F-box protein specificity for g1 cyclins is dictated by subcellular localization

PLoS Genet. 2012;8(7):e1002851. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002851. Epub 2012 Jul 26.

Abstract

Levels of G1 cyclins fluctuate in response to environmental cues and couple mitotic signaling to cell cycle entry. The G1 cyclin Cln3 is a key regulator of cell size and cell cycle entry in budding yeast. Cln3 degradation is essential for proper cell cycle control; however, the mechanisms that control Cln3 degradation are largely unknown. Here we show that two SCF ubiquitin ligases, SCF(Cdc4) and SCF(Grr1), redundantly target Cln3 for degradation. While the F-box proteins (FBPs) Cdc4 and Grr1 were previously thought to target non-overlapping sets of substrates, we find that Cdc4 and Grr1 each bind to all 3 G1 cyclins in cell extracts, yet only Cln3 is redundantly targeted in vivo, due in part to its nuclear localization. The related cyclin Cln2 is cytoplasmic and exclusively targeted by Grr1. However, Cdc4 can interact with Cdk-phosphorylated Cln2 and target it for degradation when cytoplasmic Cdc4 localization is forced in vivo. These findings suggest that Cdc4 and Grr1 may share additional redundant targets and, consistent with this possibility, grr1Δ cdc4-1 cells demonstrate a CLN3-independent synergistic growth defect. Our findings demonstrate that structurally distinct FBPs are capable of interacting with some of the same substrates; however, in vivo specificity is achieved in part by subcellular localization. Additionally, the FBPs Cdc4 and Grr1 are partially redundant for proliferation and viability, likely sharing additional redundant substrates whose degradation is important for cell cycle progression.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints
  • Cell Cycle Proteins* / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins* / metabolism
  • Cell Division / genetics
  • Cyclins* / genetics
  • Cyclins* / metabolism
  • F-Box Proteins* / genetics
  • F-Box Proteins* / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
  • Mutation
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • Proteolysis
  • SKP Cullin F-Box Protein Ligases / genetics
  • SKP Cullin F-Box Protein Ligases / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins* / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins* / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases* / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases* / metabolism

Substances

  • CDC4 protein, S cerevisiae
  • CLN2 protein, S cerevisiae
  • CLN3 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cyclins
  • F-Box Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • GRR1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • SKP Cullin F-Box Protein Ligases
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases