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The PAAD/PYRIN-family protein ASC is a dual regulator of a conserved step in nuclear factor kappaB activation pathways.

Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a Caspase recruitment domain (ASC) belongs to a large family of proteins that contain a Pyrin, AIM, ASC, and death domain-like (PAAD) domain (also known as PYRIN, DAPIN, Pyk). Recent data have suggested that ASC functions as an adaptor protein linking various PAAD-family proteins to pathways involved in nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB and pro-Caspase-1 activation. We present evidence here that the role of ASC in modulating NF-kappaB activation pathways is much broader than previously suspected, as it can either inhibit or activate NF-kappaB, depending on cellular context. While coexpression of ASC with certain PAAD-family proteins such as Pyrin and Cryopyrin increases NF-kappaB activity, ASC has an inhibitory influence on NF-kappaB activation by various proinflammatory stimuli, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha, interleukin 1beta, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Elevations in ASC protein levels or of the PAAD domain of ASC suppressed activation of IkappaB kinases in cells exposed to pro-inflammatory stimuli. Conversely, reducing endogenous levels of ASC using siRNA enhanced TNF- and LPS-induced degradation of the IKK substrate, IkappaBalpha. Our findings suggest that ASC modulates diverse NF-kappaB induction pathways by acting upon the IKK complex, implying a broad role for this and similar proteins containing PAAD domains in regulation of inflammatory responses.

Binding Sites↗

MALT1 contains nuclear export signals and regulates cytoplasmic localization of BCL10.

MALT1, BCL10 (B-cell lymphoma 10), and API2 (apoptosis inhibitor 2)-MALT1 are key molecules in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomagenesis. We previously reported that MALT1 and API2-MALT1 were localized only in cytoplasm, where we suggested that both molecules were likely to be active. In the study presented here, we further examined the localization-determining region by generating various mutants and were able to demonstrate that there were nuclear export signal (NES)-containing domains in the MALT1 C-terminal region. The use of leptomycin B, an NES-specific inhibitor, demonstrated that both MALT1 and API2-MALT1 were predominantly retained in the nuclei, indicating that these molecules were shuttling between nucleus and cytoplasm in an NES-dependent manner. It was also found that MALT1 was involved in the nuclear export of BCL10, which is originally localized in both nucleus and cytoplasm. These results correlate well with the nuclear BCL10 expression pattern in both t(1;14) and t(11;18) MALT lymphomas. The nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of MALT1 and BCL10 complex may indicate that these molecules are involved not only in the nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) pathway but also in other biologic functions in lymphocytes.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Interaction of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase with the CAT-1 arginine transporter enhances NO release by a mechanism not involving arginine transport.

eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase) catalyses the conversion of L-arginine into L-citrulline and NO. Evidence has been presented previously that eNOS is associated with the CAT (cationic amino acid transporter)-1 arginine transporter in endothelial caveolae, and it has been proposed that eNOS-CAT-1 association facilitates the delivery of extracellular L-arginine to eNOS. Definitive proof of a protein-protein interaction between eNOS and CAT-1 is lacking, however, and it is also unknown whether the two proteins interact directly or via an adaptor protein. In the present study, we raised a polyclonal antibody against CAT-1, and show using reciprocal co-immunoprecipitation protocols that eNOS and CAT-1 do indeed form a complex in BAECs (bovine aortic endothelial cells). In vitro binding assays with GST (glutathione S-transferase)-CAT-1 fusion proteins and eNOS show that the two proteins interact directly and that no single CAT-1 intracellular domain is sufficient to mediate the interaction. Overexpression of CAT-1 in BAECs by adenoviral-mediated gene transfer results in significant increases in both L-arginine uptake and NO production by the cells. However, whereas increased L-arginine transport is reversed completely by the CAT-1 inhibitor, L-lysine, increased NO release is unaltered, suggesting that NO production in this in vitro model is independent of CAT-1-mediated transport. Furthermore, eNOS enzymic activity is increased in lysates of CAT-1-overexpressing cells accompanied by increased phosphorylation of eNOS at Ser-1179 and Ser-635, and decreased association of eNOS with caveolin-1. Taken together, these data suggest that direct interaction of eNOS with CAT-1 enhances NO release by a mechanism not involving arginine transport.

Adenoviridae↗

Upf1p control of nonsense mRNA translation is regulated by Nmd2p and Upf3p.

Upf1p, Nmd2p, and Upf3p regulate the degradation of yeast mRNAs that contain premature translation termination codons. These proteins also appear to regulate the fidelity of termination, allowing translational suppression in their absence. Here, we have devised a novel quantitative assay for translational suppression, based on a nonsense allele of the CAN1 gene (can1-100), and used it to determine the regulatory roles of the UPF/NMD gene products. Deletion of UPF1, NMD2, or UPF3 stabilized the can1-100 transcript and promoted can1-100 nonsense suppression. Changes in mRNA levels were not the basis of suppression, however, since deletion of DCP1 or XRN1 or high-copy-number can1-100 expression in wild-type cells caused an increase in mRNA abundance similar to that obtained in upf/nmd cells but did not result in comparable suppression. can1-100 suppression was highest in cells harboring a deletion of UPF1, and overexpression of UPF1 in cells with individual or multiple upf/nmd mutations lowered the level of nonsense suppression without affecting the abundance of the can1-100 mRNA. Our findings indicate that Nmd2p and Upf3p regulate Upf1p activity and that Upf1p plays a critical role in promoting termination fidelity that is independent of its role in regulating mRNA decay. Consistent with these relationships, Upf1p, Nmd2p, and Upf3p were shown to be present at 1, 600, 160, and 80 molecules per cell, levels that underscored the importance of Upf1p but minimized the likelihood that these proteins were associated with all ribosomes or that they functioned as a stoichiometric complex.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

HNPCC mutations in the human DNA mismatch repair gene hMLH1 influence assembly of hMutLalpha and hMLH1-hEXO1 complexes.

Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is a common inherited form of neoplasia caused by germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes. MMR proteins have been reported to associate with several proteins, including the human exonuclease 1 (hEXO1). We report here novel HNPCC-hMLH1 mutant proteins (T117M, Q426X and 1813insA) in Danish HNPCC patients. We demonstrate that these mutant HNPCC-hMLH1 proteins are unable to form complexes with hEXO1 and hPMS2 in vivo. The results indicate that mutations found in HNPCC gene carriers disrupt hMLH1-hEXO1 complex formation and hMutLalpha heterodimer assembly essential for MMR activity.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Identification of AMSH-LP containing a Jab1/MPN domain metalloenzyme motif.

We have isolated a cDNA clone encoding a new AMSH (associated molecule with the SH3 domain of STAM) family protein, termed AMSH-like protein (AMSH-LP). AMSH-LP has similar characteristics to AMSH; both AMSH-LP and AMSH are expressed ubiquitously in various human tissues, contain a putative nuclear localization signal (NLS), an Mpr/Pad1/N-terminal (MPN) domain, and a Jab1/MPN domain metalloenzyme (JAMM) motif in their structures, and are excluded from the nucleus when lacking either the NLS or MPN domain. Moreover, we observed an enhancement of interleukin 2 (IL-2)-mediated c-myc induction in AMSH-LP-transfected cells similar to that seen in AMSH-transfected cells, suggesting a functional similarity between AMSH-LP and AMSH. However, the present study demonstrated that AMSH-LP, unlike AMSH, fails to bind to the SH3 domains of STAM1 (signal transducing adaptor molecule 1) and Grb2. These results suggest that AMSH-LP and AMSH may have different functions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Co-stimulation of T cells with CD2 augments TCR-CD3-mediated activation of protein tyrosine kinase p72syk, resulting in increased tyrosine phosphorylation of adapter proteins, Shc and Cbl.

Complete T cell activation requires not only the first signal via TCR-CD3 engagement, but also a co-stimulatory signal through accessory receptors such as CD2, LFA-1 and CD28. However, the pathway of co-stimulatory signaling through accessory receptors is incompletely understood. We report here that CD2 provides a co-stimulus for activation of CD3-mediated syk/ZAP-70 family kinase, p72Syk (Syk), in Jurkat T cells. Although cross-linking of CD2 alone or any combination of CD2 with LFA-1alpha, LFA-1beta or CD28 did not induce tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk, co-cross-linking of CD2 with CD3 enhanced CD3-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk. Enhancement of tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk by CD2 co-stimulation was CD2 antibody concentration-dependent, and time course studies showed that CD2 co-stimulation enhanced Syk tyrosine phosphorylation by 30 s and through 5 min stimulation compared with the control. In vitro kinase assay revealed that co-cross-linking of CD2 with CD3 augmented Syk kinase activity using myelin basic protein as a substrate. Furthermore, CD2 co-stimulation with CD3 resulted in enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of adapter proteins, such as Shc and Cbl, in an antibody concentration-dependent manner. Finally, CD2 provided a co-stimulatory signals for synthesis of IL-2 in Jurkat cells and phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-activated T cells and for proliferation of PHA-activated T cells. Taken together, these results indicate that CD2 is an important co-stimulatory receptor for CD3-mediated T cell activation and functions in concert with CD3.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Plasma membrane-cytoskeleton-endoplasmic reticulum complexes in neurons and astrocytes.

The possibility that certain integral plasma membrane (PM) proteins involved in Ca(2+) homeostasis form junctional units with adjacent endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in neurons and glia was explored using immunoprecipitation and immunocytochemistry. Rat brain membranes were solubilized with the mild, non-ionic detergent, IGEPAL CA-630. Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger type 1 (NCX1), a key PM Ca(2+) transporter, was immunoprecipitated from the detergent-soluble fraction. Several abundant PM proteins co-immunoprecipitated with NCX1, including the alpha2 and alpha3 isoforms of the Na(+) pump catalytic (alpha) subunit, and the alpha2 subunit of the dihydropyridine receptor. The adaptor protein, ankyrin 2 (Ank 2), and the cytoskeletal proteins, alpha-fodrin and beta-spectrin, also selectively co-immunoprecipitated with NCX1, as did the ER proteins, Ca(2+) pump type 2 (SERCA 2), and inositol-trisphosphate receptor type 1 (IP(3)R-1). In contrast, a number of other abundant PMs, adaptors, and cytoskeletal proteins did not co-immunoprecipitate with NCX1, including the Na(+) pump alpha1 isoform, PM Ca(2+) pump type 1 (PMCA1), beta-fodrin, and Ank 3. In reciprocal experiments, immunoprecipitation with antibodies to the Na(+) pump alpha2 and alpha3 isoforms, but not alpha1, co-immunoprecipitated NCX1; the antibodies to alpha1 did, however, co-immunoprecipitate PMCA1. Antibodies to Ank 2, alpha-fodrin, beta-spectrin and IP(3)R-1 all co-immunoprecipitated NCX1. Immunocytochemistry revealed partial co-localization of beta-spectrin with NCX1, Na(+) pump alpha3, and IP(3)R-1 in neurons and of alpha-fodrin with NCX1 and SERCA2 in astrocytes. The data support the idea that in neurons and glia PM microdomains containing NCX1 and Na(+) pumps with alpha2 or alpha3 subunits form Ca(2+) signaling complexes with underlying ER containing SERCA2 and IP(3)R-1. These PM and ER components appear to be linked through the cytoskeletal spectrin network, to which they are probably tethered by Ank 2.

Animals↗

Tyrosine phosphorylation of Crk-associated substrate lymphocyte-type is a critical element in TCR- and beta 1 integrin-induced T lymphocyte migration.

Crk-associated substrate (Cas) lymphocyte-type (Cas-L) is a 105-kDa cytoplasmic protein consisting of Src homology-3 domain and multiple YXXP motifs (substrate domain). Our previous studies showed that Cas-L is tyrosine-phosphorylated following the ligation of TCR and beta 1 integrins in T lymphocytes. Here we show that Cas-L is involved in T cell motility following the ligation of TCR and beta 1 integrin. Peripheral T lymphocytes showed a marked increase of migration on fibronectin (FN) after the ligation of TCR. In contrast, the migrating Jurkat cells, in which Cas-L was marginally expressed, were less than one-tenth in number on the same condition. Transfection of wild-type Cas-L into Jurkat cells resulted in restoring CD3 plus FN-induced cell migration. Furthermore, following the ligation of beta 1 integrin alone, the Cas-L transfectants significantly migrated better than the vector control. Mutational analysis of Cas-L revealed that the substrate domain is required for both FN- and CD3-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Cas-L and cell migration caused by FN alone and CD3 plus FN. In contrast, the Src homology-3 domain is required only for the FN-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Cas-L and cell migration, but not for CD3-induced tyrosine phosphorylation or CD3 plus FN-induced cell migration. These data strongly suggest that Cas-L is a key molecule in T cell migration induced by the ligation of CD3 and beta 1 integrins and that tyrosine phosphorylation of Cas-L is essential for T cell migration.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Selective interaction of complexin with the neuronal SNARE complex. Determination of the binding regions.

Complexins are evolutionarily conserved proteins that specifically bind to soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complexes and thus may regulate SNARE function. Using purified proteins, we have performed a detailed analysis of the structure of complexin and of its interaction with SNARE proteins. NMR spectroscopy revealed that isolated complexins have no tertiary structure but contain an unusual alpha-helical middle domain of approximately 58 amino acids that overlaps with the most highly conserved region of the molecules. Complexins form a stable stoichiometric complex with the central domain of the ternary SNARE complex, whereas no binding was observed to monomeric SNAREs. Using a combination of limited proteolysis, deletion mutagenesis, and NMR spectroscopy, we found that the helical middle region of complexin is responsible for binding to the SNARE complex. Binding was highly sensitive to substitution of syntaxin 1 or synaptobrevin 2 with other SNARE homologs but less sensitive to substitution of SNAP-25. In addition, a stretch of 12 amino acids in the middle of the SNARE motif of syntaxin 1A was able to confer binding activity to the non-binding relative syntaxin 4. Furthermore, disassembly of ternary complexes is not affected by complexins. We conclude that complexins are specific ligands of the neuronal core complex that bind with a central alpha-helical domain, probably to the middle of the surface groove formed by synaptobrevin and syntaxin. Complexins may regulate the function of ternary complexes and control membrane fusion through this interaction.

Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport↗

Multi-tasking by the p75 neurotrophin receptor: sortilin things out?

Signalling by the p75 neurotrophin receptor has been implicated in diverse neuronal responses, including increased differentiation or survival, inhibition of regeneration, and initiation of apoptotic cell death. These numerous roles are matched by, but are not yet correlated with, a multiplicity of extracellular ligands and intracellular interactors. Membrane proteins such as sortilin, a member of the Vps10p family of sorting receptors, and the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked Nogo receptor (NgR) and the associated adaptor lingo 1 have recently been added to the list of p75-interacting modulators. Other studies have described intramembranal cleavage of p75 and the potential nuclear targeting of cleavage fragments or of the complete receptor after it has been internalized into a putative signalling endosome. These findings suggest that some of the diversity in p75 activities might be due to differential subcellular localization and transport of p75 receptor complexes. We therefore argue that cell-biology-driven approaches are now required to make sense of p75 signalling.

Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport↗

A role for Shc, Grb2, and Raf-1 in FcgammaRI signal relay.

The activation of the serine/threonine kinase, Raf-1, serves to connect upstream protein tyrosine kinases to downstream signaling events. We previously reported that FcgammaRI stimulation of interferon gamma-differentiated U937 cells (termed U937IF cells) induces a mobility shift in Erk2. Herein, we report that cross-linking of FcgammaRI receptor in U937IF cells induces a marked tyrosine phosphorylation of Raf-1 (10-fold increase). Tyrosine phosphorylation of Raf-1 is induced by FcgammaRI activation and not by PMA (1 microg/ml), N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (1 microM), calcium ionophore (1 microM), thrombin (0.05 unit/ml), FcgammaRII, or FcgammaRIII stimulation. The kinetics of Raf-1 tyrosine phosphorylation is rapid, reaching peak levels 1-2 min after FcgammaRI activation, and the tyrosine phosphorylation of Raf-1 precedes the activation of the respiratory burst. FcgammaRI cross-linking induces the tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc; tyrosine-phosphorylated Shc binds to Grb2 forming a Shc-Grb2 complex. The data provide evidence that the FcgammaRI receptor signals via the upstream activation of nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinases, which leads to the subsequent activation of Ras family GTPases and serine/threonine kinases, Raf-1 and mitogen-activated protein kinase.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Arf1 dissociates from the clathrin adaptor GGA prior to being inactivated by Arf GTPase-activating proteins.

The effectors of monomeric GTP-binding proteins can influence interactions with GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) in two ways. In one case, effector and GAP binding to the GTP-binding protein is mutually exclusive. In another case, the GTP-binding protein bound to an effector is the substrate for the GTPase-activating protein. Here predictions for these two mechanisms were tested for the Arf1 effector GGA and ASAP family Arf GAPs. GGA inhibited Arf GAP activity of ASAP1, AGAP1, ARAP1, and Arf GAP1 and inhibited binding of Arf1.GTPgammaS to AGAP1 with K(i) values correlating with the K(d) for the GGA.Arf1 complex. ASAP1 blocked Arf1.GTPgammaS binding to GGA with a K(i) similar to the K(d) for the ASAP.Arf1.GTPgammaS complex. No interaction of GGA with ASAP1 was detected. Consistent with GGA sequestering Arf from GAPs, overexpression of GGA slowed the rate of Arf dissociation from the Golgi apparatus following treatment with brefeldin A. Mutational analysis revealed the amino-terminal alpha-helix and switch I of Arf1 contributed to interaction with both GGA and GAPs. These data exclude the mechanism previously documented for Arf GAP1/coatomer in which Arf1 is inactivated in a tripartite complex. Instead, termination of Arf1 signals mediated through GGA require that Arf1.GTP dissociates from GGA prior to interaction with GAP and consequent hydrolysis of GTP.

3T3 Cells↗

Negative regulation of hormone signaling by RIP140.

Receptor interacting protein (RIP) 140 is a negative transcriptional regulator of nuclear hormone receptors which is required for the maintenance of energy homeostasis and ovulation. Despite its recruitment by agonist-liganded receptors, this protein exhibits a strong repressive activity which was initially attributed to competition with coactivator binding on nuclear receptors. However, RIP140 also exerts active repression implicating the Carboxyl-terminal binding proteins (CtBPs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs). We recently demonstrated that the Carboxyl-terminal region of the molecule contains two additional silencing domains which require post-translational modifications to be fully active. In human breast cancer cells, RIP140 expression is up-regulated at the transcriptional level by various ligands of nuclear receptors. We have recently cloned the human RIP140 gene and defined the mechanism of its regulation by estrogens. In order to better characterize the role of RIP140 in hormone signaling, we have studied its interaction with the androgen receptor and demonstrated its ability to repress transcriptional regulation by androgens. RIP140 also inhibits transactivation by estrogen receptor-related receptors (ERRalpha, beta and gamma) on natural or artificial reporter genes containing different types of response elements. Surprisingly, RIP140 positively regulates ERR transactivation when the receptors are recruited to target promoters through interaction with the Sp1 transcription factor and this effect could involve titration of histone deacetylases. Altogether, these results underline that transcriptional regulation of hormone signaling by the cofactor RIP140 involves complex mechanisms relying on multiple domains and partners.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Deletion of the Cul1 gene in mice causes arrest in early embryogenesis and accumulation of cyclin E.

The stability of many proteins is controlled by the ubiquitin proteolytic system, which recognizes specific substrates through the action of E3 ubiquitin ligases [1]. The SCFs are a recently described class of ubiquitin ligase that target a number of cell cycle regulators and other proteins for degradation in both yeast and mammalian cells [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]. Each SCF complex is composed of the core protein subunits Skp1, Rbx1 and Cul1 (known as Cdc53 in yeast), and substrate-specific adaptor subunits called F-box proteins [2] [3] [4]. To understand the physiological role of SCF complexes in mammalian cells, we generated mice carrying a deletion in the Cul1 gene. Cul1(-/-) embryos arrested around embryonic day 6.5 (E6.5) before the onset of gastrulation. In all cells of the mutant embryos, cyclin E protein, but not mRNA, was highly elevated. Outgrowths of Cul1(-/-) blastocysts had limited proliferative capacity in vitro and accumulated cyclin E in all cells. Within Cul1(-/-) blastocyst cultures, trophoblast giant cells continued to endocycle despite the elevated cyclin E levels. These results suggest that cyclin E abundance is controlled by SCF activity, possibly through SCF-dependent degradation of cyclin E.

Animals↗

The PYRIN-CARD protein ASC is an activating adaptor for caspase-1.

The PYRIN and CARD domains are members of the six-helix bundle death domain-fold superfamily that mediates assembly of large signaling complexes in the apoptotic and inflammatory signaling pathways. Here we show that the PYRIN-CARD protein ASC functions as a caspase-1-activating adaptor. ASC interacted specifically with procaspase-1 via CARD-CARD interactions and induced its oligomerization. Consistent with these results ectopic expression of full-length ASC, but not its isolated CARD or PYRIN domain, with procaspase-1 induced activation of procaspase-1 and processing of pro-interleukin-1beta in transfected cells. Substitution of the PYRIN domain of ASC with an inducible FKBP12 oligomerization domain produced a molecule that can induce caspase-1 activation in response to stimulation with the oligomerization drug AP20187, suggesting that the PYRIN domain functions as an oligomerization domain, whereas the CARD domain functions as the effector domain in the caspase-1 activation pathway. Furthermore stable expression of an isolated CARD of ASC in THP-1 cells diminished interleukin-1beta generation in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines. These results indicate that ASC is involved in the caspase-1 signaling pathway by mediating the assembly of a caspase-1-inflammasome signaling complex in response to pro-inflammatory cytokine stimulation.

Blood Proteins↗

Highly heterogeneous rates of evolution in the SKP1 gene family in plants and animals: functional and evolutionary implications.

Skp1 (S-phase kinase-associated protein 1) is a core component of SCF ubiquitin ligases and mediates protein degradation, thereby regulating eukaryotic fundamental processes such as cell cycle progression, transcriptional regulation, and signal transduction. Among the four components of the SCF complexes, Rbx1 and Cullin form a core catalytic complex, an F-box protein acts as a receptor for target proteins, and Skp1 is an adaptor between one of the variable F-box proteins and Cullin. Whereas protists, fungi, and some vertebrates have a single SKP1 gene, many animal and plant species possess multiple SKP1 homologs. It has been shown that the same Skp1 homolog can interact with two or more F-box proteins, and different Skp1 homologs from the same species sometimes can interact with the same F-box protein. In this paper, we demonstrate that multiple Skp1 homologs from the same species have evolved at highly heterogeneous rates. Parametric bootstrap analyses suggested that the differences in evolutionary rate are so large that true phylogenies were not recoverable from the full data set. Only when the original data set were partitioned into sets of genes with slow, medium, and rapid rates of evolution and analyzed separately, better-resolved relationships were observed. The slowly evolving Skp1 homologs, which are relatively highly conserved in sequence and expressed widely and/or at high levels, usually have very low d(N)/d(S) values, suggesting that they have evolved under functional constraint and serve the most fundamental function(s). On the other hand, the rapidly evolving members are structurally more diverse and usually have limited expression patterns and higher d(N)/d(S) values, suggesting that they may have evolved under relaxed or altered constraint, or even under positive selection. Some rapidly evolving members may have lost their original function(s) and/or acquired new function(s) or become pseudogenes, as suggested by their expression patterns, d(N)/d(S) values, and amino acid changes at key positions. In addition, our analyses revealed several monophyletic groups within the SKP1 gene family, one for each of protists, fungi, animals, and plants, as well as nematodes, arthropods, and angiosperms, suggesting that the extant SKP1 genes within each of these eukaryote groups shared only one common ancestor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Control of the yeast telomeric senescence survival pathways of recombination by the Mec1 and Mec3 DNA damage sensors and RPA.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae telomerase-negative cells undergo homologous recombination on subtelomeric or TG(1-3) telomeric sequences, thus allowing Type I or Type II post-senescence survival, respectively. Here, we find that the DNA damage sensors, Mec1, Mec3 and Rad24 control Type II recombination, while the Rad9 adaptor protein and the Rad53 and Chk1 effector kinases have no effect on survivor type selection. Therefore, the Mec1 and Mec3 checkpoint complexes control telomeric recombination independently of their roles in generating and amplifying the Mec1-Rad53-Chk1 kinase cascade. rfa1-t11 mutant cells, bearing a mutation in Replication Protein A (RPA) conferring a defect in recruiting Mec1-Ddc2, were also deficient in both types of telomeric recombination. Importantly, expression of an Rfa1-t11-Ddc2 hybrid fusion protein restored checkpoint-dependent arrest, but did not rescue defective telomeric recombination. Therefore, the Rfa1-t11-associated defect in telomeric recombination is not solely due to its failure to recruit Mec1. We have also isolated novel alleles of RFA1 that were deficient in Type I but not in Type II recombination and proficient in checkpoint control. Therefore, the checkpoint and recombination functions of RPA can be genetically separated, as can the RPA-mediated control of the two types of telomeric recombination.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗