The morphogenesis checkpoint in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: cell cycle control of Swe1p degradation by Hsl1p and Hsl7p

Mol Cell Biol. 1999 Oct;19(10):6929-39. doi: 10.1128/MCB.19.10.6929.

Abstract

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Wee1 family kinase Swe1p is normally stable during G(1) and S phases but is unstable during G(2) and M phases due to ubiquitination and subsequent degradation. However, perturbations of the actin cytoskeleton lead to a stabilization and accumulation of Swe1p. This response constitutes part of a morphogenesis checkpoint that couples cell cycle progression to proper bud formation, but the basis for the regulation of Swe1p degradation by the morphogenesis checkpoint remains unknown. Previous studies have identified a protein kinase, Hsl1p, and a phylogenetically conserved protein of unknown function, Hsl7p, as putative negative regulators of Swe1p. We report here that Hsl1p and Hsl7p act in concert to target Swe1p for degradation. Both proteins are required for Swe1p degradation during the unperturbed cell cycle, and excess Hsl1p accelerates Swe1p degradation in the G(2)-M phase. Hsl1p accumulates periodically during the cell cycle and promotes the periodic phosphorylation of Hsl7p. Hsl7p can be detected in a complex with Swe1p in cell lysates, and the overexpression of Hsl7p or Hsl1p produces an effective override of the G(2) arrest imposed by the morphogenesis checkpoint. These findings suggest that Hsl1p and Hsl7p interact directly with Swe1p to promote its recognition by the ubiquitination complex, leading ultimately to its destruction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Cycle / physiology
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Models, Biological
  • Morphogenesis
  • Periodicity
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / cytology*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins*

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases
  • HSL7 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Protein Kinases
  • SWE1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • HSL1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases