Mth1 regulates the interaction between the Rgt1 repressor and the Ssn6-Tup1 corepressor complex by modulating PKA-dependent phosphorylation of Rgt1

Mol Biol Cell. 2013 May;24(9):1493-503. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E13-01-0047. Epub 2013 Mar 6.

Abstract

Glucose uptake, the first, rate-limiting step of its utilization, is facilitated by glucose transporters. Expression of several glucose transporter (HXT) genes in yeast is repressed by the Rgt1 repressor, which recruits the glucose-responsive transcription factor Mth1 and the general corepressor complex Ssn6-Tup1 in the absence of glucose; however, it is derepressed when Mth1 is inactivated by glucose. Here we show that Ssn6-Tup1 interferes with the DNA-binding ability of Rgt1 in the absence of Mth1 and that the Rgt1 function abrogated by Ssn6 overexpression is restored by co-overexpression of Mth1. Thus Mth1 likely regulates Rgt1 function not by modulating its DNA-binding activity directly but by functionally antagonizing Ssn6-Tup1. Mth1 does so by acting as a scaffold-like protein to recruit Ssn6-Tup1 to Rgt1. Supporting evidence shows that Mth1 blocks the protein kinase A-dependent phosphorylation of Rgt1 that impairs the ability of Rgt1 to interact with Ssn6-Tup1. Of note, Rgt1 can bind DNA in the absence of Ssn6-Tup1 but does not inhibit transcription, suggesting that dissociation of Rgt1 from Ssn6-Tup1, but not from DNA, is necessary and sufficient for the expression of its target genes. Taken together, these findings show that Mth1 is a transcriptional corepressor that facilitates the recruitment of Ssn6-Tup1 by Rgt1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • DNA, Fungal / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
  • Gene Silencing
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational*
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • CYC8 protein, S cerevisiae
  • DNA, Fungal
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative
  • HXT1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • MTH1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • RGT1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • TUP1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Transcription Factors
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Glucose