In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, polarized morphogenesis is critical for bud site selection, bud development, and cell separation. The latter is mediated by Ace2p transcription factor, which controls the daughter cellspecific expression of cell separation genes. Recently, a set of proteins that include Cbk1p kinase, its binding partner Mob2p, Tao3p (Pag1p), and Hym1p were shown to regulate both Ace2p activity and cellular morphogenesis. These proteins seem to form a signaling network, which we designate RAM for regulation of Ace2p activity and cellular morphogenesis. To find additional RAM components, we conducted genetic screens for bilateral mating and cell separation mutants and identified alleles of the PAK-related kinase Kic1p in addition to Cbk1p, Mob2p, Tao3p, and Hym1p. Deletion of each RAM gene resulted in a loss of Ace2p function and caused cell polarity defects that were distinct from formin or polarisome mutants. Two-hybrid and coimmunoprecipitation experiments reveal a complex network of interactions among the RAM proteins, including Cbk1p-Cbk1p, Cbk1p-Kic1p, Kic1p-Tao3p, and Kic1p-Hym1p interactions, in addition to the previously documented Cbk1p-Mob2p and Cbk1p-Tao3p interactions. We also identified a novel leucine-rich repeat-containing protein Sog2p that interacts with Hym1p and Kic1p. Cells lacking Sog2p exhibited the characteristic cell separation and cell morphology defects associated with perturbation in RAM signaling. Each RAM protein localized to cortical sites of growth during both budding and mating pheromone response. Hym1p was Kic1p-and Sog2p-dependent and Sog2p and Kic1p were interdependent for localization, indicating a close functional relationship between these proteins. Only Mob2p and Cbk1p were detectable in the daughter cell nucleus at the end of mitosis. The nuclear localization and kinase activity of the Mob2p-Cbk1p complex were dependent on all other RAM proteins, suggesting that Mob2p-Cbk1p functions late in the RAM network. Our data suggest that the functional architecture of RAM signaling is similar to the S. cerevisiae mitotic exit network and Schizosaccharomyces pombe septation initiation network and is likely conserved among eukaryotes.

Abstract. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae a-factor receptor (STE3) is subject to two modes of endocytosis: a constitutive process that occurs in the absence of ligand and a regulated process that is triggered by binding of ligand. Both processes result in delivery of the receptor to the vacuole for degradation. Receptor mutants deleted for part of the COOH-terminal cytoplasmic domain are disabled for constitutive, but not ligand-dependent internalization. Trans-acfing mutants that impair constitutive endocytosis have been isolated.One of these, renl-1, is blocked at a late step in the endocytic pathway, as receptor accumulates in a prevacuolar endosome-like compartment. REN1 is identical to VPS2, a gene required for delivery of newly synthesized vacuolar enzymes to the vacuole. Based on this identity, we suggest a model in which the transport pathways to the vacuole-the endocytic pathway and the vacuolar biogenesis pathway-merge at an intermediate endocytic compartment. As receptor also accumulates at the surface of renl cells, receptor may recycle from the putative endosome to the surface, or REN1 may also be required to carry out an early step in endocytosis.

TRAPP is a conserved protein complex required early in the secretory pathway. Here, we report two forms of TRAPP, TRAPP I and TRAPP II, that mediate different transport events. Using chemically pure TRAPP I and COPII vesicles, we have reconstituted vesicle targeting in vitro. The binding of COPII vesicles to TRAPP I is specific, blocked by GTPgammaS, and, surprisingly, does not require other tethering factors. Our findings imply that TRAPP I is the receptor on the Golgi for COPII vesicles. Once the vesicle binds to TRAPP I, the small GTP binding protein Ypt1p is activated and other tethering factors are recruited.

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. A family of proteins bearing novel N-acetylglucosamine residues has previously been found to be required to form functional nuclear pores . To begin to determine which of the proteins in this family are essential for pore function, antisera were raised to each of three members of the family, p62, p58, and p54 . With these antisera, it was possible to deplete nuclear reconstitution extracts of the proteins and to test the depleted nuclei for nuclear transport . In the course of the experiments, it was found that the three proteins exist as a complex; antisera to any one, while specific on a protein blot, coimmunoprecipitated all three proteins. This complex of pore proteins is stable to 2 M

Our understanding of how genotype controls phenotype is limited by the scale at which we can precisely alter the genome and assess phenotypic consequences of each perturbation. Here we describe a CRISPR/Cas9-based method for multiplexed accurate genome editing with short, trackable, integrated cellular barcodes (MAGESTIC) in S. cerevisiae. MAGESTIC uses array-synthesized guide-donor oligos for plasmid-based high-throughput editing and features genomic barcode integration to prevent plasmid barcode loss and to enable robust phenotyping. We demonstrate that editing efficiency can be increased >5-fold by recruiting donor DNA to the site of breaks using the LexA-Fkh1p fusion protein. We performed saturation editing of the essential gene SEC14 and identified amino acids critical for chemical inhibition of lipid signaling. We also constructed thousands of natural genetic variants, characterized guide mismatch tolerance at the genome-scale, and ascertained that cryptic Pol III termination elements substantially reduce guide efficacy. MAGESTIC will be broadly useful to uncover the genetic basis of phenotypes in yeast.

The yeast "two-component" osmotic stress phosphorelay consists of the histidine kinase, Sln1p, the phosphorelay intermediate, Ypd1p and two response regulators, Ssk1p and Skn7p, whose activities are regulated by phosphorylation of a conserved aspartyl residue in the receiver domain. Dephospho-Ssk1p leads to activation of the hyper-osmotic response (HOG) pathway, whereas phospho-Skn7p presumably leads to activation of hypo-osmotic response genes. The multifunctional Skn7 protein is important in oxidative as well as osmotic stress; however, the Skn7p receiver domain aspartate that is the phosphoacceptor in the SLN1 pathway is dispensable for oxidative stress. Like many well-characterized bacterial response regulators, Skn7p is a transcription factor. In this report we investigate the role of Skn7p in osmotic response gene activation. Our studies reveal that the Skn7p HSF-like DNA binding domain interacts with a cis-acting element identified upstream of OCH1 that is distinct from the previously defined HSE-like Skn7p binding site. Our data support a model in which Skn7p receiver domain phosphorylation affects transcriptional activation rather than DNA binding to this class of DNA binding site.

We develop a novel synthetic biology platform for rapid, scalable expression of fungal biosynthetic genes and encoded metabolites.