The regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes relies largely on the action of exoribonucleases, evolutionarily conserved enzymes that digest decapped messenger RNAs in the 5'-3' direction. The activity of Xrn1, the major yeast exoribonuclease, is regulated by targeted changes in its cellular localisation in direct response to the cell's metabolic state. When fermentable carbon sources are available, active Xrn1 is diffusely localised in the cytosol. Upon depletion of these sources, Xrn1 is sequestered at the plasma membrane-associated protein complex, the eisosome, and becomes inactive. Although this phenomenon has been described previously, the molecular mechanisms underlying these changes remain unknown. We report that the binding of Xrn1 to the plasma membrane is subject to glycolytic flux, rather than the availability of a fermentable carbon source, is independent of TORC1 activity and requires the core eisosomal proteins Pil1 and Lsp1. We identify the SH3-like domain of the Xrn1 protein as a putative interaction domain. In addition, we show that when expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the human orthologue of Xrn1 mirrors its yeast counterpart, i.e., it segregates to the eisosome under conditions of halted glycolysis. Our results not only advance our understanding of Xrn1 regulation but also indicate that this regulatory principle is conserved from yeast to humans.

• Klíčová slova
• Eisosome, Exoribonuclease, Glycolysis, SH3-like domain, Xrn1, Yeast,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Sphingolipids are essential building blocks of eukaryotic membranes and important signaling molecules that are regulated tightly in response to environmental and physiological inputs. While their biosynthetic pathway has been well-described, the mechanisms that facilitate the perception of sphingolipid levels at the plasma membrane remain to be uncovered. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Nce102 protein has been proposed to function as a sphingolipid sensor as it changes its plasma membrane distribution in response to sphingolipid biosynthesis inhibition. We show that Nce102 redistributes specifically in regions of increased sphingolipid demand, e.g., membranes of nascent buds. Furthermore, we report that the production of Nce102 increases following sphingolipid biosynthesis inhibition and that Nce102 is internalized when excess sphingolipid precursors are supplied. This finding suggests that the total amount of Nce102 in the plasma membrane is a measure of the current need for sphingolipids, whereas its local distribution marks sites of high sphingolipid demand. The physiological role of Nce102 in the regulation of sphingolipid synthesis is demonstrated by mass spectrometry analysis showing reduced levels of hydroxylated complex sphingolipids in response to heat stress in the nce102Δ deletion mutant. We also demonstrate that Nce102 behaves analogously in the widespread human fungal pathogen Candida albicans, suggesting a conserved principle of local sphingolipid control across species. IMPORTANCE Microorganisms are challenged constantly by their rapidly changing environment. To survive, they have developed diverse mechanisms to quickly perceive stressful situations and adapt to them appropriately. The primary site of both stress sensing and adaptation is the plasma membrane. We identified the yeast protein Nce102 as a marker of local sphingolipid levels and fluidity in the plasma membrane. Nce102 is an important structural and functional component of the membrane compartment Can1 (MCC), a plasma membrane microdomain stabilized by a large cytosolic hemitubular protein scaffold, the eisosome. The MCC/eisosomes are widely conserved among fungi and unicellular algae. To determine if Nce102 carries out similar functions in other organisms, we analyzed the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans and found that Nce102 responds to sphingolipid levels also in this organism, which has potential applications for the development of novel therapeutic approaches. The presented study represents a valuable model for how organisms regulate plasma membrane sphingolipids.

• Klíčová slova
• eisosome, microdomain, plasma membrane, sphingolipid, stress sensor,
• MeSH
• buněčná membrána metabolismus   MeSH
• Candida albicans MeSH
• fungální proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae - proteiny * analýza   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• sfingolipidy * analýza   metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH
• Názvy látek
• fungální proteiny MeSH
• NCE102 protein, S cerevisiae MeSH Prohlížeč
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae - proteiny * MeSH
• sfingolipidy * MeSH

Membrane proteins are targeted not only to specific membranes in the cell architecture, but also to distinct lateral microdomains within individual membranes to properly execute their biological functions. Yeast tetraspan protein Nce102 has been shown to migrate between such microdomains within the plasma membrane in response to an acute drop in sphingolipid levels. Combining microscopy and biochemistry methods, we show that upon gradual ageing of a yeast culture, when sphingolipid demand increases, Nce102 migrates from the plasma membrane to the vacuole. Instead of being targeted for degradation it localizes to V-ATPase-poor, i.e., ergosterol-enriched, domains of the vacuolar membrane, analogous to its plasma membrane localization. We discovered that, together with its homologue Fhn1, Nce102 modulates vacuolar morphology, dynamics, and physiology. Specifically, the fusing of vacuoles, accompanying a switch of fermenting yeast culture to respiration, is retarded in the strain missing both proteins. Furthermore, the absence of either causes an enlargement of ergosterol-rich vacuolar membrane domains, while the vacuoles themselves become smaller. Our results clearly show decreased stability of the V-ATPase in the absence of either Nce102 or Fhn1, a possible result of the disruption of normal microdomain morphology of the vacuolar membrane. Therefore, the functionality of the vacuole as a whole might be compromised in these cells.

• Klíčová slova
• eisosome, membrane microdomains, sphingolipid metabolism, vacuolar morphology, yeast,
• MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae - proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolismus   MeSH
• vakuoly metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• NCE102 protein, S cerevisiae MeSH Prohlížeč
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae - proteiny MeSH