A yeast FRET biosensor enlightens cAMP signaling

Mol Biol Cell. 2021 Jun 15;32(13):1229-1240. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E20-05-0319. Epub 2021 Apr 21.

Abstract

The cAMP-PKA signaling cascade in budding yeast regulates adaptation to changing environments. We developed yEPAC, a FRET-based biosensor for cAMP measurements in yeast. We used this sensor with flow cytometry for high-throughput single cell-level quantification during dynamic changes in response to sudden nutrient transitions. We found that the characteristic cAMP peak differentiates between different carbon source transitions and is rather homogenous among single cells, especially for transitions to glucose. The peaks are mediated by a combination of extracellular sensing and intracellular metabolism. Moreover, the cAMP peak follows the Weber-Fechner law; its height scales with the relative, and not the absolute, change in glucose. Last, our results suggest that the cAMP peak height conveys information about prospective growth rates. In conclusion, our yEPAC-sensor makes possible new avenues for understanding yeast physiology, signaling, and metabolic adaptation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques / methods
  • Cyclic AMP / analysis*
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / analysis*
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Flow Cytometry / methods
  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer / methods*
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays / methods
  • Prospective Studies
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Single-Cell Analysis / methods

Substances

  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Glucose