Project description:Rheb, a ras-like small GTPase conserved from human to yeast, controls Tor kinase and plays a central role in regulation of cell growth depending on extracellular conditions. Fission yeast Rheb regulates amino acid uptake as well as response to nitrogen starvation. In this study we generated two mutants of Rheb, rhb1-DA4 and rhb1-DA8, and characterized them genetically. V17A mutation within the G1 box defined for the ras-like GTPases was responsible for rhb1-DA4, and Q52R I76F within the switch II domain for rhb1-DA8. In fission yeast, two events, induction of a meiosis initiating gene mei2+ and cell division without cell growth, are a typical response to nitrogen starvation. Under nitrogen-rich conditions, Rheb stimulates Tor kinase, which, in turn, suppresses the response to nitrogen starvation. While amino acid uptake was prevented by both rhb1-DA4 and rhb1-DA8 in a dominant fashion, the response to nitrogen starvation was prevented only by rhb1-DA4. rhb1-DA8 thereby allowed genetic dissection of the Rheb-dependent signaling cascade. We postulate that Rheb in fission may have two downstream elements, Tor kinase for regulation of the response to nitrogen starvation and the other element for regulation of amino acid uptake.
Project description:Rheb, a ras-like small GTPase conserved from human to yeast, controls Tor kinase and plays a central role in regulation of cell growth depending on extracellular conditions. Fission yeast Rheb regulates amino acid uptake as well as response to nitrogen starvation. In this study we generated two mutants of Rheb, rhb1-DA4 and rhb1-DA8, and characterized them genetically. V17A mutation within the G1 box defined for the ras-like GTPases was responsible for rhb1-DA4, and Q52R I76F within the switch II domain for rhb1-DA8. In fission yeast, two events, induction of a meiosis initiating gene mei2+ and cell division without cell growth, are a typical response to nitrogen starvation. Under nitrogen-rich conditions, Rheb stimulates Tor kinase, which, in turn, suppresses the response to nitrogen starvation. While amino acid uptake was prevented by both rhb1-DA4 and rhb1-DA8 in a dominant fashion, the response to nitrogen starvation was prevented only by rhb1-DA4. rhb1-DA8 thereby allowed genetic dissection of the Rheb-dependent signaling cascade. We postulate that Rheb in fission may have two downstream elements, Tor kinase for regulation of the response to nitrogen starvation and the other element for regulation of amino acid uptake. Gene expression profile under nitrogen starvation in fission yeast. Type of experiment: Comparing between vegetatively-growing control cells and cells 3 hrs after nitrogen starvation. Experimental factor: Gene expression profile after nitrogen starvation in the rhb1-D4 or rhb1-D8 cells. Quality control steps taken: All experiments were repeated more than twice except for the tsc2D which was previously reported. Keywards: Nitrogen starvation, rhb1-D4, rhb1-D8
Project description:Cells must appropriately sense and integrate multiple metabolic resources to commit to proliferation. Here, we report that cells regulate nitrogen (amino acid) and carbon metabolic homeostasis through tRNA U34-thiolation. Despite amino acid sufficiency, tRNA-thiolation deficient cells appear amino acid starved. In these cells, carbon flux towards nucleotide synthesis decreases, and trehalose synthesis increases, resulting in metabolic a starvation-signature. Thiolation mutants have only minor translation defects. However, these cells exhibit strongly decreased expression of phosphate homeostasis genes, mimicking a phosphate-limited state. Reduced phosphate enforces a metabolic switch, where glucose-6-phosphate is routed towards storage carbohydrates. Notably, trehalose synthesis, which releases phosphate and thereby restores phosphate availability, is central to this metabolic rewiring. Thus, cells use thiolated tRNAs to perceive amino acid sufficiency, and balance amino acid and carbon metabolic flux to maintain metabolic homeostasis, by controlling phosphate availability. These results further biochemical explain how phosphate availability determines a switch to a ‘starvation-state’.