Open AccessNutrient sensing and signaling in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Author(s) -
Conrad Michaela,
Schothorst Joep,
Kankipati Harish Nag,
Zeebroeck Griet,
RubioTexeira Marta,
Thevelein Johan M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
fems microbiology reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.91
H-Index - 212
eISSN - 1574-6976
pISSN - 0168-6445
DOI - 10.1111/1574-6976.12065
Subject(s) - nutrient sensing , biology , signal transduction , microbiology and biotechnology , saccharomyces cerevisiae , protein kinase a , biochemistry , catabolite repression , tor signaling , metabolic pathway , kinase , yeast , metabolism , gene , mutant
The yeast S accharomyces cerevisiae has been a favorite organism for pioneering studies on nutrient‐sensing and signaling mechanisms. Many specific nutrient responses have been elucidated in great detail. This has led to important new concepts and insight into nutrient‐controlled cellular regulation. Major highlights include the central role of the Snf1 protein kinase in the glucose repression pathway, galactose induction, the discovery of a G ‐protein‐coupled receptor system, and role of R as in glucose‐induced c AMP signaling, the role of the protein synthesis initiation machinery in general control of nitrogen metabolism, the cyclin‐controlled protein kinase P ho85 in phosphate regulation, nitrogen catabolite repression and the nitrogen‐sensing target of rapamycin pathway, and the discovery of transporter‐like proteins acting as nutrient sensors. In addition, a number of cellular targets, like carbohydrate stores, stress tolerance, and ribosomal gene expression, are controlled by the presence of multiple nutrients. The protein kinase A signaling pathway plays a major role in this general nutrient response. It has led to the discovery of nutrient transceptors (transporter receptors) as nutrient sensors. Major shortcomings in our knowledge are the relationship between rapid and steady‐state nutrient signaling, the role of metabolic intermediates in intracellular nutrient sensing, and the identity of the nutrient sensors controlling cellular growth.