Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways are critical for the sensing and response of eukaryotic cells to extracellular changes. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, MAPK Pmk1/Spm1 has been involved in cell wall construction, morphogenesis, cytokinesis, and ion homeostasis, as part of the so-called cell integrity pathway together with MAPK kinase kinase Mkh1 and MAPK kinase Pek1. We show that Pmk1 is activated in multiple stress situations, including hyper- or hypotonic stress, glucose deprivation, presence of cell wall-damaging compounds, and oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide or pro-oxidants. The stress-induced activation of Pmk1 was completely dependent on Mkh1 and Pek1 function, supporting a nonbranched pathway in the regulation of MAPK activation. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that Mkh1, Pek1, and Pmp1 (a protein phosphatase that inactivates Pmk1) are cytoplasmic proteins. Mkh1 and Pek1 were also found at the septum, whereas Pmk1 localized in both cytoplasm and nucleus as well as in the mitotic spindle and septum during cytokinesis. Interestingly, Pmk1 subcellular localization was unaffected by stress or the absence of Mkh1 and Pek1, suggesting that its activation by the Mkh1-Pek1 cascade takes place at the cytoplasm and/or septum and that the active and inactive forms of this kinase cross the nuclear membrane. Cdc42 GTPase and its effectors, p21-activated kinases Pak2 and Pak1, are not upstream elements controlling the basal level or the stress-induced activation of Pmk1. However, Sty1 MAPK was essential for proper Pmk1 deactivation after hypertonic stress in a process regulated by Atf1 transcription factor. These results provide the first evidence for the existence of cross-talk between two MAPK cascades during the stress response in fission yeast.

Cellular responses to external signals are regulated by conserved mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling cascades. These pathways are triggered by a vast range of stimuli. They phosphorylate numerous proteins, produce significant changes in the gene expression, and regulate diverse processes ranging from proliferation and differentiation to apoptosis in all eukaryotic cells. Three conserved MAP kinase signaling pathways have been identified in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. In this article, we present an overview of two of those pathways that regulate the response of fission yeast to stress and maintain cell integrity. The structure of these signaling modules and the function of the pathways, including the regulation by endogenous inhibitors, are discussed.

Summary: Schizosaccharomyces pombe Rho2 GTPase regulates α‐D‐glucan synthesis and acts upstream of Pck2 to activate the MAP kinase pathway for cell integrity. However, little is known about its regulation. Here we describe Rga2 as a Rho2 GTPase‐activating protein (GAP) that regulates cell morphology. rga2⁺ gene is not essential for growth but its deletion causes longer and thinner cells whereas rga2⁺ overexpression causes shorter and broader cells. rga2⁺ overexpression also causes abnormal accumulation of Calcofluor‐stained material and cell lysis, suggesting that it also participates in cell wall integrity. Rga2 localizes to growth tips and septum region. The N‐terminal region of the protein is required for its correct localization whereas the PH domain is necessary exclusively for Rga2 localization to the division area. Also, Rga2 localization depends on polarity markers and on actin polymerization. Rga2 interacts with Rho2 and possesses in vitro and in vivo GAP activity for this GTPase. Accordingly, rga2Δ cells contain more α‐D‐glucan and therefore partially suppress the thermosensitivity of mok1–664 cells, which have a defective α‐D‐glucan synthase. Additionally, genetic interactions and biochemical analysis suggest that Rga2 regulates Rho2–Pck2 interaction and might participate in the regulation of the MAPK cell integrity pathway.

Recent studies have shown that heat shock proteins and trehalose synthesis are important factors in the thermotolerance of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe . We examined the effects of trehalose-6-phosphate (trehalose-6P) synthase overexpression on resistance to several stresses in cells of S. pombe transformed with a plasmid bearing the tps1 gene, which codes for trehalose-6P synthase, under the control of the strong thiamine-repressible promoter. Upon induction of trehalose-6P synthase, the elevated levels of intracellular trehalose correlated not only with increased tolerance to heat shock but also with resistance to freezing and thawing, dehydration, osmostress, and toxic levels of ethanol, indicating that trehalose may be the stress metabolite underlying the overlap in induced tolerance to these stresses. Among the isogenic strains transformed with this construct, one in which the gene coding for the trehalose-hydrolyzing enzyme, neutral trehalase, was disrupted accumulated trehalose to a greater extent and was more resistant to the above stresses. Increased trehalose concentration is thus a major determinant of the general stress protection response in S. pombe .

In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, glucose concentrations below a certain threshold trigger the stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) signal transduction pathway and promote increased transcription of Atf1-dependent genes coding for the general stress response. Removal of glucose specifically induces the nuclear accumulation of green fluorescent protein-labeled Pap1 (GFP-Pap1) and the expression of genes dependent on this transcription factor. In contrast, depletion of the nitrogen source triggers the SAPK pathway but does not activate Pap1-dependent gene transcription, indicating that carbon stress rather than growth arrest leads to an endogenous oxidative condition that favors nuclear accumulation of Pap1. The reductant agents glutathione or N-acetylcysteine suppress the nuclear accumulation of GFP-Pap1 induced by glucose deprivation without inhibiting the activation of the MAPK Sty1. In addition, cells expressing a mutant GFP-Pap1 unable to accumulate into the nucleus upon hydrogen peroxide-mediated oxidative stress failed to show this protein into the nucleus in the absence of glucose. These results support the concept of a concerted action between the SAPK pathway and the Pap1 transcription factor during glucose exhaustion by which glucose limitation induces activation of the SAPK pathway prior to the oxidative stress caused by glucose deprivation. The ensuing induction of Atf1-dependent genes (catalase) decreases the level of hydroperoxides allowing Pap1 nuclear accumulation and function. Congruent with this interpretation, glucose-depleted cells show higher adaptive response to exogenous oxidative stress than those maintained in the presence of glucose.