title: Saccharomyces cerevisiae STE14 gene is required for COOH-terminal methylation of a-factor mating pheromone.
abstract: Saccharomyces cerevisiae a-factor is a dodecapeptide pheromone in which the carboxyl group of the COOH-terminal cysteine residue is methyl-esterified and the sulfhydryl side chain is conjugated in thioether linkage to a farnesyl moiety. We found that MAT a ste14 mutant cells secreted a biologically inactive form of a-factor which had more hydrophilic character than the wild-type pheromone. The authentic pheromone could be metabolically labeled with [methyl-3H]methionine, and the resulting COOH-terminal methyl ester could be removed by mild alkaline hydrolysis. In contrast, a-factor secreted by ste14 mutants did not incorporate a base-labile 3H-methyl moiety. Base treatment converted the normal pheromone into a form which was biologically inactive and which comigrated with the ste14 form of the peptide upon thin-layer chromatography. These results indicate that STE14 gene function is required for COOH-terminal methylation of a-factor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Marr
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thorner
mesh_terms: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D000072235:Mating Factor; D008715:Methionine / Q000378:metabolism; D008745:Methylation; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D010452:Peptide Biosynthesis; D010455:Peptides; D010675:Pheromones / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics*; D013431:Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism; D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D010455:Peptides; D010675:Pheromones; D013431:Sulfates; D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes; D014316:Tritium; D000072235:Mating Factor; D008715:Methionine