Mutations in SID2, a novel gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, cause synthetic lethality with sic1 deletion and may cause a defect during S phase.

SIC1 encodes a nonessential B-type cyclin/CDK inhibitor that functions at the G1/S transition and the exit from mitosis. To understand more completely the regulation of these transitions, mutations causing synthetic lethality with sic1 Delta were isolated. In this screen, we identified a novel gene, SID2, which encodes an essential protein that appears to be required for DNA replication or repair. sid2-1 sic1 Delta strains and sid2-21 temperature-sensitive strains arrest preanaphase as large-budded cells with a single nucleus, a short spindle, and an approximately 2C DNA content. RAD9, which is necessary for the DNA damage checkpoint, is required for the preanaphase arrest of sid2-1 sic1 Delta cells. Analysis of chromosomes in mutant sid2-21 cells by field inversion gel electrophoresis suggests the presence of replication forks and bubbles at the arrest. Deleting the two S phase cyclins, CLB5 and CLB6, substantially suppresses the sid2-1 sic1 Delta inviability, while stabilizing Clb5 protein exacerbates the defects of sid2-1 sic1 Delta cells. In synchronized sid2-1 mutant strains, the onset of replication appears normal, but completion of DNA synthesis is delayed. sid2-1 mutants are sensitive to hydroxyurea indicating that sid2-1 cells may suffer DNA damage that, when combined with additional insult, leads to a decrease in viability. Consistent with this hypothesis, sid2-1 rad9 cells are dead or very slow growing even when SIC1 is expressed.

Roles of Hof1p, Bni1p, Bnr1p, and myo1p in cytokinesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Cytokinesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae occurs by the concerted action of the actomyosin system and septum formation. Here we report on the roles of HOF1, BNI1, and BNR1 in cytokinesis, focusing on Hof1p. Deletion of HOF1 causes a temperature-sensitive defect in septum formation. A Hof1p ring forms on the mother side of the bud neck in G2/M, followed by the formation of a daughter-side ring. Around telophase, Hof1p is phosphorylated and the double rings merge into a single ring that contracts slightly and may colocalize with the actomyosin structure. Upon septum formation, Hof1p splits into two rings, disappearing upon cell separation. Hof1p localization is dependent on septins but not Myo1p. Synthetic lethality suggests that Bni1p and Myo1p belong to one functional pathway, whereas Hof1p and Bnr1p belong to another. These results suggest that Hof1p may function as an adapter linking the primary septum synthesis machinery to the actomyosin system. The formation of the actomyosin ring is not affected by bni1Delta, hof1Delta, or bnr1Delta. However, Myo1p contraction is affected by bni1Delta but not by hof1Delta or bnr1Delta. In bni1Delta cells that lack the actomyosin contraction, septum formation is often slow and asymmetric, suggesting that actomyosin contraction may provide directionality for efficient septum formation.

Interaction between the MEC1-dependent DNA synthesis checkpoint and G1 cyclin function in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The completion of DNA synthesis in yeast is monitored by a checkpoint that requires MEC1 and RAD53. Here we show that deletion of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae G1 cyclins CLN1 and CLN2 suppressed the essential requirement for MEC1 function. Wild-type levels of CLN1 and CLN2, or overexpression of CLN1, CLN2, or CLB5, but not CLN3, killed mec1 strains. We identified RNR1, which encodes a subunit of ribonucleotide reductase, as a high-copy suppressor of the lethality of mec1 GAL1-CLN1. Northern analysis demonstrated that RNR1 expression is reduced by CLN1 or CLN2 overexpression. Because limiting RNR1 expression would be expected to decrease dNTP pools, CLN1 and CLN2 may cause lethality in mec1 strains by causing initiation of DNA replication with inadequate dNTPs. In contrast to mec1 mutants, MEC1 strains with low dNTPs would be able to delay S phase and thereby remain viable. We propose that the essential function for MEC1 may be the same as its checkpoint function during hydroxyurea treatment, namely, to slow S phase when nucleotides are limiting. In a cln1 cln2 background, a prolonged period of expression of genes turned on at the G1-S border, such as RNR1, has been observed. Thus deletion of CLN1 and CLN2 could function similarly to overexpression of RNR1 in suppressing mec1 lethality.

Mutations in RAD27 define a potential link between G1 cyclins and DNA replication.

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has three G1 cyclin (CLN) genes with overlapping functions. To analyze the functions of the various CLN genes, we examined mutations that result in lethality in conjunction with loss of cln1 and cln2. We have isolated alleles of RAD27/ERC11/YKL510, the yeast homolog of the gene encoding flap endonuclease 1, FEN-1.cln1 cln2 rad27/erc11 cells arrest in S phase; this cell cycle arrest is suppressed by the expression of CLN1 or CLN2 but not by that of CLN3 or the hyperactive CLN3-2. rad27/erc11 mutants are also defective in DNA damage repair, as determined by their increased sensitivity to a DNA-damaging agent, increased mitotic recombination rates, and increased spontaneous mutation rates. Unlike the block in cell cycle progression, these phenotypes are not suppressed by CLN1 or CLN2. CLN1 and CLN2 may activate an RAD27/ERC11-independent pathway specific for DNA synthesis that CLN3 is incapable of activating. Alternatively, CLN1 and CLN2 may be capable of overriding a checkpoint response which otherwise causes cln1 cln2 rad27/erc11 cells to arrest. These results imply that CLN1 and CLN2 have a role in the regulation of DNA replication. Consistent with this, GAL-CLN1 expression in checkpoint-deficient, mec1-1 mutant cells results in both cell death and increased chromosome loss among survivors, suggesting that CLN1 overexpression either activates defective DNA replication or leads to insensitivity to DNA damage.

Genetic interactions between CDC31 and KAR1, two genes required for duplication of the microtubule organizing center in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

KAR1 encodes an essential component of the yeast spindle pole body (SPB) that is required for karyogamy and SPB duplication. A temperature-sensitive mutation, kar1-delta 17, mapped to a region required for SPB duplication and for localization to the SPB. To identify interacting SPB proteins, we isolated 13 dominant mutations and 3 high copy number plasmids that suppressed the temperature sensitivity of kar1-delta 17. Eleven extragenic suppressor mutations mapped to two linkage groups, DSK1 and DSK2. The extragenic suppressors were specific for SPB duplication and did not suppress karyogamy-defective alleles. The major class, DSK1, consisted of mutations in CDC31. CDC31 is required for SPB duplication and encodes a calmodulin-like protein that is most closely related to caltractin/centrin, a protein associated with the Chlamydomonas basal body. The high copy number suppressor plasmids contained the wild-type CDC31 gene. One CDC31 suppressor allele conferred a temperature-sensitive defect in SPB duplication, which was counter-suppressed by recessive mutations in KAR1. In spite of the evidence for a direct interaction, the strongest CDC31 alleles, as well as both DSK2 alleles, suppressed a complete deletion of KAR1. However, the CDC31 alleles also made the cell supersensitive to KAR1 gene dosage, arguing against a simple bypass mechanism of suppression. We propose a model in which Kar1p helps localize Cdc31p to the SPB and that Cdc31p then initiates SPB duplication via interaction with a downstream effector.

Separate domains of KAR1 mediate distinct functions in mitosis and nuclear fusion.

The yeast KAR1 gene is essential for mitotic growth and important for nuclear fusion. Mutations in KAR1 prevent duplication of the spindle pole body (SPB), and affect functions associated with both the nuclear and cytoplasmic microtubules. The localization of hybrid Kar1-lacZ proteins, described elsewhere (Vallen, E. A., T. Y. Scherson, T. Roberts, K. van Zee, and M. D. Rose. 1992. Cell. In press), suggest that the protein is associated with the SPB. In this paper, we report a deletion analysis demonstrating that the mitotic and karyogamy functions of KAR1 are separate and independent, residing in discrete functional domains. One region, here shown to be essential for mitosis, coincided with a part of the protein that is both necessary and sufficient to target Karl-lacZ hybrid proteins to the SPB (Vallen, E. A., T. Y. Scherson, T. Roberts, K. van Zee, and M. D. Rose. 1992. Cell. In press). Complementation testing demonstrated that deletions in this interval did not affect nuclear fusion. A second region, required only for karyogamy, was necessary for the localization of a Kar3-lacZ hybrid protein to the SPB. These data suggest a model for the roles of Kar1p and Kar3p, a kinesin-like protein, in nuclear fusion. Finally, a third region of KAR1 was found to be important for both mitosis and karyogamy. This domain included the hydrophobic carboxy terminus and is sufficient to target a lacZ-Kar1 hybrid protein to the nuclear envelope (Vallen E. A., T. Y. Scherson, T. Roberts, K. van Zee, and M. D. Rose. 1992. Cell. In press). Altogether, the essential mitotic regions of KAR1 comprised 20% of the coding sequence. We propose a model for Kar1p in which the protein is composed of several protein-binding domains tethered to the nuclear envelope via its hydrophobic tail.

Asymmetric mitotic segregation of the yeast spindle pole body.

The yeast KAR1 gene is required for spindle pole body (SPB) duplication and nuclear fusion. We determine here that KAR1-beta-galactosidase hybrid proteins localize to the outer face of the SPB. Remarkably, after SPB duplication, the hybrid protein was found associated with only one of the two SPBs, usually the one that enters the bud. Using an ndc1 mutant, which forms a defective SPB at the nonpermissive temperature, we found that the hybrid was exclusively associated with the "new" SPB. Two regions of KAR1 contribute to its localization; an internal 70 residue region was necessary and sufficient to localize hybrids to the SPB, and the hydrophobic carboxyl terminus localized proteins to the nuclear envelope. The localization domains correspond to two functional domains required for SPB duplication. We suggest that KAR1 is anchored to the nuclear envelope and interacts with at least one other SPB component during the cell cycle.

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans of Ras-transformed 3T3 or neuroblastoma cells. Differing functions in adhesion on fibronectin.

Initial studies described the significance of heparan sulfate proteoglycans of Balb/c 3T3 cells in their adhesion on fibronectin matrices, including their binding to multiple domains in FN, the importance of this binding in microfilament and close contact formation, and the cooperativity of both HS-PG and 140k glycoprotein integrin's binding to FN to achieve tight-focal contacts under cells. These analyses utilized model HS-binding proteins, such as platelet factor 4, and proteolytic fragments of FN with differing binding activities in both cell biological analyses of adhesion responses and in biochemical analyses of the HS-PG in the adhesion sites. In contrast, dermatan sulfate proteoglycans (DS-PG) inhibit 3T3 adhesion on FN but not on collagen; of special note is the discovery that certain integrin-binding fragments of FN also contain a third HS/DS-binding domain that is cryptic and that provides a more effective mechanism for inhibiting integrin: FN binding. Kirsten Ras oncogene-transformed 3T3 cells and their nude-mouse-derived primary or lung metastatic tumors are also being analyzed by similar approaches. HS-PGs in the adhesion sites of these tumor populations undergo extensive catabolism, resulting in alteration of their binding to FN affinity columns (and by implication alteration in adhesion responses of these tumor cells on FN matrices). Functions for HS-PG on the surface of neuronal cell derivatives, e.g., neuroblastoma cells derived from the neural crest of the embryo and potentially related in some ways to peripheral neurons, are also being explored. HS-binding fragments of FN or PF4 facilitate attachment and spreading of neuroblastoma cells but not neurite outgrowth, contrasting with the ability of dorsal root ganglion neurons to extend neurites on HS-binding substrata. The catabolism of HS-PG in neuroblastoma adhesion sites is minimal, indicating that this cannot be the explanation for incompetence in neurite extension. Neurite extension by neuroblastoma cells on FN results from three different and overlapping binding activities of non-PG receptors on the cell surface--RGDS-dependent binding to integrin, an RGDS-independent mechanism (perhaps a cell type-specific domain), and a ganglioside-dependent process. However, these neurite-extending reactions can be modulated either by exogenous addition of proteoglycans acting in a "trans" manner with the cell surface or by endogenous HG-PG acting in a "cis" manner with one or more of these receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans in the substratum adhesion sites of human neuroblastoma cells: modulation of affinity binding to fibronectin.

Tissue culture substratum adhesion sites from EGTA-detached Platt human neuroblastoma cells were extracted with a buffer containing ocytlglucoside, NaCl, guanidine hydrochloride, and a variety of protease inhibitors, an extraction which resulted in quantitative solubilization of the 35SO4 = -radiolabeled proteoglycans and 3H-leucine-radiolabeled proteins. Of the sulfate-radiolabeled material, the vast majority was heparan sulfate proteoglycan (Kav = 0.15 on Sepharose C14B columns) and the remainder was chondroitin sulfate chains (no single chains of heparan sulfate were observed). This extract was then fractionated on DEAE-Sephadex columns under two different buffer elution conditions. Under DEAE-I conditions in low ionic strength acetate buffer, two major peaks of 35SO4 = -radiolabeled material (A,B) and a minor peak (C) could be resolved in the NaCl gradient; however, three-fourths of the material required 4 M guanidine hydrochloride to elute it from the column (peak D). Under DEAE-II conditions in acetate buffer supplemented with 8 M urea, the vast majority of the proteoglycan material could be eluted in the NaCl gradient as peak AB. Peak D material was shown to contain aggregated proteoglycan, along with nonproteoglycan protein, which high concentrations of urea or guanidine could dissociate, but not nonionic or zwitterionic detergents. Three different affinity chromatography systems were used to further characterize these components. Approximately 60% of peak A heparan sulfate proteoglycan from DEAE-I binds to the hydrophobic matrix, octyl-Sepharose, while 80% of the proteoglycan in DEAE-I peak D binds to this hydrophobic column. A sizable fraction of peak A proteoglycan fails to bind to plasma fibronectin but does bind to platelet factor-4 affinity columns. In contrast, peak AB proteoglycan from DEAE-II columns yields a much higher proportion of molecules which do bind to fibronectin. To examine the basis for these differences in affinity binding, nonproteoglycan protein from these adhesion sites was mixed with peak AB proteoglycan prior to affinity chromatography; proteoglycan binding to fibronectin decreased markedly while binding to platelet factor-4 was unaffected. This modulating activity involves the binding of nonproteoglycan protein in adhesion site extracts to both fibronectin on the column, as well as to heparan sulfate proteoglycan itself, and it could not be mimicked by a number of known proteins in adhesion site extracts or several other proteins. These results demonstrate selectivity and specificity in this modulation and indicate that a previously unidentified protein(s) is responsible.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Cyclic AMP regulation of the human glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit gene is mediated by an 18-base-pair element.

cAMP regulates transcription of the gene encoding the alpha-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in choriocarcinoma cells (BeWo). To define the sequences required for regulation by cAMP, we inserted fragments from the 5' flanking region of the alpha-subunit gene into a test vector containing the simian virus 40 early promoter (devoid of its enhancer) linked to the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene. Results from transient expression assays in BeWo cells indicated that a 1500-base-pair (bp) fragment conferred cAMP responsiveness on the CAT gene regardless of position or orientation of the insert relative to the viral promoter. A subfragment extending from position -169 to position -100 had the same effect on cAMP-induced expression. Furthermore, the entire stimulatory effect could be achieved with an 18-bp synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide corresponding to a direct repeat between positions -146 and -111. In the absence of cAMP, the alpha-subunit 5' flanking sequence also enhanced transcription from the simian virus 40 early promoter. We localized this enhancer activity to the same -169/-100 fragment containing the cAMP response element. The 18-bp element alone, however, had no effect on basal expression. Thus, this short DNA sequence serves as a cAMP response element and also functions independently of other promoter-regulatory elements located in the 5' flanking sequence of the alpha-subunit gene.