This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Jahng, K Y Articles by Reed, S I Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Jahng, K Y Articles by Reed, S I

Mutations in a gene encoding the alpha subunit of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae G protein indicate a role in mating pheromone signaling.

Department of Molecular Biology, Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, California 92037.

ABSTRACT

Mutations which allowed conjugation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells lacking a mating pheromone receptor gene were selected. One of the genes defined by such mutations was isolated from a yeast genomic library by complementation of a temperature-sensitive mutation and is identical to the gene GPA1 (also known as SCG1), recently shown to be highly homologous to genes encoding the alpha subunits of mammalian G proteins. Physiological analysis of temperature-sensitive gpa1 mutations suggests that the encoded G protein is involved in signaling in response to mating pheromones. Mutational disruption of G-protein activity causes cell-cycle arrest in G1, deposition of mating-specific cell surface agglutinins, and induction of pheromone-specific mRNAs, all of which are responses to pheromone in wild-type cells. In addition, mutants can conjugate without the benefit of mating pheromone or pheromone receptor. A model is presented where the activated G protein has a negative impact on a constitutive signal which normally keeps the pheromone response repressed.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Shi, G.-X., Harrison, K., Han, S.-B., Moratz, C., Kehrl, J. H. (2004). Toll-Like Receptor Signaling Alters the Expression of Regulator of G Protein Signaling Proteins in Dendritic Cells: Implications for G Protein-Coupled Receptor Signaling. J. Immunol. 172: 5175-5184 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Fowler, T. J., DeSimone, S. M., Mitton, M. F., Kurjan, J., Raper, C. A. (1999). Multiple Sex Pheromones and Receptors of a Mushroom-producing Fungus Elicit Mating in Yeast. Mol. Biol. Cell 10: 2559-2572 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Gustin, M. C., Albertyn, J., Alexander, M., Davenport, K. (1998). MAP Kinase Pathways in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 62: 1264-1300 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Gillen, K., Pausch, M, Dohlman, H. (1998). N-terminal domain of Gpa1 (G protein alpha) subunit) is sufficient for plasma membrane targeting in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J. Cell Sci. 111: 3235-3244 [Abstract]  
• Sowell, M. O., Ye, C., Ricupero, D. A., Hansen, S., Quinn, S. J., Vassilev, P. M., Mortensen, R. M. (1997). Targeted inactivation of alpha i2 or alpha i3 disrupts activation of the cardiac muscarinic K+ channel, IK+Ach, in intact cells. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94: 7921-7926 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Wassmann, K., Ammerer, G. (1997). Overexpression of the G1-cyclin Gene CLN2 Represses the Mating Pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae at the Level of the MEKK Ste11. J. Biol. Chem. 272: 13180-13188 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hirschman, J. E., De Zutter, G. S., Simonds, W. F., Jenness, D. D. (1997). The Gbeta gamma Complex of the Yeast Pheromone Response Pathway. SUBCELLULAR FRACTIONATION AND PROTEIN-PROTEIN INTERACTIONS. J. Biol. Chem. 272: 240-248 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Spain, B. H., Koo, D., Ramakrishnan, M., Dzudzor, B., Colicelli, J. (1995). Truncated Forms of a Novel Yeast Protein Suppress the Lethality of a G Protein alpha Subunit Deficiency by Interacting with the beta Subunit. J. Biol. Chem. 270: 25435-25444 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Oehlen, L J, Cross, F R (1994). G1 cyclins CLN1 and CLN2 repress the mating factor response pathway at Start in the yeast cell cycle.. Genes Dev. 8: 1058-1070 [Abstract]  
• Stevenson, B J, Rhodes, N, Errede, B, Sprague, G F (1992). Constitutive mutants of the protein kinase STE11 activate the yeast pheromone response pathway in the absence of the G protein.. Genes Dev. 6: 1293-1304 [Abstract]  
• Stone, D E, Cole, G M, de Barros Lopes, M, Goebl, M, Reed, S I (1991). N-myristoylation is required for function of the pheromone-responsive G alpha protein of yeast: conditional activation of the pheromone response by a temperature-sensitive N-myristoyl transferase.. Genes Dev. 5: 1969-1981 [Abstract]  
• Song, D, Dolan, J W, Yuan, Y L, Fields, S (1991). Pheromone-dependent phosphorylation of the yeast STE12 protein correlates with transcriptional activation.. Genes Dev. 5: 741-750 [Abstract]  
• Hirsch, J P, Dietzel, C, Kurjan, J (1991). The carboxyl terminus of Scg1, the G alpha subunit involved in yeast mating, is implicated in interactions with the pheromone receptors.. Genes Dev. 5: 467-474 [Abstract]  
• Kurjan, J, Hirsch, J P, Dietzel, C (1991). Mutations in the guanine nucleotide-binding domains of a yeast G alpha protein confer a constitutive or uninducible state to the pheromone response pathway.. Genes Dev. 5: 475-483 [Abstract]  
• Rhodes, N, Connell, L, Errede, B (1990). STE11 is a protein kinase required for cell-type-specific transcription and signal transduction in yeast.. Genes Dev. 4: 1862-1874 [Abstract]  
• Dolan, J W, Fields, S (1990). Overproduction of the yeast STE12 protein leads to constitutive transcriptional induction.. Genes Dev. 4: 492-502 [Abstract]  
• Errede, B, Ammerer, G (1989). STE12, a protein involved in cell-type-specific transcription and signal transduction in yeast, is part of protein-DNA complexes.. Genes Dev. 3: 1349-1361 [Abstract]