Cell polarity is essential for cellular functions, growth, development, and formation of multicellular organisms. Cell polarization is often regulated during the cell division cycle. For instance, many cell types lose polarity and round up during mitosis, and then reestablish polarity after division. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is a model system for studying cell polarization. These unicellular rod-shaped cells grow by extension from their tips, and then stop growth during mitosis. Upon cytokinesis, they initiate growth from the old cell end and later in interphase, initiate growth at the second cell end in a process known as "new end take off" or NETO. NETO is regulated by polarity proteins tea1p and tea4p which are deposited by microtubules at the cell tips. How these proteins regulate cell polarity is not yet well understood. These polarity proteins are thought to function in recruiting other proteins, which leads to localized actin polymerization, membrane trafficking and cell wall assembly, leading ultimately to polarized cell growth at the cell tip. In this thesis, I report the characterization of a new polarity protein tea5p in fission yeast. I identified tea5p in a screen for new NETO mutants. Tea5p is a new component of the tea-protein polarity pathway. It resides at cell tips in complexes with the other polarity proteins tea1p and tea3p, and functions downstream of tea1p. Genetic interactions suggest that tea5p regulates polarized growth by regulating the small GTPase cdc42p and its activator gef1p. Tea5p is a pseudokinase that binds to the plasma membrane with its N terminus, and requires its kinase like domain for function. Together my results begin to establish a pathway that links microtubules to activation of cdc42p for regulation for polarized growth in S. pombe.

No description available.

p13^suc1 from schizosaccharomyces pombe is a member of a family of non-enzymatic cell cycle regulatory proteins called CKS for <strong>C</strong>yclin-<strong>D</strong>ependent kinases <strong>S</strong>ubunit. Other members of this family include CKS1 (S. cerevisiae</em?), CksHsl and CksHs2 (Homo sapiens). The CDKs (CDK1-CDK8) for <strong>C</strong>yclin-<strong>D</strong>ependent <strong>K</strong>inases are a class of Ser/Thr kinases that regulate the cell cycle. The suc1⁺ gene was initially identified as a seppresor of certain CDKl temperature sensitive mutations. Despite the wealth of crystallographic models available plus ample - albeit, sometimes conflicting - evidence from genetics and biochemical studies, an account of the exact physiological role of the CKS proteins remains an elusive goal. In a quest to identify the residues and hence the particular surface region involved in mediating protein-protein interactions with CDK2,1 employed the X-ray structure of Suc1 at 2.7A resolution as guide for a site-specific mutagenesis study. Comparative biochemical and biophysical characterisation of Suc1 and the mutants led to the conclusion that isoleucine-94 and Leucine-96 (located in the hydrophobic patch) are involved in mediating protein-protein interactions with GST-CDK2. This conclusion has since been confirmed by the publication of the X-ray structure of monomeric CksHs1l in a complex with CDK2 by Bourne et al., 1996 (Cell 84: 863-874). An extension of the mutational study to test the hypothesis that Suc1 may utilise conserved residues at the anion-binding site to mediate protein-protein interactions with the Anaphase Promoting Complex (APC) is described. X-ray data has been collected on wild type Suc1 crystals at 100K to 2.3Å resolution. The structure has been resolved and refined to a crystallographic R-factor of 22.6%. S. pombe Suc1 exists as a zinc-stabilised, non strand-exchanged dimer in both the 2.1Å and 2.3Å models. Structural analyses of two Suc1 folding mutants are also presented. The cyclins (A - H) are positive regulatory subunits of CDKs. They share a high degree of homology over a region of about 100 amino acid residues called the "cyclin box". The determination of the crystal structure of cyclin A3 (an N-terminal truncated version of bovine cyclin A) and a CDK2-cyclin A3 complex by other workers has revealed the mechanism of activation of CDKs by cyclins. In S. pombe, the CDKl-cyclin B heterodimeric complex constitutes the mitotic kinase. In order to understand the specificity underlying the CDK-cyclin interaction, I embarked on a structural study of S. pombe cyclin B and CDK1. Both full- length proteins have proven intractable to attempts to overproduce them in a soluble form in E. coli for crystallisation studies. A truncated version of cyclin B (similar to cyclin A3) was designed, cloned and overproduced in E. coli. The cyclin B3 protein was directed into inclusion bodies as insoluble aggregates. Extensive attempts - both in vivo and in vitro - to produce a soluble cyclin B3 proved unsuccessful. Finally, an E. coli co-expression system designed to overproduce CDK1-cyclin A3, CDK1-cyclin B3, CDK1-cyclin B and CDK1-Suc1 complexes is described.

Stuttgart, Univ., Diss., 2005.

Thesis (Ph.D. in Biochemistry) -- University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, 2005. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 93-103). Free to UCDHSC affiliates. Online version available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations;

Techn. Hochsch., Diss., 2003--Aachen.

Techn. Universiẗat, Diss., 2005--Dresden.

The biogenesis of spliceosomal UsnRNPs is a highly elaborate cellular process that occurs both in the nucleus and the cytoplasm. A major part of the process is the assembly of the Sm-core particle, which consists of a ring shaped heptameric unit of seven Sm proteins (SmD1•D2•F•E•G•D3•B) wrapped around a single stranded RNA motif (termed Sm-site) of spliceosomal UsnRNAs. This process occurs mainly in the cytoplasm by the sequential action of two biogenesis factors united in PRMT5- and SMN-complexes, respectively. The PRMT5-complex composed of the three proteins PRMT5, WD45 and pICln is responsible for the symmetric dimethylation of designated arginine residues in the C-terminal tails of some Sm proteins. The action of the PRMT5- complex results in the formation of assembly incompetent Sm-protein intermediates sequestered by the assembly chaperone pICln (SmD1•D2•F•E•G•pICln and pICln•D3•B). Due to the action of pICln, the Sm proteins in these complexes fail to interact with UsnRNAs to form the mature Sm-core. This kinetic trap is relieved by the action of the SMN-complex, which removes the pICln subunit and facilitates the binding of the Sm-core intermediates to the UsnRNA, thus forming the mature Sm-core particle. The human SMN complex consists of 9 subunits termed SMN, Gemin2-8 and Unrip. So far, there are no available atomic structures of the whole SMN-complex, but structures of isolated domains and subunits of the complex have been reported by several laboratories in the past years. The lack of structural information about the entire SMN complex most likely lies in the biophysical properties of the SMN complex, which possesses an oligomeric SMN core, and many unstructured and flexible regions. These were the biggest roadblocks for its structural elucidation using traditional methods such as X-ray crystallography, NMR or CryoEM. To circumvent these obstacles and to obtain structural insight into the SMN-complex, the Schizosaccharomyces pombe SMN complex was used as a model system in this work. In a collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. Remy Bordonne (IGMM, CNRS, France), we could show that the SpSMN complex is minimalistic in its composition, consisting only of SpSMN, SpGemin2, SpGemin8, SpGemin7 and SpGemin6. Using biochemical experiments, an interaction map of the SpSMN complex was established which was found to be highly similar to the reported map of the human SMN complex. The results of this study clearly show that SpSMN is the oligomeric core of the complex and provides the binding sites for the rest of the subunits. Through biochemical and X-ray scattering experiments, the properties of the SpSMN subunit such as oligomerization viii and intrinsic disorder, were shown to determine the overall biophysical characteristics of the whole complex. The structural basis of SpSMN oligomerization is presented in atomic detail which establishes a dimeric SpSMN as the fundamental unit of higher order SpSMN oligomers. In addition to oligomerization, the YG-box domain of SpSMN serves as the binding site for SpGemin8. The unstructured region of SpSMN imparts an unusual large hydrodynamic size, intrinsic disorder, and flexibility to the whole complex. Interestingly, these biophysical properties are partially mitigated by the presence of SpGemin8•SpGemin7•SpGemin6 subunits. These results classify the SpSMN complex as a multidomain entity connected with flexible linkers and characterize the SpSMN subunit to be the central oligomeric structural organizer of the whole complex. / Die Biogenese von spliceosomalen UsnRNPs ist ein hochkomplexer zellulärer Prozess, der sowohl im Zellkern als auch im Zytoplasma stattfindet. Ein Hauptteil dieses Prozesses ist der Aufbau des Sm-Kernpartikels, der aus einem ringförmigen Heptamer aus sieben Sm-Proteinen (SmD1 · D2 · F · E · G · D3 · B) besteht, die um ein einzelsträngiges RNA-Motiv (das auch als Sm-Stelle bezeichnet wird) der spliceosomalen U snRNAs gewickelt ist. Dieser Prozess findet hauptsächlich im Zytoplasma durch die sequenzielle Wirkung von zwei Biogenesefaktoren statt, den PRMT5 und den SMN-Komplexen. Der PRMT5-Komplex besteht aus den drei Proteinen PRMT5, WD45 und pICln und ist für die symmetrische Dimethylierung bestimmter Argininreste in den C-terminalen Schwänzen einiger Sm-Proteine verantwortlich. Die Wirkung des PRMT5-Komplexes führt zur Bildung von inkompetenten Sm-Protein-Intermediaten, die durch das Assemblierungs-Chaperon pICln (SmD1 · D2 · F · E · G · pICln und pICln · D3 · B) sequestriert werden. Aufgrund der Wirkung von pICln interagieren die Sm-Proteine in diesen Komplexen nicht mit den U snRNAs, um den reifen Sm-Kern zu bilden. Diese kinetische Falle wird durch die Wirkung des SMN-Komplexes aufgelöst, der die pICln-Untereinheit entfernt und die Bindung der Sm-Core-Zwischenprodukte an die U snRNA erleichtert, wodurch der reife Sm-Core-Partikel gebildet wird. Der menschliche SMN-Komplex besteht aus 9 Untereinheiten, die als SMN, Gemin2-8 und Unrip bezeichnet werden. Bisher sind keine atomaren Strukturen des gesamten SMN-Komplexes verfügbar, aber Strukturen isolierter Domänen und Untereinheiten des Komplexes wurden in den letzten Jahren von mehreren Laboratorien beschrieben. Der Mangel an strukturellen Informationen über den gesamten SMN-Komplex liegt höchstwahrscheinlich in den biophysikalischen Eigenschaften des SMN-Komplexes, der einen oligomeren SMN-Kern und viele unstrukturierte und flexible Regionen besitzt. Dies waren die größten Hindernisse für die Strukturaufklärung mit traditionellen Methoden wie Röntgenkristallographie, NMR oder CryoEM. Um diese Hindernisse zu umgehen und strukturelle Einblicke in den SMN-Komplex zu erhalten, wurde in dieser Arbeit der SMN-Komplex von Schizosaccharomyces pombe als Modellsystem verwendet. In Zusammenarbeit mit dem Labor von Dr. Remy Bordonne (IGMM, CNRS, Frankreich) konnten wir zeigen, dass der SpSMN-Komplex in seiner Zusammensetzung minimalistisch ist und nur aus SpSMN, SpGemin2, SpGemin8, SpGemin7 und SpGemin6 besteht. Mit biochemischer Experimenten wurde eine x Interaktionskarte des SpSMN-Komplexes erstellt, die der bekannten Karte des menschlichen SMN-Komplexes sehr ähnlich war. Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie zeigen deutlich, dass SpSMN der oligomere Kern des Komplexes ist und die Bindungsstellen für den Rest der Untereinheiten bereitstellt. Durch biochemische und Röntgenstreuungsexperimente wurde gezeigt, dass die Eigenschaften der SpSMNUntereinheit wie Oligomerisierung und intrinsische Störung die gesamten biophysikalischen Eigenschaften des gesamten Komplexes bestimmen. Die strukturelle Basis der SpSMN-Oligomerisierung wird atomar detailliert dargestellt, wodurch ein dimeres SpSMN als zentrale Grundeinheit der SpSMN-Oligomere höherer Ordnung festgelegt wird. Zusätzlich zur Oligomerisierung dient die YG-Box- Domäne von SpSMN als Bindungsstelle für SpGemin8. Die unstrukturierte Region von SpSMN verleiht dem gesamten Komplex eine ungewöhnlich große hydrodynamische Größe, intrinsische Unordnung und Flexibilität. Interessanterweise werden diese biophysikalischen Eigenschaften teilweise durch das Vorhandensein von SpGemin8 • SpGemin7 • SpGemin6-Untereinheiten gemindert. Diese Ergebnisse klassifizieren den SpSMN-Komplex als eine mit flexiblen Wechselwirkungen verbundene Multidomäneneinheit und charakterisieren die SpSMN-Untereinheit als den zentralen oligomeren Strukturorganisator des gesamten Komplexes.

Tableau d’honneur de la Faculté des études supérieures et postdoctorales, 2009-2010 / Les cassures double-brin de l'acide désoxyribonucléique (ADN) sont parmi les lésions les plus cytotoxiques car une seule lésion non réparée est létale chez la levure. Dans le but de réparer efficacement ces dommages, la cellule dispose de différents mécanismes tels que le Non Homologous End Joining (NHEJ). Toutefois ces mécanismes peuvent causer des mutations et, lorsqu' il est possible, la cellule privilégie un système qui permet une réparation très fiable: la recombinaison homologue. Ce processus peut aussi être utilisé lors de la méiose pour créer de la diversité génétique. La méiose est un mécanisme complexe et une mauvaise régulation peut mener à des problèmes tels que l' aneuploïdie. La recombinaison homologue méiotique se divise en quatre étapes majeures: (i) l' initiation qui crée des cassures double-brin par un complexe muItiprotéique incluant Rec12; (ii) la résection de l'ADN ou les protéines majeures sont Rad32/Rad50/Nbsl; (iii) l'invasion d'un duplex homologue avec les protéines RadSl et Dmcl, et pour terminer (iv) la résolution des jonctions de Holliday. Lors de mes études de doctorat, je me suis concentré sur la caractérisation biochimique des principales protéines des trois premières étapes (initiation, résection et particulièrement l'invasion) de la recombinaison méiotique chez Schizosaccharomyces pombe permettant la réparation des cassures double-brin. Mes travaux avaient pour but de caractériser les protéines Dmcl et le complexe Hop2/Mndl chez S.pombe. Nous avons déterminé que Dmcl avait comme Rad 51 la capacité de former un filament hélical sur l'ADN simple brin, ansi que de catalyser des réactions d'échange de brin. D'autre part j'ai mis en évidence le rôle que joue le complexe Hop2/Mndl dans la stimulation de Dmc 1, ainsi que les différences entre les protéines de S.pombe et de la SOurIS.

Le complexe cohésine maintient associées les chromatides sœurs depuis la réplication jusqu’à leur ségrégation en mitose. Une question majeure est de comprendre comment la cohésion est établie lors de la phase S. Chez les mammifères et S. pombe, les cohésines sont associées de manière labile aux chromosomes pré-réplicatifs et l’établissement de la cohésion en phase S s’accompagne de la stabilisation de l’association des cohésines aux chromosomes. L’objectif de ce travail est de comprendre comment la dynamique des cohésines est régulée et comment son inhibition créée la cohésion.En G1 les cohésines associées aux chromosomes s’échangent avec le pool soluble et leur dissociation dépend de Pds5 et Wapl. La première partie de ce travail présente les résultats d’un crible génétique visant à identifier de nouveaux régulateurs de la dynamique des cohésines.L’établissement de la cohésion nécessite l’acétyltransférase Eso1 mais pas en contexte Δwpl1, indiquant que la seule mais essentielle fonction d’Eso1 est de s’opposer à celle de Wapl. L’acétylation de Smc3 par Eso1 contribue mais n’est pas suffisante pour contrecarrer Wapl, suggérant l’existence d’un autre événement dépendant d’Eso1. En G1, Pds5 agit avec Wapl pour dissocier les cohésines des chromosomes mais après la phase S, Pds5 est requise pour leur maintien sur les chromosomes et pour la cohésion à long terme. Pds5 co-localise avec la fraction stable de cohésines mais pas Wapl. Nous suggérons un modèle dans lequel la cohésion est créée par deux événements d’acétylation couplés à la progression de la fourche de réplication conduisant à l’éviction de Wapl des cohésines destinées à produire la cohésion. / Following DNA replication, sister chromatids are connected by cohesin to ensure their correct segregation during mitosis. How cohesion is created is still enigmatic. The cohesin subunit Smc3 becomes acetylated by ECO1, a conserved acetyl-transferase, and this change is required for cohesion. As in mammals, fission yeast cohesin is not stably bound to G1 chromosomes but a fraction becomes stable when cohesion is made. The aim of this work was to understand how cohesin dynamics is regulated and how the change in cohesin dynamics creates cohesion.In G1 chromatin bound cohesin exchange with the soluble pool and the unloading reaction relies in part on Wapl. The first part of this study reports on the identification of G1/S factors as new candidate regulators of cohesin dynamics.Following S phase a stable cohesin fraction is made. The acetyl-transferase Eso1 is not required for this reaction when the wpl1 gene is deleted. Yet, it is in wild-type cells, showing that the sole but essential Eso1 function is counteracting Wapl. Eso1 acetylates the cohesin sub-unit Smc3. This renders cohesin less sensitive to Wapl but does not confer the stable binding mode, suggesting the existence of a second Eso1-dependent event. The cohesin sub-unit Pds5 act together with Wapl to promote cohesin removal from G1 chromosomes but after S phase Pds5 is essential for cohesin retention on chromosomes and long term cohesion. Pds5 co-localizes with the stable cohesin fraction whereas Wapl does not. We suggest a model in which cohesion establishment is made by two acetylation events coupled to fork progression leading to Wapl eviction while keeping Pds5 on cohesin complexes intended to make cohesion.