Degradation of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae mating-type regulator alpha1: genetic dissection of cis-determinants and trans-acting pathways.

Mating phenotype in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a dynamic trait, and efficient transitions between alternate haploid cell types allow the organism to access the advantageous diploid form. Mating identity is determined by cell type-specific transcriptional regulators, but these factors must be rapidly removed upon mating-type switching to allow the master regulators of the alternate state to establish a new gene expression program. Targeted proteolysis by the ubiquitin-proteasome system is a commonly employed strategy to quickly disassemble regulatory networks, and yeast use this approach to evoke efficient switching from the alpha to the a phenotype by ensuring the rapid removal of the alpha2 transcriptional repressor. Transition to the a cell phenotype, however, also requires the inactivation of the alpha1 transcriptional activator, but the mechanism by which this occurs is currently unknown. Here, we report a central role for the ubiquitin-proteasome system in alpha1 inactivation. The alpha1 protein is constitutively short lived and targeted for rapid turnover by multiple ubiquitin-conjugation pathways. Intriguingly, the alpha-domain, a conserved region of unknown function, acts as a degradation signal for a pathway defined by the SUMO-targeted ligase Slx5-Slx8, which has also been implicated in the rapid destruction of alpha2. Our observations suggest coordinate regulation in the turnover of two master regulatory transcription factors ensures a rapid mating-type switch.

A ubiquitin-selective AAA-ATPase mediates transcriptional switching by remodelling a repressor-promoter DNA complex.

Switches between different phenotypes and their underlying states of gene transcription occur as cells respond to intrinsic developmental cues or adapt to changing environmental conditions. Post-translational modification of the master regulatory transcription factors that define the initial phenotype is a common strategy to direct such transitions. Emerging evidence indicates that the modification of key transcription factors by the small polypeptide ubiquitin has a central role in many of these transitions. However, the molecular mechanisms by which ubiquitylation regulates the switching of promoters between active and inactive states are largely unknown. Ubiquitylation of the yeast transcriptional repressor alpha2 is necessary to evoke the transition between mating-types, and here we dissect the impact of this modification on alpha2 dynamics at its target promoters. Ubiquitylation of alpha2 does not alter DNA occupancy by depleting the existing pool of the transcription factor, despite its well-characterized function in directing repressor turnover. Rather, alpha2 ubiquitylation has a direct role in the rapid removal of the repressor from its DNA targets. This disassembly of alpha2 from DNA depends on the ubiquitin-selective AAA-ATPase Cdc48. Our findings expand the functional targets of Cdc48 to include active transcriptional regulatory complexes in the nucleus. These data reveal an ubiquitin-dependent extraction pathway for dismantling transcription factor-DNA complexes and provide an archetype for the regulation of transcriptional switching events by ubiquitylation.

Y-chromosome microdeletions and recurrent pregnancy loss.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of Y-chromosome microdeletions in recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) couples as compared with couples with male factor infertility and fertile couples. DESIGN: Controlled clinical study. SETTING: Andrology laboratory and RPL clinic. PATIENT(S): Seventeen men from RPL couples, 18 men from couples with a live birth and no history of miscarriages, and 10 men from couples with male factor infertility. INTERVENTION(S): Buccal smears for Y-chromosome microdeletion testing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The DNA was tested for microdeletions in the proximal AZFc region by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULT(S): Fourteen of the 17 men (82%) tested had microdeletions in one or more of the four segments studied. Two of the 10 male factor infertility patients (20%) had microdeletions in 2 different segments. None of the 18 fertile men had any microdeletions in the 4 segments of the proximal AZFc region studied. CONCLUSION(S): The prevalence of the Y-chromosome microdeletions in the proximal AZFc region was much higher in men from RPL couples than from fertile or infertile couples. Although these patients are from a tertiary referral center that may skew the population and findings, one may consider Y-chromosome microdeletion testing particularly of the AZFc region in the evaluation of RPL couples when all other tests fail to reveal the etiology.

Effect of protein structure on mitochondrial import.

Most proteins that are to be imported into the mitochondrial matrix are synthesized as precursors, each composed of an N-terminal targeting sequence followed by a mature domain. Precursors are recognized through their targeting sequences by receptors at the mitochondrial surface and are then threaded through import channels into the matrix. Both the targeting sequence and the mature domain contribute to the efficiency with which proteins are imported into mitochondria. Precursors must be in an unfolded conformation during translocation. Mitochondria can unfold some proteins by changing their unfolding pathways. The effectiveness of this unfolding mechanism depends on the local structure of the mature domain adjacent to the targeting sequence. This local structure determines the extent to which the unfolding pathway can be changed and, therefore, the unfolding rate increased. Atomic force microscopy studies find that the local structures of proteins near their N and C termini also influence their resistance to mechanical unfolding. Thus, protein unfolding during import resembles mechanical unfolding, and the specificity of import is determined by the resistance of the mature domain to unfolding as well as by the properties of the targeting sequence.