Yeast and fungal morphogenesis from an evolutionary perspective

Abstract

Cellular morphogenesis is a complex process and molecular studies in the last few decades have amassed a large amount of information that is difficult to grasp in any completeness. Fungal systems, in particular the budding and fission yeasts, have been important players in unravelling the basic structural and regulatory elements involved in a wide array of cellular processes. In this article, we address the design principles underlying the various processes of yeast and fungal morphogenesis. We attempt to explain the apparent molecular complexity from the perspective of the evolutionary theory of "facilitated variation". Following a summary of some of the most studied morphogenetic phenomena, we discuss, using recent examples, the underlying core processes and their associated "weak" regulatory linkages that bring about variation in morphogenetic phenotypes.

Cdc42-dependent leading edge coordination is essential for interstitial dendritic cell migration

“…However, there is a large body of literature involving Cdc42 in molecular feedback loops that promote the stable formation of one leading protrusion while competing protrusions are suppressed. 37 Interestingly, observations similar to our 2D findings were made in hemocytes of Drosophila embryos after blocking of Cdc42 activity by dominant-negative inhibition: when the chemotaxing cells were tracked in vivo, the inhibited cells reached velocities that were even higher than their WT counterparts but the directional persistence was diminished. 19 Although these observations in the 3D environment of a living fly embryo are contradictory with our 3D data at first sight, they are explainable, as animals with an exoskeleton lack an interstitial matrix scaffold.…”

Overexpression of the Tomato Pollen Receptor Kinase LePRK1 Rewires Pollen Tube Growth to a Blebbing Mode

“…As in yeast, which also exhibit polar growth, the requirement for Rho family small guanine nucleotide binding proteins (namely, ROP or RAC) in polarity establishment has been demonstrated in pollen tubes (reviewed in Wedlich-Soldner and Li, 2008;Yang, 2008;Slaughter et al, 2009). GTP-bound active ROP localizes at the plasma membrane of the hemispherical tip, and the amount of tip-localized active ROP correlates with the speed of pollen tube extension (Hwang et al, 2010).…”

Whi3 regulates morphogenesis in budding yeast by enhancing Cdk functions in apical growth

“…It is the key coordinator of polarization through diverse downstream effectors during bud emergence and apical bud growth, and it is involved in controlling other actin-dependent events such as pheromoneinduced morphological changes and cytokinesis. 3,5,6 Cell cortex complexes such as the polarisome, the exocyst and actin patches are key assembly targets involved in morphogenesis 2,5,7 that interact with downstream effectors of Cdc42. 6 Also, morphogenesis is coordinated at different levels with cell cycle phases.…”

“…3,5,6 Cell cortex complexes such as the polarisome, the exocyst and actin patches are key assembly targets involved in morphogenesis 2,5,7 that interact with downstream effectors of Cdc42. 6 Also, morphogenesis is coordinated at different levels with cell cycle phases. Cdk-cyclin complexes Cdc28-Cln1,2 modulate the localized activity of Cdc42 and Rho1, [8][9][10][11] and promote apical growth.…”