S. Cameron

In yeast, RAS proteins are controlling elements of adenylate cyclase

S. cerevisiae strains containing RAS2val19, a RAS2 gene with a missense mutation analogous to one that activates the transforming potential of mammalian ras genes, have growth and biochemical properties strikingly similar to yeast strains carrying IAC or bcy1. Yeast strains carrying the IAC mutation have elevated levels of adenylate cyclase activity. bcy1 is a mutation that suppresses the lethality in adenylate cyclase deficient yeast. Yeast strains deficient in RAS function exhibit properties similar to adenylate cyclase deficient yeast. bcy1 suppresses lethality in ras1- ras2- yeast. Compared to wild-type yeast strains, intracellular cyclic AMP levels are significantly elevated in RAS2val19 strains, significantly depressed in ras2- strains, and virtually undetectable in ras1- ras2- bcy1 strains. Membranes from ras1- ras2- bcy1 yeast lack the GTP-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity present in membranes from wild-type cells, and membranes from RAS2val19 yeast strains have elevated levels of an apparently GTP-independent adenylate cyclase activity. Mixing membranes from ras1- ras2- yeast with membranes from adenylate cyclase deficient yeast reconstitutes a GTP-dependent adenylate cyclase.

Three different genes in S. cerevisiae encode the catalytic subunits of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase

We have isolated three genes (TPK1, TPK2, and TPK3) from the yeast S. cerevisiae that encode the catalytic subunits of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Gene disruption experiments demonstrated that no two of the three genes are essential by themselves but at least one TPK gene is required for a cell to grow normally. Comparison of the predicted amino acid sequences of the TPK genes indicates conserved and variable domains. The carboxy-terminal 320 amino acid residues have more than 75% homology to each other and more than 50% homology to the bovine catalytic subunit. The amino-terminal regions show no homology to each other and are heterogeneous in length. The TPK1 gene carried on a multicopy plasmid can suppress both a temperature-sensitive ras2 gene and adenylate cyclase gene.

Cloning and characterization of BCY1, a locus encoding a regulatory subunit of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have cloned a gene (BCY1) from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that encodes a regulatory subunit of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. The encoded protein has a structural organization similar to that of the RI and RII regulatory subunits of the mammalian cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Strains of S. cerevisiae with disrupted BCY1 genes do not display a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in vitro, fail to grow on many carbon sources, and are exquisitely sensitive to heat shock and starvation.

Intrinsic requirement for zinc finger transcription factor Gfi-1 in neutrophil differentiation.

We report essential roles of zinc finger transcription factor Gfi-1 in myeloid development. Gene-targeted Gfi-1(-/-) mice lack normal neutrophils and are highly susceptible to abscess formation by gram-positive bacteria. Arrested, morphologically atypical, Gr1(+)Mac1(+) myeloid cells expand with age in the bone marrow. RNAs encoding primary but not secondary or tertiary neutrophil (granulocyte) granule proteins are expressed. The atypical Gr1(+)Mac1(+) cell population shares characteristics of both the neutrophil and macrophage lineages and exhibits phagocytosis and respiratory burst activity. Reexpression of Gfi-1 in sorted Gfi-1(-/-) progenitors ex vivo rescues neutrophil differentiation in response to G-CSF. Thus, Gfi-1 not only promotes differentiation of neutrophils but also antagonizes traits of the alternate monocyte/macrophage program.

cAMP-independent control of sporulation, glycogen metabolism, and heat shock resistance in S. cerevisiae

Genes encoding the regulatory (BCY1) and catalytic (TPK1, TPK2, and TPK3) subunits of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAPK) are found in S. cerevisiae. bcy1- yeast strains do not respond properly to nutrient conditions. Unlike wild type, bcy1- strains do not accumulate glycogen, form spores, or become resistant to heat shock when nutrient limited. We have isolated mutant TPK genes that suppress all of the bcy1- defects. The mutant TPK genes appear to encode functionally attenuated catalytic subunits of the cAPK. bcy1- yeast strains containing the mutant TPK genes respond appropriately to nutrient conditions, even in the absence of CDC25, both RAS genes, or CYR1. Together, these genes encode the known components of the cAMP-generating machinery. The results indicate that cAMP-independent mechanisms must exist for regulating glycogen accumulation, sporulation, and the acquisition of thermotolerance in S. cerevisiae.

Functional homology of mammalian and yeast RAS genes

Yeast spores lacking endogenous RAS genes will not germinate. If such spores contain chimeric mammalian/yeast RAS genes or even the mammalian H-ras gene under the control of the galactose-inducible GAL10 promoter, they will germinate in the presence of galactose and produce viable haploid progeny dependent on galactose for continued growth and viability. These results indicate that the biochemical function of RAS proteins is essential for vegetative haploid yeast and that this function has been conserved in evolution since the progenitors of yeast and mammals diverged.

Studies of RAS Function in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The three mammalian RAS genes, Ha-ras, Ki-ras, and N-ras, are capable of the malignant transformation of cultured animal cells (Barbacid 1987). Mutations in these genes have been linked to a large number of human cancers (Barbacid 1987). These genes encode closely related proteins that bind guanine nucleotides (Scolnick et al. 1979; Shih et al. 1980; Ellis et al. 1981) and are localized to the inner surface of the plasma membrane (Willingham et al. 1980; Papageorge et al, 1982). Normal RAS proteins also slowly hydrolyze GTP (Gibbs et al. 1984; McGrath et al. 1984; Sweet et al. 1984). These properties are similar to those of the G proteins, which has led to the widespread expectation that RAS proteins, like G proteins, are involved in the transduction of membrane signals that are linked to cellular proliferation or differentiation.