title: The LIM domain-containing Dbm1 GTPase-activating protein is required for normal cellular morphogenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
abstract: Normal cell growth in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae involves the selection of genetically determined bud sites where most growth is localized. Previous studies have shown that BEM2, which encodes a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) that is specific for the Rho-type GTPase Rho1p in vitro, is required for proper bud site selection and bud emergence. We show here that DBM1, which encodes another putative Rho-type GAP with two tandemly arranged cysteine-rich LIM domains, also is needed for proper bud site selection, as haploid cells lacking Dbm1p bud predominantly in a bipolar, rather than the normal axial, manner. Furthermore, yeast cells lacking both Bem2p and Dbm1p are inviable. The nonaxial budding defect of dbm1 mutants can be rescued partially by overproduction of Bem3p and is exacerbated by its absence. Since Bem3p has previously been shown to function as a GAP for Cdc42p, and also less efficiently for Rho1p, our results suggest that Dbm1p, like Bem2p and Bem3p, may function in vivo as a GAP for Cdc42p and/or Rho1p. Both LIM domains of Dbm1p are essential for its normal function. Point mutations that alter single conserved cysteine residues within either LIM domain result in mutant forms of Dbm1p that can no longer function in bud site selection but instead are capable of rescuing the inviability of bem2 mutants at 35 degrees C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, The University of Texas, Austin, 78712, USA.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; C051302:RHO1 protein, S cerevisiae; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins