The rye Mutants Identify a Role for Ssn/Srb Proteins of the RNA Polymerase II Holoenzyme During Stationary Phase Entry in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Corresponding author: Paul K. Herman, Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, 484 W. 12th Ave., Rm. 984, Columbus, OH 43210., herman.81{at}osu.edu (E-mail)

Communicating editor: F. WINSTON

Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells enter into a distinct resting state, known as stationary phase, in response to specific types of nutrient deprivation. We have identified a collection of mutants that exhibited a defective transcriptional response to nutrient limitation and failed to enter into a normal stationary phase. These rye mutants were isolated on the basis of defects in the regulation of YGP1 expression. In wild-type cells, YGP1 levels increased during the growth arrest caused by nutrient deprivation or inactivation of the Ras signaling pathway. In contrast, the levels of YGP1 and related genes were significantly elevated in the rye mutants during log phase growth. The rye defects were not specific to this YGP1 response as these mutants also exhibited multiple defects in stationary phase properties, including an inability to survive periods of prolonged starvation. These data indicated that the RYE genes might encode important regulators of yeast cell growth. Interestingly, three of the RYE genes encoded the Ssn/Srb proteins, Srb9p, Srb10p, and Srb11p, which are associated with the RNA polymerase II holoenzyme. Thus, the RNA polymerase II holoenzyme may be a target of the signaling pathways responsible for coordinating yeast cell growth with nutrient availability.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. Linder, N. N. Rasmussen, C. O. Samuelsen, E. Chatzidaki, V. Baraznenok, J. Beve, P. Henriksen, C. M. Gustafsson, and S. Holmberg Two conserved modules of Schizosaccharomyces pombe Mediator regulate distinct cellular pathways Nucleic Acids Res., May 1, 2008; 36(8): 2489 - 2504. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. J. Deminoff, S. C. Howard, A. Hester, S. Warner, and P. K. Herman Using Substrate-Binding Variants of the cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase to Identify Novel Targets and a Kinase Domain Important for Substrate Interactions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Genetics, August 1, 2006; 173(4): 1909 - 1917. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Trott, L. Shaner, and K. A. Morano The Molecular Chaperone Sse1 and the Growth Control Protein Kinase Sch9 Collaborate to Regulate Protein Kinase A Activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Genetics, July 1, 2005; 170(3): 1009 - 1021. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Yoda, H. Kouike, H. Okano, and H. Sawa Components of the transcriptional Mediator complex are required for asymmetric cell division in C. elegans Development, April 15, 2005; 132(8): 1885 - 1893. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Larschan and F. Winston The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Srb8-Srb11 Complex Functions with the SAGA Complex during Gal4-Activated Transcription Mol. Cell. Biol., January 1, 2005; 25(1): 114 - 123. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. V. Budovskaya, J. S. Stephan, F. Reggiori, D. J. Klionsky, and P. K. Herman The Ras/cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Signaling Pathway Regulates an Early Step of the Autophagy Process in Saccharomyces cerevisiae J. Biol. Chem., May 14, 2004; 279(20): 20663 - 20671. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Spahr, O. Khorosjutina, V. Baraznenok, T. Linder, C. O. Samuelsen, D. Hermand, T. P. Makela, S. Holmberg, and C. M. Gustafsson Mediator Influences Schizosaccharomyces pombe RNA Polymerase II-dependent Transcription in Vitro J. Biol. Chem., December 19, 2003; 278(51): 51301 - 51306. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. C. Howard, A. Hester, and P. K. Herman The Ras/PKA Signaling Pathway May Control RNA Polymerase II Elongation via the Spt4p/Spt5p Complex in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Genetics, November 1, 2003; 165(3): 1059 - 1070. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Escobar-Henriques, M. A. Collart, and B. Daignan-Fornier Transcription Initiation of the Yeast IMD2 Gene Is Abolished in Response to Nutrient Limitation through a Sequence in Its Coding Region Mol. Cell. Biol., September 1, 2003; 23(17): 6279 - 6290. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. C. Howard, Y. V. Budovskaya, Y.-W. Chang, and P. K. Herman The C-terminal Domain of the Largest Subunit of RNA Polymerase II Is Required for Stationary Phase Entry and Functionally Interacts with the Ras/PKA Signaling Pathway J. Biol. Chem., May 24, 2002; 277(22): 19488 - 19497. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. V. Budovskaya, H. Hama, D. B. DeWald, and P. K. Herman The C Terminus of the Vps34p Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Is Necessary and Sufficient for the Interaction with the Vps15p Protein Kinase J. Biol. Chem., January 4, 2002; 277(1): 287 - 294. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				S. C. Howard, Y.-W. Chang, Y. V. Budovskaya, and P. K. Herman The Ras/PKA Signaling Pathway of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Exhibits a Functional Interaction With the Sin4p Complex of the RNA Polymerase II Holoenzyme Genetics, September 1, 2001; 159(1): 77 - 89. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]