Mutations in SNF1 complex genes affect yeast cell wall strength.
The trimeric SNF1 complex from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a homolog of mammalian AMP-activated kinase, has been primarily implicated in signaling for the utilization of alternative carbon sources to glucose. We here find that snf1 deletion mutants are hypersensitive to different cell wall stresses, such as the presence of Calcofluor white, Congo red, Zymolyase or the glucan synthase inhibitor Caspofungin in the growth medium. They also have a thinner cell wall. Caspofungin treatment triggers the phosphorylation of the catalytic Snf1 kinase subunit at Thr210 and removal of this phosphorylation site by mutagenesis (Snf1-T210A) abolishes the function of Snf1 in cell wall integrity. Deletion of the PFK1 gene encoding the α-subunit of the heterooctameric yeast phosphofructokinase suppresses the cell wall phenotypes of a snf1 deletion, which suggests a compensatory effect of central carbohydrate metabolism. Epistasis analyses with mutants in cell wall integrity (CWI) signaling confirm that the SNF1 complex and the CWI pathway independently affect yeast cell integrity.
Universität Osnabrück, Fachbereich Biologie/Chemie, AG Genetik, Barbarastr. 11, D-49076 Osnabrück, Germany.
Katja
K
Backhaus
Universität Osnabrück, Fachbereich Biologie/Chemie, AG Genetik, Barbarastr. 11, D-49076 Osnabrück, Germany.
Dorthe
D
Rippert
Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Clemens J
CJ
Heilmann
Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Alice G
AG
Sorgo
Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Chris G
CG
de Koster
Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Frans M
FM
Klis
Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular and Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Universidad de Oviedo, Campus del Cristo, E-33006 Oviedo, Spain.
Rosaura
R
Rodicio
Universität Osnabrück, Fachbereich Biologie/Chemie, AG Genetik, Barbarastr. 11, D-49076 Osnabrück, Germany. Electronic address: heinisch@biologie.uni-osnabrueck.de.
Jürgen J
JJ
Heinisch
D002473:Cell Wall / Q000502:physiology*; D025221:Phosphofructokinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000378:metabolism*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D025221:Phosphofructokinases; C071570:SNF1-related protein kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
CWI signaling; Cell wall thickness; Glucose signaling; Metabolism