Mks1p is a regulator of nitrogen catabolism upstream of Ure2p in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Genetics. 1999 Oct;153(2):585-94. doi: 10.1093/genetics/153.2.585.

Abstract

The supply of nitrogen regulates yeast genes affecting nitrogen catabolism, pseudohyphal growth, and meiotic sporulation. Ure2p of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a negative regulator of nitrogen catabolism that inhibits Gln3p, a positive regulator of DAL5, and other genes of nitrogen assimilation. Dal5p, the allantoate permease, allows ureidosuccinate uptake (Usa(+)) when cells grow on a poor nitrogen source such as proline. We find that overproduction of Mks1p allows uptake of ureidosuccinate on ammonia and lack of Mks1p prevents uptake of ureidosuccinate or Dal5p expression on proline. Overexpression of Mks1p does not affect cellular levels of Ure2p. An mks1 ure2 double mutant can take up ureidosuccinate on either ammonia or proline. Moreover, overexpression of Ure2p suppresses the ability of Mks1p overexpression to allow ureidosuccinate uptake on ammonia. These results suggest that Mks1p is involved in nitrogen control upstream of Ure2p as follows: NH(3) dash, vertical Mks1p dash, vertical Ure2p dash, vertical Gln3p --> DAL5. Either overproduction of Mks1p or deletion of MKS1 interferes with pseudohyphal growth.

MeSH terms

  • Ammonia / metabolism
  • Asparagine / metabolism
  • Crosses, Genetic
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal*
  • Genotype
  • Glutamic Acid / metabolism
  • Glutamine / metabolism
  • Glutathione Peroxidase
  • Nitrogen / metabolism*
  • Plasmids
  • Prions*
  • Proline / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / growth & development
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins*
  • Transcription Factors*

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • MKS1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Prions
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Glutamine
  • Glutamic Acid
  • Asparagine
  • Ammonia
  • Proline
  • Glutathione Peroxidase
  • URE2 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Nitrogen