Chemical gradients and chemotropism in yeast.
Chemical gradients of peptide mating pheromones are necessary for directional growth, which is critical for yeast mating. These gradients are generated by cell-type specific secretion or export and specific degradation in receiving cells. Spatial information is sensed by dedicated seven-transmembrane G-protein coupled receptors and yeast cells are able to detect extremely small differences in ligand concentration across their approximately 5-microm cell surface. Here, I will discuss our current knowledge of how cells detect and respond to such shallow chemical gradients and in particular what is known about the proteins that are involved in directional growth and the establishment of the polarity axis during yeast mating.
Arkowitz
Robert A
RA
Institute of Developmental Biology and Cancer, Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis-CNRS UMR6543, Centre de Biochimie, Faculté des Sciences, Parc Valrose, 06108 Nice Cedex 2, France. arkowitz@unice.fr
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D016764:Cell Polarity; D048430:Cell Shape; D002633:Chemotaxis; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D008954:Models, Biological; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010675:Pheromones / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015003:Yeasts / Q000378:metabolism
D000199:Actins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D010675:Pheromones; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins