Identification of novel signalling functions and downstream effectors of the protein kinase Sch9 in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Cells of all living organisms are equipped with complex signal transduction networks that enable them to sense nutrient availability, allowing for optimal nutrient consumption and a dynamic adjustment of metabolism, cell growth and proliferation, stress resistance and survival in response to fluctuating extracellular nutrient conditions. Interestingly, the fundamental concepts and individual components of these signalling networks are generally well conserved from yeast to mammals. Therefore, the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is often used as a model organism to study signal transduction pathways. This project focuses on a further elucidation of the role of the yeast protein kinase Sch9 in the nutrient induced signalling network. We will do this by focusing on specific results obtained in our lab, as well as searching for novel Sch9 functions and targets on a genome-wide scale. Furthermore, a detailed functional analysis will be performed of the lipid-binding C2 domain contained within the Sch9 protein. The Sch9 protein is conserved along the fungal kingdom, and also displays structural and functional homology with the mammalian protein kinases PKB/Akt and S6K1. Therefore, unraveling cellular functions of Sch9 may provide additional clues as to how their fungal and mammalian orthologues function in their environment.

Keywords:Saccharomyces cereviae, Signal transduction, Nutrients, Protein kinase, Sch9, C2 domain, PKB/Akt, S6K1

Disciplines:Plant biology