Olivier Vincent

YPXL/I Is a Protein Interaction Motif Recognized by Aspergillus PalA and Its Human Homologue, AIP1/Alix

ABSTRACT The zinc finger transcription factor PacC undergoes two-step proteolytic activation in response to alkaline ambient pH. PalA is a component of the fungal ambient pH signal transduction pathway. Its mammalian homologue AIP1/Alix interacts with the apoptosis-linked protein ALG-2. We show that both PalA and AIP1/Alix recognize a protein-protein binding motif that we denote YPXL/I, where Tyr, Pro, and Leu/Ile are crucial for its interactive properties. Two such motifs flanking the signaling protease cleavage site mediate direct binding of PalA to PacC, required for the first and only pH-regulated cleavage of this transcription factor. PalA can bind the “closed” (i.e., wild-type full-length) conformer of PacC, suggesting that PalA binding constitutes the first stage in the two-step proteolytic cascade, recruiting or facilitating access of the signaling protease, presumably PalB. In addition to recognizing YPXL/I motifs, both PalA and AIP1/Alix interact with the Aspergillus class E Vps protein Vps32 homologue, a member of a protein complex involved in the early steps of the multivesicular body pathway, suggesting that this interaction is an additional feature of proteins of the PalA/AIP1/Alix family.

Sip4, a Snf1 kinase-dependent transcriptional activator, binds to the carbon source-responsive element of gluconeogenic genes.

The carbon source‐responsive element (CSRE) mediates transcriptional activation of the gluconeogenic genes during growth of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae on non‐fermentable carbon sources. Previous studies have suggested that the Cat8 protein activates the expression of CSRE‐binding factors. We show here that one of these factors is Sip4, a glucose‐regulated C6 zinc cluster activator which was identified by its interaction with the Snf1 protein kinase. We present genetic evidence that Sip4 contributes to transcriptional activation by the CSRE and biochemical evidence that Sip4 binds to the CSRE. Binding was detected in electrophoretic mobility shift assays with both yeast nuclear extracts and a bacterially expressed Sip4 fusion protein. Evidence suggests that Sip4 also activates the expression of other CSRE‐binding proteins. Finally, we show that Cat8 regulates SIP4 expression and that overexpression of Sip4 compensates for loss of Cat8. We propose a model for activation by the CSRE in which Sip4 and Cat8 have related functions, but Cat8 is the primary regulator because it controls Sip4 expression.

Gal83 mediates the interaction of the Snf1 kinase complex with the transcription activator Sip4

The Snf1/AMPK protein kinase family is widely conserved in eukaryotes. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Snf1 kinase is an essential element of the glucose response pathway and has diverse regulatory roles. The Snf1 complex contains one of the related proteins Sip1, Sip2 and Gal83, which are also conserved in higher eukaryotes. Previous studies showed that the Sip1/Sip2/Gal83 component plays a structural role in the complex. We present evidence that this component also mediates the interaction of the Snf1 kinase complex with specific targets. We show that Gal83 mediates the association of the kinase with Sip4, a Snf1‐regulated transcription activator of gluconeogenic genes. Gal83 interacts with Sip4 in two‐hybrid assays in vivo, and bacterially expressed proteins bind in vitro. Moreover, Gal83 is required for the two‐hybrid interaction of Sip4 with the Snf1 kinase. Gal83 also facilitates the rapid Snf1‐dependent phosphorylation and activation of Sip4 in response to glucose limitation, indicating that Gal83 mediates the functional interaction of Snf1 with Sip4. Evidence indicates that Sip1 and Sip2 do not interact with Sip4. We propose that members of the Sip1/Sip2/Gal83 family confer specificity to the kinase complex in its interactions with target proteins.

Recruitment of the ESCRT Machinery to a Putative Seven-Transmembrane-Domain Receptor Is Mediated by an Arrestin-Related Protein

ABSTRACT Mammalian arrestins have a major role in the intracellular trafficking of seven-transmembrane (7TM) receptors. The fungal ambient pH signaling pathway involves an arrestin-related protein, PalF/Rim8, and the ESCRT (endosomal sorting complex required for transport) machinery. We found that in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rim8 binds to both the putative 7TM pH sensor Rim21 and the ESCRT-I subunit Vps23. We show that an SXP motif in Rim8 mediates binding to the Vps23 ubiquitin E2 variant (UEV) domain and that a monoubiquitinated residue near the SXP motif contributes to this interaction. We present evidence that Rim8 ubiquitination is dependent on the Rsp5 E3 ubiquitin ligase and triggered upon binding of Vps23 UEV to both the SXP motif and ubiquitin, thus suggesting a two-step binding mechanism. We further show that Rim8 coimmunoprecipitates with ESCRT-I subunits Vps23 and Vps28, supporting the idea that binding of Rim8 to Vps23 mediates the association of Rim8 with the ESCRT-I complex. Fluorescence microscopic analyses indicate that overexpressed Rim8 and Vps23 colocalize at cortical punctate structures, providing additional evidence of the interaction between these two proteins. Strikingly, our findings indicate that evolutionary conserved mechanisms control the recruitment of the ESCRT machinery to Pal/Rim proteins in fungi and retroviral Gag proteins in animal cells.

A molecular switch on an arrestin-like protein relays glucose signaling to transporter endocytosis.

Glucose remodels the post-translational modifications of the yeast arrestin-like protein Rod1 to promote glucose-induced transporter endocytosis.

Interaction of the Srb10 Kinase with Sip4, a Transcriptional Activator of Gluconeogenic Genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

ABSTRACT Sip4 is a Zn2Cys6 transcriptional activator that binds to the carbon source-responsive elements of gluconeogenic genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The Snf1 protein kinase interacts with Sip4 and regulates its phosphorylation and activator function in response to glucose limitation; however, evidence suggested that another kinase also regulates Sip4. Here we examine the role of the Srb10 kinase, a component of the RNA polymerase II holoenzyme that has been primarily implicated in transcriptional repression but also positively regulates Gal4. We show that Srb10 is required for phosphorylation of Sip4 during growth in nonfermentable carbon sources and that the catalytic activity of Srb10 stimulates the ability of LexA-Sip4 to activate transcription of a reporter. Srb10 and Sip4 coimmunoprecipitate from cell extracts and interact in two-hybrid assays, suggesting that Srb10 regulates Sip4 directly. We also present evidence that the Srb10 and Snf1 kinases interact with different regions of Sip4. These findings support the view that the Srb10 kinase not only plays negative roles in transcriptional control but also has broad positive roles during growth in carbon sources other than glucose.

Functions of Early (AP-2) and Late (AIP1/ALIX) Endocytic Proteins in Equine Infectious Anemia Virus Budding

The proline-rich L domains of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) and other retroviruses interact with late endocytic proteins during virion assembly and budding. In contrast, the YPDL L domain of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is apparently unique in its reported ability to interact both with the μ2 subunit of the AP-2 adaptor protein complex and with ALG-2-interacting protein 1 (AIP1/Alix) protein factors involved in early and late endosome formation, respectively. To define further the mechanisms by which EIAV adapts vesicle trafficking machinery to facilitate virion production, we have examined the specificity of EIAV p9 binding to endocytic factors and the effects on virion production of alterations in early and late endocytic protein expression. The results of these studies demonstrated that (i) an ∼300-residue region of AIP1/Alix-(409-715) was sufficient for binding to the EIAV YPDL motif; (ii) overexpression of AIP1/Alix or AP-2 μ2 subunit specifically inhibited YPDL-mediated EIAV budding; (iii) virion budding from a replication-competent EIAV variant with its L domain replaced by the HIV PTAP sequence was inhibited by wild type or mutant μ2 to a level similar to that observed when a dominant-negative mutant of Tsg101 was expressed; and (iv) overexpression or siRNA silencing of AIP1/Alix and AP-2 revealed additive suppression of YPDL-mediated EIAV budding. Taken together, these results indicated that both early and late endocytic proteins facilitate EIAV production mediated by either YPDL or PTAP L domains, suggesting a comprehensive involvement of endocytic factors in retroviral assembly and budding that can be accessed by distinct L domain specificities.

PalC, One of Two Bro1 Domain Proteins in the Fungal pH Signalling Pathway, Localizes to Cortical Structures and Binds Vps32

PalC, distantly related to Saccharomyces cerevisiae peripheral endosomal sorting complexes required for transport III (ESCRT‐III) component Bro1p and one of six Aspergillus nidulans pH signalling proteins, contains a Bro1 domain. Green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐tagged PalC is recruited to plasma membrane‐associated punctate structures upon alkalinization, when pH signalling is active. PalC recruitment to these structures is dependent on the seven transmembrane domain (7‐TMD) receptor and likely pH sensor PalH. PalC is a two‐hybrid interactor of the ESCRT‐III Vps20/Vps32 subcomplex and binds Vps32 directly. This binding is largely impaired by Pro439Phe, Arg442Ala and Arg442His substitutions in a conserved region mediating interaction of Bro1p with Vps32p, but these substitutions do not prevent cortical punctate localization, indicating Vps32 independence. In contrast, Arg442Δ impairs Vps32 binding and prevents PalC‐GFP recruitment to cortical structures. pH signalling involves a plasma membrane complex including the 7‐TMD receptor PalH and the arrestin‐like PalF and an endosomal membrane complex involving the PalB protease, the transcription factor PacC and the Vps32 binding, Bro1‐domain‐containing protein PalA. PalC, which localizes to cortical structures and can additionally bind a component of ESCRT‐III, has the features required to bridge these two entities. A likely S. cerevisiae orthologue of PalC has been identified, providing the basis for a unifying hypothesis of gene regulation by ambient pH in ascomycetes.

Functional analysis of human glucokinase gene mutations causing MODY2: exploring the regulatory mechanisms of glucokinase activity

Aims/hypothesisGlucokinase (GCK) acts as a glucose sensor in the pancreatic beta cell and regulates insulin secretion. In the gene encoding GCK the heterozygous mutations that result in enzyme inactivation cause MODY2. Functional studies of naturally occurring GCK mutations associated with hyperglycaemia provide further insight into the biochemical basis of glucose sensor regulation.Materials and methodsIdentification of GCK mutations in selected MODY patients was performed by single-strand conformation polymorphism and direct sequencing. The kinetic parameters and thermal stability of recombinant mutant human GCK were determined, and in pull-down assays the effect of these mutations on the association of GCK with glucokinase (hexokinase 4) regulator (GCKR, also known as glucokinase regulatory protein [GKRP]) and 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (PFKFB1, also known as PFK2) was tested.ResultsWe identified three novel GCK mutations: the insertion of an asparagine residue at position 161 (inserN161) and two missense mutations (M235V and R308W). We also identified a fourth mutation (R397L) reported in a previous work. Functional characterisation of these mutations revealed that insertion of asparagine residue N161 fully inactivates GCK, whereas the M235V and R308W mutations only partially impair enzymatic activity. In contrast, GCK kinetics was almost unaffected by the R397L mutation. Although none of these mutations affected the interaction of GCK with PFKFB1, we found that the R308W mutation caused protein instability and increased the strength of interaction with GCKR.Conclusions/interpretationOur results show that different MODY2 mutations impair GCK function through different mechanisms such as enzymatic activity, protein stability and increased interaction with GCKR, helping further elucidate the regulation of GCK activity.

Regions in the promoter of the yeast FBP1 gene implicated in catabolite repression may bind the product of the regulatory gene MIG1

We have identified in the promoter of the yeast FBP1 gene two sites able to bind nuclear proteins. These sites have a nucleotide sequence strongly similar to that of sites which bind the regulatory protein MIG1 in the promoters of GAL4 and SUC2. Deletions performed in the FBP1 promoter showed that one of the sites contributes to catabolite repression of this gene. In the same promoter, another region was identified with a strong effect on the catabolite repression of FBP1. In this region a sequence similar to the consensus for the binding site of the MIG1 protein was also present.