Mks1p is a regulator of nitrogen catabolism upstream of Ure2p in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The supply of nitrogen regulates yeast genes affecting nitrogen catabolism, pseudohyphal growth, and meiotic sporulation. Ure2p of Saccharomyces cerev isiae is a negative regulator of nitrogen catabolism that inhibits Gln3p, a positive regulator of DAL5, and other genes of nitrogen assimilation. Dal5 p, the allantoate permease, allows ureidosuccinate uptake (Usa(+)) when cel ls grow on a poor nitrogen source such as proline. We find that overproduct ion of Mks1p allows uptake of ureidosuccinate on ammonia and lack of Mks1p prevents uptake of ureidosuccinate or Dal5p expression on proline. Overexpr ession of Mks1p does not affect cellular levels of Ure2p. An mks1 ure2 doub le mutant can take up ureidosuccinate on either ammonia or proline. Moreove r, overexpression of Ure2p suppresses the ability of Mks1p overexpression t o allow ureidosuccinate uptake on ammonia. These results suggest that Mks1p is involved in nitrogen control upstream of Ure2p as follows: NH3(sic) Mks 1p(sic) Ure2p(sic) Gln3p --> DAL5. Either overproduction of Mks1p or deleti on of MKS1 interferes with pseudohyphal growth.