Analysis of the role of the ubiquitin system in the regulation of yeast carbohydrate metabolism: the necessity of a bench top centrifuge

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Every organism, whether a human or a single cell, has the ability to adapt its metabolism between times of feast or famine. Abundant nutrients enable energy stores to be laid down and later released when times are lean. Cells and organisms efficiently respond to nutrient abundance by altering the operation of their metabolic pathways through the rapid and reversible activation of key enzymes that are turned on or off in response to nutrient signals. Our studies focus on the evolutionarily conserved yeast enzyme, SNF1 kinase, which turns energy consuming metabolic pathways off to preserve a constant energy level in times of need. This simple yeast system will be used to explore the molecular regulation of how a cell responds to limiting nutrients. To study nutrient response and metabolism in yeast, it is necessary to grow large batches of cells in specialized liquid growth media. The cells must then be purified from the media using a centrifuge. A centrifuge is vital to the work as it enables microorganisms to be purified and concentrated from large cultures for analysis. Without this equipment, research laboratories, especially the trainees, will not be able to move forward in their studies. With the availability of a centrifuge in my laboratory, we expect to be able to grow enough yeast cells to study the specific regulatory mechanisms that enable SNF1 to protect the cell when nutrients are limiting. Understanding how SNF1 kinase activity is controlled in yeast may lead to understanding regulation of human metabolism. Interestingly, the human SNF1 kinase, the AMPK kinase, is suboptimal in metabolic syndrome, which encompasses type 2 diabetes and obesity. Knowing how the AMPK family can be activated may lead to ways of correcting the metabolic dysfunction in metabolic syndrome.