The NDR kinase scaffold HYM1/MO25 is essential for MAK2 map kinase signaling in Neurospora crassa

PLoS Genet. 2012 Sep;8(9):e1002950. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002950. Epub 2012 Sep 20.

Abstract

Cell communication is essential for eukaryotic development, but our knowledge of molecules and mechanisms required for intercellular communication is fragmentary. In particular, the connection between signal sensing and regulation of cell polarity is poorly understood. In the filamentous ascomycete Neurospora crassa, germinating spores mutually attract each other and subsequently fuse. During these tropic interactions, the two communicating cells rapidly alternate between two different physiological states, probably associated with signal delivery and response. The MAK2 MAP kinase cascade mediates cell-cell signaling. Here, we show that the conserved scaffolding protein HYM1/MO25 controls the cell shape-regulating NDR kinase module as well as the signal-receiving MAP kinase cascade. HYM1 functions as an integral part of the COT1 NDR kinase complex to regulate the interaction with its upstream kinase POD6 and thereby COT1 activity. In addition, HYM1 interacts with NRC1, MEK2, and MAK2, the three kinases of the MAK2 MAP kinase cascade, and co-localizes with MAK2 at the apex of growing cells. During cell fusion, the three kinases of the MAP kinase module as well as HYM1 are recruited to the point of cell-cell contact. hym-1 mutants phenocopy all defects observed for MAK2 pathway mutants by abolishing MAK2 activity. An NRC1-MEK2 fusion protein reconstitutes MAK2 signaling in hym-1, while constitutive activation of NRC1 and MEK2 does not. These data identify HYM1 as a novel regulator of the NRC1-MEK2-MAK2 pathway, which may coordinate NDR and MAP kinase signaling during cell polarity and intercellular communication.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Cation Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Communication / genetics*
  • Cell Communication / physiology
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Polarity
  • Cell Shape
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism
  • Histidine Kinase
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System
  • Neurospora crassa* / genetics
  • Neurospora crassa* / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Kinases* / genetics
  • Protein Kinases* / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / physiology
  • Spores* / genetics
  • Spores* / growth & development
  • Spores* / metabolism

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cation Transport Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Protein Kinases
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Histidine Kinase

Grants and funding

This research project was supported by the grants SE1054/4-1 (SS) and FL706/1-1 (AF) of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.