title: Rapamycin-induced Gln3 dephosphorylation is insufficient for nuclear localization: Sit4 and PP2A phosphatases are regulated and function differently.
abstract: Gln3, the major activator of nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR)-sensitive transcription, is often used as an assay of Tor pathway regulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Gln3 is cytoplasmic in cells cultured with repressive nitrogen sources (Gln) and nuclear with derepressive ones (Pro) or after treating Gln-grown cells with the Tor inhibitor, rapamycin (Rap). In Raptreated or Pro-grown cells, Sit4 is posited to dephosphorylate Gln3, which then dissociates from a Gln3-Ure2 complex and enters the nucleus. However, in contrast with this view, Sit4-dependent Gln3 dephosphorylation is greater in Gln than Pro. Investigating this paradox, we show that PP2A (another Tor pathway phosphatase)-dependent Gln3 dephosphorylation is regulated oppositely to that of Sit4, being greatest in Pro- and least in Gln-grown cells. It thus parallels nuclear Gln3 localization and NCR-sensitive transcription. However, because PP2A is not required for nuclear Gln3 localization in Pro, PP2A-dependent Gln3 dephosphorylation and nuclear localization are likely parallel responses to derepressive nitrogen sources. In contrast, Rap-induced nuclear Gln3 localization absolutely requires all four PP2A components (Pph21/22, Tpd3, Cdc55, and Rts1). In pph21Delta22Delta, tpd3Delta, or cdc55Delta cells, however, Gln3 is dephosphorylated to the same level as in Rap-treated wild-type cells, indicating Rap-induced Gln3 dephosphorylation is insufficient to achieve nuclear localization. Finally, PP2A-dependent Gln3 dephosphorylation parallels conditions where Gln3 is mostly nuclear, while Sit4-dependent and Rap-induced dephosphorylation parallels those where Gln3 is mostly cytoplasmic, suggesting the effects of these phosphatases on Gln3 may occur in different cellular compartments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Sciences, University of Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Tate
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Georis
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feller
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.forename: Terrance G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D054648:Protein Phosphatase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: C071246:CDC55 protein, S cerevisiae; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D005973:Glutamine; D054648:Protein Phosphatase 2; C104343:SIT4 protein, S cerevisiae; D009584:Nitrogen; D020123:Sirolimus