On the mechanisms of signaling specificity of the MAP kinase pathways in yeast

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Cells must be able to respond to environmental cues and elicit proper biological responses. A prevalent mechanism for transferring information within eukaryotic cells involves conserved sets of 3 kinases, known as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades. The activation of the last member of these sets, the MAP kinase, usually results in changes in gene expression, and the amplitude and duration of this activation are critical determinants of how the cell responds. Cells use multiple MAPK pathways, many of which share common components, to coordinate responses to different signals controlling cell growth, proliferation and differentiation. Proper response is important in developmental processes; change in MAP kinase pathway signaling is often associated with cancers. A fundamental question for signal transduction in cell biology has been how the many inputs are sensed, integrated and transferred accurately so that each elicits a specific and proper biological response. In my lab, we use the simple yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to study this fundamental question of signal transduction. We use yeast to take the advantage of our ability to genetically manipulate this organism with ease. Because the MAPK cascades are conserved both at the component and architecture levels, knowledge obtained from studying the regulation of MAPK signaling in yeast will advance our understanding the regulation of cell signaling processes in other organisms, including ourselves.