Combination of two activating mutations in one HOG1 gene forms hyperactive enzymes that induce growth arrest.
Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) play key roles in differentiation, growth, proliferation, and apoptosis. Although MAPKs have been extensively studied, the precise function, specific substrates, and target genes of each MAPK are not known. These issues could be addressed by sole activation of a given MAPK, e.g., through the use of constitutively active MAPK enzymes. We have recently reported the isolation of eight hyperactive mutants of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae MAPK Hog1, each of which bears a distinct single point mutation. These mutants acquired high intrinsic catalytic activity but did not impose the full biological potential of the Hog1 pathway. Here we describe our attempt to obtain a MAPK that is more active than the previous mutants both catalytically and biologically. We combined two different activating point mutations in the same gene and found that two of the resulting double mutants acquired unusual properties. These alleles, HOG1(D170A,F318L) and HOG1(D170A,F318S), induced a severe growth inhibition and had to be studied through an inducible expression system. This growth inhibition correlated with very high spontaneous (in the absence of any stimulation) catalytic activity and strong induction of Hog1 target genes. Furthermore, analysis of the phosphorylation status of these active alleles shows that their acquired intrinsic activity is independent of either phospho-Thr174 or phospho-Tyr176. Through fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis, we show that the effect on cell growth inhibition is not a result of cell death. This study provides the first example of a MAPK that is intrinsically activated by mutations and induces a strong biological effect.
Yaakov
Gilad
G
Department of Biological Chemistry, The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
Bell
Michal
M
Hohmann
Stefan
S
Engelberg
David
D
D002384:Catalysis; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000235:genetics; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013912:Threonine / Q000378:metabolism; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism
D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D013912:Threonine; D014443:Tyrosine; C088589:HOG1 protein, S cerevisiae; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases