Nutrient sensing kinases PKA and Sch9 phosphorylate the catalytic domain of the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme Cdc34

PLoS One. 2011;6(11):e27099. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0027099. Epub 2011 Nov 7.

Abstract

Cell division is controlled in part by the timely activation of the CDK, Cdc28, through its association with G1 and G2 cyclins. Cdc28 complexes are regulated in turn by the ubiquitin conjugating enzyme Cdc34 and SCF ubiquitin ligase complexes of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) to control the initiation of DNA replication. Here we demonstrate that the nutrient sensing kinases PKA and Sch9 phosphorylate S97 of Cdc34. S97 is conserved across species and restricted to the catalytic domain of Cdc34/Ubc7-like E2s. Cdc34-S97 phosphorylation is cell cycle regulated, elevated during active cell growth and division and decreased during cell cycle arrest. Cell growth and cell division are orchestrated to maintain cell size homeostasis over a wide range of nutrient conditions. Cells monitor changes in their environment through nutrient sensing protein kinases. Thus Cdc34 phosphorylation by PKA and Sch9 provides a direct tether between G1 cell division events and cell growth.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome
  • Animals
  • Catalytic Domain*
  • Cell Cycle / physiology
  • Cell Division
  • Cell Size
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Food*
  • Humans
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Species Specificity
  • Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes / chemistry
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes / metabolism*

Substances

  • CDC34 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes
  • Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome
  • Protein Kinases
  • SCH9 protein kinase
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases