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. 1991 Feb;11(2):1030–1039. doi: 10.1128/mcb.11.2.1030

Degradation of a-factor by a Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-mating-type-specific endopeptidase: evidence for a role in recovery of cells from G1 arrest.

S Marcus 1, C B Xue 1, F Naider 1, J M Becker 1
PMCID: PMC359773  PMID: 1990265

Abstract

Mating response between opposite mating types of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is dependent upon alpha factor, a tridecapeptide, and a-factor, an isoprenylated, methyl esterified dodecapeptide whose interaction with the alpha target cell has not been characterized. We report on the first biochemical and physiological evidence of an alpha-mating-type-specific a-factor-degrading activity. Radioiodinated a-factor was used to identify the a-factor-degrading activity, which is cell associated, endoproteolytic, and not required for response to pheromone. a-factor degradation was not energy dependent, nor did it require pheromone internalization or interaction with its receptor. Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and tosyl-L-arginyl-methyl ester inhibited degradation of a-factor and increased the time required by alpha cells to recover from a-factor-induced growth arrest and morphological alteration, providing evidence that a-factor degradation plays a role in the recovery of alpha cells from the pheromone response.

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Selected References

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