The anaphase promoting complex targeting subunit Ama1 links meiotic exit to cytokinesis during sporulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mol Biol Cell. 2009 Jan;20(1):134-45. doi: 10.1091/mbc.e08-06-0615. Epub 2008 Oct 22.

Abstract

Ascospore formation in yeast is accomplished through a cell division in which daughter nuclei are engulfed by newly formed plasma membranes, termed prospore membranes. Closure of the prospore membrane must be coordinated with the end of meiosis II to ensure proper cell division. AMA1 encodes a meiosis-specific activator of the anaphase promoting complex (APC). The activity of APC(Ama1) is inhibited before meiosis II, but the substrates specifically targeted for degradation by Ama1 at the end of meiosis are unknown. We show here that ama1Delta mutants are defective in prospore membrane closure. Ssp1, a protein found at the leading edge of the prospore membrane, is stabilized in ama1Delta mutants. Inactivation of a conditional form of Ssp1 can partially rescue the sporulation defect of the ama1Delta mutant, indicating that an essential function of Ama1 is to lead to the removal of Ssp1. Depletion of Cdc15 causes a defect in meiotic exit. We find that prospore membrane closure is also defective in Cdc15 and that this defect can be overcome by expression of a form of Ama1 in which multiple consensus cyclin-dependent kinase phosphorylation sites have been mutated. These results demonstrate that APC(Ama1) functions to coordinate the exit from meiosis II with cytokinesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome
  • Cdc20 Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cytokinesis / physiology*
  • Meiosis / physiology*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae* / cytology
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae* / physiology
  • Spores, Fungal / physiology*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes / metabolism*

Substances

  • Ama1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Cdc20 Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • SSP1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes
  • Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome