
    Pure & Appl. Chem., Vol. 63, No. 4, pp. 483-489, 1991. ADONIS 206922209100061F Printed in Great Britain. @ 1991 IUPAC Carbohydrates as structural constituents of yeast cell wall and septum Enrico Cabib, Sanford J. Silverman, J. Andrew Shaw, Sarmila Das Gupta, Hee-Moon Park, J. Thomas Mullins, P.C. Mol and Blair Bowers National Inslitute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA Abstract - The cell walls and septa of fungi are useful models for morphogenesis and potential targets for antifungal agents. In the yeast, Saccharomvces cerevisiae, the main structural components of the primary septum and of the cell wall are chitin and ,¶(1+3)glucan, respectively. Two chitin synthetases have been identified in yeast, one of which is essential for septum formation, whereas the other one has a repair function. Both synthetases are bound to the plasma membrane and are found in extracts in a zymogenic form that can be activated by proteases. /?(1-+3)Glucan synthetase is also attached to the plasma membrane. Its activity is strongly stimulated by GTP and its analogs. By sequential extraction of the membranes, two components have been obtained in soluble form. One contains a GTP-binding protein; the other probably includes the substrate-binding site. Both components, in addition to GTP, are required for glucan synthesis. INTRODUCTION Fungal cell walls and septa have essential roles in the life of the fungal cell. They protect mechanically the cell from the environment, prevent osmotic bursting of the cell by the turgor pressure and act as a sieve for large molecules that might harm the cell membrane.
    [Show full text]
  • Saccharomyces Cerevisiae
    Hindawi Publishing Corporation International Journal of Microbiology Volume 2010, Article ID 930465, 10 pages doi:10.1155/2010/930465 Research Article Boric Acid Disturbs Cell Wall Synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae MartinSchmidt,JaronZ.Schaumberg,CourtneyM.Steen,andMichaelP.Boyer Biochemistry and Nutrition, Des Moines University, 3200 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312, USA Correspondence should be addressed to Martin Schmidt, [email protected] Received 6 August 2010; Revised 20 October 2010; Accepted 16 November 2010 Academic Editor: Robert P. Gunsalus Copyright © 2010 Martin Schmidt et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Boric acid (BA) has broad antimicrobial activity that makes it a popular treatment for yeast vaginitis in complementary and alternative medicine. In the model yeast S. cerevisiae, BA disturbs the cytoskeleton at the bud neck and impairs the assembly of the septation apparatus. BA treatment causes cells to form irregular septa and leads to the synthesis of irregular cell wall protuberances that extend far into the cytoplasm. The thick, chitin-rich septa that are formed during BA exposure prevent separation of cells after abscission and cause the formation of cell chains and clumps. As a response to the BA insult, cells signal cell wall stress through the Slt2p pathway and increase chitin synthesis, presumably to repair cell wall damage. 1. Introduction ring (CAR) by the addition of myosin and actin, among other proteins [8, 9]. To complete abscission, the last phase In the right amounts, boron is an essential nutrient for of cytokinesis, the cells first separate mother and daughter animals, plants, and fungi [1–3].
    [Show full text]
  • THE CELL BIOLOGY of FISSION YEAST SEPTATION 1 Juan
    1 THE CELL BIOLOGY OF FISSION YEAST SEPTATION 2 Juan C. G. Cortés1#, Mariona Ramos1, Masako Osumi2, Pilar Pérez1 and Juan Carlos 3 Ribas1 4 5 1Instituto de Biología Funcional y Genómica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones 6 Científicas (CSIC) / Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca. Spain. 7 2Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Faculty of Science, Japan Women’s University, 2- 8 8-1, Mejirodai, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8681, Japan and NPO: Integrated Imaging 9 Research Support, 1-7-5, Hirakawa-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0093, Japan. 10 11 Running title: Fission yeast septation. 12 13 Key words: Cytokinesis, Actomyosin Ring, Cell Wall, Glucan, Extracellular matrix, 14 Cleavage furrow, Septum, Cell abscission, Cell separation. 15 16 #Corresponding author. Mailing address: Instituto de Biología Funcional y Genómica, 17 Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) / Universidad de Salamanca. 18 Calle Zacarías González, 2. Lab. 1-8. Salamanca. Spain. 37007. Phone: (34) 923- 19 294888. Fax: (34) 923-224876. E-mail: [email protected]. 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 29 SUMMARY 3 30 INTRODUCTION 4 31 CELL WALL AND SEPTUM IN FISSION YEAST 4 32 Cell Wall Composition and Structure 4 33 Septum Composition and Structure 6 34 Cell Wall and Septum Architecture 7 35 SYNTHESIS OF THE FISSION YEAST SEPTUM 9 36 β(1,3)-D-glucan Synthases 9 37 (i) Bgs1 9 38 (ii) Bgs2 11 39 (iii) Bgs3 11 40 (iv) Bgs4 11 41 α(1,3)-D-glucan Synthase: Ags1/Mok1 13 42 FUNCTIONS OF THE WALL POLYSACCHARIDES DURING CELL DIVISION 13 43 Anchorage and Maintenance of the AMR in the Cell Middle 44 Plasma Membrane 14 45 Coupling Septum Synthesis with Cleavage Furrow Ingression 15 46 Gradual Cell Separation and Cell Integrity 18 47 CONCLUSSION 19 48 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 19 49 REFERENCES 20 2 50 SUMMARY 51 In animal cells cytokinesis requires the formation of a cleavage furrow that divides the 52 cell into two daughter cells.
    [Show full text]
  • Architecture and Biosynthesis of the Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Cell Wall
    YEASTBOOK CELL SIGNALING & DEVELOPMENT Architecture and Biosynthesis of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cell Wall Peter Orlean1 Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801 ABSTRACT The wall gives a Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell its osmotic integrity; defines cell shape during budding growth, mating, sporulation, and pseudohypha formation; and presents adhesive glycoproteins to other yeast cells. The wall consists of b1,3- and b1,6- glucans, a small amount of chitin, and many different proteins that may bear N- and O-linked glycans and a glycolipid anchor. These components become cross-linked in various ways to form higher-order complexes. Wall composition and degree of cross-linking vary during growth and development and change in response to cell wall stress. This article reviews wall biogenesis in vegetative cells, covering the structure of wall components and how they are cross-linked; the biosynthesis of N- and O-linked glycans, glycosylphos- phatidylinositol membrane anchors, b1,3- and b1,6-linked glucans, and chitin; the reactions that cross-link wall components; and the possible functions of enzymatic and nonenzymatic cell wall proteins. TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract 775 Introduction 777 Wall Composition and Architecture 777 Polysaccharides 778 Chitin: 778 b-Glucans: 778 Cross-links between polysaccharides: 779 Cell wall mannoproteins 779 GPI proteins: 780 Mild alkali-releasable proteins: 780 Disulfide-linked proteins: 780 Strategies to identify CWP 780 Cell wall phenotypes 781 Precursors and Carrier Lipids 781 Sugar nucleotides 781 Dolichol and dolichol phosphate sugars 781 Dolichol phosphate synthesis: 781 Continued Copyright © 2012 by the Genetics Society of America doi: 10.1534/genetics.112.144485 Manuscript received May 17, 2012; accepted for publication August 6, 2012 Supporting information is available online at http://www.genetics.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1534/genetics.112.144485/-/DC1.
    [Show full text]
  • Fission Yeast Cell Wall Synthase Bgs1 Collaborates with Paxillin Are
    1 Overview of Fission Yeast Septation 2 Pilar Pérez*, Juan C. G. Cortés, Rebeca Martín-García, Juan C. Ribas 3 Instituto de Biología Funcional y Genómica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones 4 Científicas (CSIC) / Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca. Spain. 5 6 7 Key words: Cytokinesis, Septation, Cell Wall, Actomyosin Ring, Glucan 8 * Corresponding author: 9 Phone: (34) 923-294894 10 Fax: (34) 923-224876 11 E-mail: [email protected] 1 1 ABSTRACT 2 Cytokinesis is the final process of the vegetative cycle, which divides a cell into two 3 independent daughter cells once mitosis is completed. In fungi, as in animal cells, 4 cytokinesis requires the formation of a cleavage furrow originated by constriction of an 5 actomyosin ring which is connected to the plasma membrane and causes its 6 invagination. Additionally, since fungal cells have a polysaccharide cell wall outside the 7 plasma membrane, cytokinesis requires the formation of a septum coincident with the 8 membrane ingression. Fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is a unicellular, rod- 9 shaped fungus that has become a popular model organism for the study of actomyosin 10 ring formation and constriction during cell division. Here we review the current 11 knowledge of the septation and separation processes in this fungus, as well as recent 12 advances in understanding the functional interaction between the transmembrane 13 enzymes that build the septum and the actomyosin ring proteins. 14 2 1 INTRODUCTION 2 Cytokinesis is the final stage of the eukaryotic cell cycle during which, after mitotic 3 exit, the formation of a cleavage furrow separates the cell giving rise to two new cells.
    [Show full text]
  • The Control of Septum Formation in Fission Yeast
    Downloaded from genesdev.cshlp.org on September 28, 2021 - Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press REVIEW The control of septum formation in fission yeast Kathleen L. Gould1,3 and Viesturs Simanis2,3 1Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232 USA; 2Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland If cell division is to produce two daughter cells that are chromosome separation, a structure called the medial viable, faithful copies of the parent cell, the landmark ring forms at the center of the cell, overlying the events of the cell division cycle, S phase, mitosis, and nucleus. The position of this ring anticipates the site of cytokinesis, must be executed in the correct order and septum formation. This ring is composed of F-actin and with high fidelity. Though considerable advances have many other components (see below). F-actin patches are been made toward understanding the mechanisms that subsequently polarized to the medial ring, and the cell is control the onset of S phase and mitosis, regulation of thus primed for septation. At the end of anaphase, when the events that occur at the end of the cell cycle, such as the spindle begins to break down, biosynthesis of the the reorganization of the cytoskeleton and the initiation septum is initiated, and the primary septum grows in- of cell separation or cytokinesis, are less well under- ward from the cell cortex (Johnson et al. 1973). As its stood. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe biosynthesis proceeds, it is surrounded by F-actin provides a simple eukaryotic model for the study of cy- patches (Marks and Hyams 1985), and a ring of F-actin is tokinesis.
    [Show full text]
  • In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (Cel Wai/Yeast) SANFORD J
    Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 85, pp. 4735-4739, July 1988 Cell Biology Chitin synthase 2 is essential for septum formation and cell division in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (cel wai/yeast) SANFORD J. SILVERMAN*, ADRIANA SBURLATI*, MARTIN L. SLATERt, AND ENRICO CABIB* *Laboratory of Biochemistry and Metabolism, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and tDivision of Research Grants, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 Communicated by Gilbert Ashwell, February 24, 1988 (receivedfor review December 30, 1987) ABSTRACT Previous work led to the puzzling conclusion Bacto yeast nitrogen base with amino acids or in YED (0.5% that chitin synthase 1, the mnujor chitin synthase activity in Bacto yeast extract/3% glucose). E. coli was grown in Luria Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is not required for synthesis of the broth supplemented with ampicillin (50 mg/liter). chitinous primary septum. The mechanism of in vivo synthesis Enzyme Preparations and Chitin Synthase Assay. Mem- of chitin has now been clarified by cloning the structural gene brane preparations from protoplasts (Table 1) were obtained for the newly found chitin synthase 2, a relatively minor activity as described (4). Membranes were also obtained after dis- in yeast. Disruption of the chitin synthase 2 gene results in the ruption ofintact cells with glass beads, essentially as reported loss ofwell-defined septa and in growth arrest, establishing that by Orlean (5) but with the following modifications: to 0.5 g of the gene product is essential for both septum formation and cell cells (wet weight) in a 15-ml Corex tube was added 1.66 g of division.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of the Cell Integrity Pathway in Septum Assembly in Yeast
    Journal of Fungi Review The Role of the Cell Integrity Pathway in Septum Assembly in Yeast Cesar Roncero *, Rubén Celador , Noelia Sánchez, Patricia García and Yolanda Sánchez * Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Instituto de Biología Funcional y Genómica, CSIC/Universidad de Salamanca, C/Zacarías González, s/n, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; [email protected] (R.C.); [email protected] (N.S.); [email protected] (P.G.) * Correspondence: [email protected] (C.R.); [email protected] (Y.S.) Abstract: Cytokinesis divides a mother cell into two daughter cells at the end of each cell cycle and proceeds via the assembly and constriction of a contractile actomyosin ring (CAR). Ring constriction promotes division furrow ingression, after sister chromatids are segregated to opposing sides of the cleavage plane. Cytokinesis contributes to genome integrity because the cells that fail to complete cytokinesis often reduplicate their chromosomes. While in animal cells, the last steps of cytokinesis involve extracellular matrix remodelling and mid-body abscission, in yeast, CAR constriction is coupled to the synthesis of a polysaccharide septum. To preserve cell integrity during cytokinesis, fungal cells remodel their cell wall through signalling pathways that connect receptors to downstream effectors, initiating a cascade of biological signals. One of the best-studied signalling pathways is the cell wall integrity pathway (CWI) of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its counterpart in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the cell integrity pathway (CIP). Both are signal transduction pathways relying upon a cascade of MAP kinases. However, despite strong similarities in the assembly of the septa in both yeasts, there are significant mechanistic differences, including Citation: Roncero, C.; Celador, R.; the relationship of this process with the cell integrity signalling pathways.
    [Show full text]
  • Fungal Septins: One Ring to Rule It All?
    Cent. Eur. J. Biol. • 4(3) • 2009 • 274–289 DOI: 10.2478/s11535-009-0032-2 Central European Journal of Biology Fungal septins: one ring to rule it all? Review Article Alberto González-Novo1, Carlos R. Vázquez de Aldana1, Javier Jiménez2* 1Department of Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Biochemistry, Salamanca University/CSIC, 37007 Salamanca, Spain 2Cell Signalling Unit, Department of Health and Experimental Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, 08003 Barcelona, Spain Received 11 March 2009; Accepted 19 June 2009 Abstract: Septins are a conserved family of GTP-binding proteins found in living organisms ranging from yeasts to mammals. They are able to polymerize and form hetero-oligomers that assemble into higher-order structures whose detailed molecular architecture has recently been described in different organisms. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, septins exert numerous functions throughout the cell cycle, serving as scaffolds for many different proteins or as diffusion barriers at the bud neck. In other fungi, septins are required for the proper completion of diverse functions such as polarized growth or pathogenesis. Recent results from several fungi have revealed important differences in septin organization and regulation as compared with S. cerevisiae, especially during Candida albicans hyphal growth and in Ashbya gossypii. Here we focus on these recent findings, their relevance in the biology of these eukaryotes and in consequence the “renaissance” of the study of septin structures in cells showing a different kind of morphological behaviour. Keywords: Septins • Candida albicans • Saccharomyces cerevisiae • Morphogenesis • Filamentous fungi © Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. 1. Introduction In addition, when the sporulation program is triggered, two of them, -Cdc12 and Shs1-, are replaced by another two sporulation-specific septins: Spr3 and Spr28 [4,5].
    [Show full text]
  • The Fission Yeast Cps1+ Gene Encodes a 1,3-,-D-Glucan Synthase
    The (1,3)β-D-glucan synthase subunit Bgs1p is responsible for the fission yeast primary septum formation. Juan Carlos G. Cortés1, Mami Konomi2,3, Ivone M. Martins1, Javier Muñoz1, M. Belén Moreno1, Masako Osumi2, Angel Durán1 and Juan Carlos Ribas1* 1Instituto de Microbiología Bioquímica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) / Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain. 2Laboratory of Electron Microscopy / Open Research Centre, Japan Women´s University, 2-8-1 Mejirodai, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8681, Japan. 3Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Japan Women's University, 2-8-1, Mejirodai, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8681, Japan Short title: Bgs1p is responsible for primary septum formation. Keywords: Glucan synthase / Cell wall / Morphogenesis / Septation / Fission yeast * Corresponding author address: Instituto de Microbiología Bioquímica. Edificio Departamental, room # 222. Campus Miguel de Unamuno. CSIC / Universidad de Salamanca. 37007 Salamanca. Spain. Phone: (34) 923-294733, Fax: (34) 923-224876, E-mail: [email protected] 1 ABSTRACT Cytokinesis is a crucial event in the cell cycle of all living cells. In fungal cells, it requires coordinated contraction of an actomyosin ring and synthesis of both plasmatic membrane and a septum structure that will constitute the new cell wall end. Schizosaccharomyces pombe contains four essential putative (1,3)β-D-glucan synthase catalytic subunits, Bgs1p to Bgs4p. Here we examined the function of Bgs1p in septation by studying the lethal phenotypes of bgs1+ shut-off and bgs1Δ cells and demonstrated that Bgs1p is responsible and essential for linear (1,3)β-D-glucan and primary septum formation. bgs1+ shut-off generates a more than 300-fold Bgs1p reduction, but the septa still present large amounts of disorganized linear (1,3)β-D-glucan and partial primary septa.
    [Show full text]