title: Receptor-mediated endoproteolytic activation of two transcription factors in yeast.
abstract: Yeast possess a plasma membrane sensor of external amino acids that functions as a ligand-activated receptor. This multimeric sensor, dubbed the SPS sensor, initiates signals that regulate the expression of genes required for proper amino acid uptake. Stp1p and Stp2p are transcription factors that bind to specific sequences within the promoters of SPS-sensor-regulated genes. These factors exhibit redundant and overlapping abilities to activate transcription. We have found that Stp1p and Stp2p are synthesized as latent cytoplasmic precursors. In response to extracellular amino acids, the SPS sensor induces the rapid endoproteolytic processing of Stp1p and Stp2p. The processing of Stp1p/Stp2p occurs independently of proteasome function and without the apparent involvement of additional components. The shorter forms of these transcription factors, lacking N-terminal inhibitory domains, are targeted to the nucleus, where they transactivate SPS-sensor target genes. These results define a completely unique and streamline metabolic control pathway that directly routes environmental signals initiated at the plasma membrane to transcriptional activation in the nucleus of yeast.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Claes
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andréasson
authors.forename: Per O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Ljungdahl
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D044783:F-Box Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008958:Models, Molecular; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000494:pharmacology; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D044783:F-Box Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C074632:STP1 protein, S cerevisiae; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; C421606:Stp2 protein, S cerevisiae; D014157:Transcription Factors; C071032:GRR1 protein, S cerevisiae; D003513:Cycloheximide; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases