Unexplored Cdc42 functions at the budding yeast nucleus suggested by subcellular localization

ABSTRACT

In budding yeast, the Rho-family GTPase Cdc42 has several functions that depend on its subcellular localization and the cell cycle stage. During bud formation, Cdc42 localizes to the plasma membrane at the bud tip and bud neck where it carries out functions in actin polymerization, spindle positioning, and exocytosis to ensure proper polarity development. Recent live-cell imaging analysis revealed a novel localization of Cdc42 to a discrete intracellular focus associated with the vacuole and nuclear envelope. The discovery of this novel Cdc42 localization led to the identification of a new function in ESCRT-mediated nuclear envelope sealing. However, other aspects of this intracellular localization and its functional implications were not explored. Here, we further characterize the Cdc42 focus and present several novel observations that suggest possible additional Cdc42 functions at the nucleus, including nucleus-vacuole junction formation, nuclear envelope tethering, nuclear migration, and nucleopodia formation.

KEYWORDS:

• CDC42
• vacuole
• nucleus-vacuole junction
• nucleoporins
• nucleopodia

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health grant no. R35GM118149 to D.G. Drubin. The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

M.S. Lu and D.G. Drubin conceived of the experiments. M.S. Lu generated the reagents, performed the experiments, and analysed the data. M.S. Lu and D.G. Drubin wrote the manuscript. D.G. Drubin secured funding.

Supplementary material

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Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences [R35GM118149].