Using yeast to define the regulatory role of protein methylation

Date

2021-01-01

Department

Program

Citation of Original Publication

Jethmalani Yogita and Green M. Erin *, Using Yeast to Define the Regulatory Role of Protein Lysine Methylation, Current Protein & Peptide Science 2020; 21(7) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389203720666191023150727

Rights

The published manuscript is available at EurekaSelect via https://www.eurekaselect.com/openurl/content.php?genre=article&doi=http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389203720666191023150727.

Subjects

Abstract

The post-translational modification (PTM) of proteins are crucial for cells to survive under diverse environmental conditions and to respond to stimuli. PTMs are known to govern a broad array of cellular processes including signal transduction and chromatin regulation. The PTM lysine methylation has been extensively studied within the context of chromatin and the epigenetic regulation of the genome. However, it has also emerged as a critical regulator of non-histone proteins important for signal transduction pathways. While the number of known non-histone protein methylation events is increasing, the molecular functions of many of these modifications are not yet known. Proteomic studies of the model system Saccharomyces cerevisiae suggest lysine methylation may regulate a diversity of pathways including transcription, RNA processing, translation, and signal transduction cascades. However, there has still been relatively little investigation of lysine methylation as a broad cellular regulator beyond chromatin and transcription. Here, we outline our current state of understanding of non-histone protein methylation in yeast and propose ways in which the yeast system can be leveraged to develop a much more complete picture of molecular mechanisms through which lysine methylation regulates cellular functions.