Project description:The yeast protein kinases Sat4/Hal4 and Hal5 are required for the plasma membrane stability of the K+ transporter Trk1 and some amino acid and glucose permeases. The transcriptomic analysis presented here indicates alterations in the general control of both nitrogen and carbon metabolism. Accordingly, we observed reduced uptake of methionine and leucine in the hal4 hal5 mutant. This decrease correlates with activation of the Gcn2-Gcn4 pathway, as measured by expression of the lacZ gene under the control of the Gcn4 promoter. However, with the exception of methionine biosynthetic genes, few amino acid biosynthetic genes are induced in the hal4 hal5 mutant, whereas several genes involved in amino acid catabolism are repressed. Concerning glucose metabolism, we found that this mutant exhibits derepression of respiratory genes in the presence of glucose, leading to an increased activity of mitochondrial enzymes, as measured by SDH activity. In addition, the reduced glucose consumption in the hal4 hal5 mutant correlates with a more acidic intracellular pH and with low activity of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase. As a compensatory mechanism for the low glycolytic rate, the hal4 hal5 mutant overexpresses the HXT4 high affinity glucose transporter and the hexokinase genes. These results indicate that the hal4 hal5 mutant presents defects in the general control of nitrogen and carbon metabolism, which correlate with reduced transport of amino acids and glucose, respectively. A more acidic intracellular pH may contribute to some defects of this mutant.
Project description:Hexokinase 2 (Hxk2) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a dual function hexokinase, acting as a glycolytic enzyme and being involved in the transcriptional regulation of glucose-repressible genes. Relief from glucose repression is accompanied by phosphorylation of Hxk2 at serine 15, which has been attributed to the protein kinase Tda1. To explore the role of Tda1 beyond Hxk2 phosphorylation, the proteomic consequences of TDA1 deficiency were investigated by difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) comparing a wild type and a Δtda1 deletion mutant. To additionally address possible consequences of glucose repression/derepression, both were grown at 2 % and 0.1 % (w/v) glucose. A total of eight protein spots exhibiting a minimum 2-fold enhanced or reduced fluorescence upon TDA1 deficiency was detected and identified by mass spectrometry. Among the spot identities are – besides the expected Hxk2 – two proteoforms of hexokinase 1 (Hxk1). Targeted proteomics analyses in conjunction with 2D-DIGE demonstrated that TDA1 is indispensable for Hxk2 and Hxk1 phosphorylation at serine 15. Thirty-six glucose-concentration-dependent protein spots were identified. A simple method to improve spot quantification, approximating spots as rotationally symmetric solids, is presented along with new data on the quantities of Hxk1 and Hxk2 and their serine 15 phosphorylated forms at high and low glucose growth conditions. The Δtda1 deletion mutant exhibited no altered growth under high or low glucose conditions or on alternative carbon sources. Also, invertase activity, serving as a reporter for glucose derepression, was not significantly altered. Instead, an involvement of Tda1 in oxidative stress response is suggested.
Project description:In response to carbon source switching from glucose to non-glucose, such as ethanol and galactose, yeast cells can directionally preprogram cellular metabolism to efficiently utilize the nutrients. However, the understanding of cellular responsive network to utilize a non-natural carbon source, such as xylose, is limited due to the incomplete knowledge on the xylose response mechanisms. Here, through optimization of the xylose assimilation pathway together with combinational evaluation of reported targets, we generated a series of mutants with varied growth ability. However, understanding how cells respond to xylose and remodel cellular metabolic network is far insufficient based on current information. Therefore, genome-scale transcriptional analysis was performed to unravel the cellular reprograming mechanisms underlying the improved growth phenotype.