title: Gradients of phosphatidylserine contribute to plasma membrane charge localization and cell polarity in fission yeast.
abstract: Surface charges at the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane may contribute to regulate the surface recruitment of key signaling factors. Phosphatidylserine (PS) is an abundant charged lipid that may regulate charge distribution in different cell types. Here we characterize the subcellular distribution and function of PS in the rod-shaped, polarized fission yeast. We find that PS preferably accumulates at cell tips and defines a gradient of negative charges along the cell surface. This polarization depends on actin-mediated endocytosis and contributes to the subcellular partitioning of charged polarity-regulating Rho GTPases like Rho1 or Cdc42 in a protein charge-dependent manner. Cells depleted of PS have altered cell dimensions and fail to properly regulate growth from the second end, suggesting a role for PS and membrane charge in polarized cell growth.
authors.affiliation: Institut Jacques Monod, 75205 Paris Cedex 13, France armin.haupt@ijm.fr.
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haupt
authors.affiliation: Institut Jacques Monod, 75205 Paris Cedex 13, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Minc
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology*; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000378:metabolism; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins