Journal Article

GENETIC ANALYSIS OF CALMODULIN AND ITS TARGETS IN SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE

Cyert, Martha S.

2001

Overview

Calmodulin, a small, ubiquitous Ca 2+ -binding protein, regulates a wide variety of proteins and processes in all eukaryotes. CMD1 , the single gene encoding calmodulin in S. cerevisiae , is essential, and this review discusses studies that identified many of calmodulin's physiological targets and their functions in yeast cells. Calmodulin performs essential roles in mitosis, through its regulation of Nuf1p/Spc110p, a component of the spindle pole body, and in bud growth, by binding Myo2p, an unconventional class V myosin required for polarized secretion. Surprisingly, mutant calmodulins that fail to bind Ca 2+ can perform these essential functions. Calmodulin is also required for endocytosis in yeast and participates in Ca 2+ -dependent, stress-activated signaling pathways through its regulation of a protein phosphatase, calcineurin, and the protein kinases, Cmk1p and Cmk2p. Thus, calmodulin performs important physiological functions in yeast cells in both its Ca 2+ -bound and Ca 2+ -free form.

• Publisher: Annual Reviews,Annual Reviews, Inc
• Subject: Analysis / Binding Sites / Calcineurin / Calmodulin / Calmodulin - genetics / Calmodulin - metabolism / CMD1 gene / Cmk1 protein / Cmk2 protein / DNA, Fungal - genetics / Fungal Proteins - genetics / Fungal Proteins - metabolism / Genes / Genetic aspects / Genetic research / Genetics / Mitosis - genetics / Mitosis - physiology / Myo2 protein / Myosin / Nuf1 protein / Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Saccharomyces cerevisiae - genetics / Saccharomyces cerevisiae - metabolism / Sps110 protein / Transduction / Yeast / Yeasts