The Saccharomyces cerevisiae YAK1 gene encodes a protein kinase that is induced by arrest early in the cell cycle

Stephen Garrett, Marisa M. Menold, James R. Broach

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

120 Scopus citations

Abstract

Null mutations in the gene YAK1, which encodes a protein with sequence homology to known protein kinases, suppress the cell cycle arrest phenotype of mutants lacking the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (A kinase). That is, loss of the Yak1 protein specifically compensates for loss of the A kinase. Here, we show that the protein encoded by YAK1 has protein kinase activity. Yak1 kinase activity is low during exponential growth but is induced at least 50-fold by arrest of cells prior to the completion of S phase. Induction is not observed by arrest at stages later in the cell cycle. Depending on the arrest regimen, induction can occur either by an increase in Yak1 protein levels or by an increase in Yak1 specific activity. Finally, an increase in Yak1 protein levels causes growth arrest of cells with attenuated A kinase activity. These results suggest that Yak1 acts in a pathway parallel to that of the A kinase to negatively regulate cell proliferation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4045-4052
Number of pages8
JournalMolecular and cellular biology
Volume11
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1991

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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